The Artists in Their Own Words

“Through exploring my skeleton within, I’ve found what propels me to paint.

Schooled in illustration, and fine art, my application of acrylic paint, coupled with an emphasis on artistic characterization arouses story, and a quest for meaning. My most prominently used subject matter, being the skull, or the skeleton, symbolizes life eternal, and a reminder to live life to its fullest in the present moment. My bold line work grounds the use of heavy symbolism, while the rhythmic placement of shape and contrast gives my paintings a sense of movement, personality, and a quality suggesting life beyond reality, engaging the viewer to step through its portal into a timeless, limitless world.

The use of vivid color in my painting is inspired by living in the enchanted city of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The fantastic light, historic charm, and unique, creative lifestyle it offers are like nowhere else in the world. My second main influence comes from my travels through South America, and our neighboring, beloved, Mexico, wherein I’ve been exposed to ‘Dia de los Muertos’ or ‘Day of the Dead’, a celebration honoring life in all its stages. Each pilgrimage through these brightly colored, yet simpler life settings, blesses me with a furthering of my artistic vision: an expression of the skeleton — who we all are underneath.

Each painting, allows one more skeleton to rise to the surface… And so, I continue to paint, inspired by life, and compelled by death.”

– Stacey Sullivan de Maldonado