DrainedEye Skull #11: 'XoXo Skulls #1' by Jason Sanders

DrainedEye Skull #11: ‘XoXo Skulls #1’ by Jason Sanders

1 of 1 Original Artwork

Why XoXo skulls? As my art practice has matured, I have started focusing on creating art in themes. This really helps me consolidate ideas and communicate better with my work. In this case I was challenging myself around the theme of ‘LOVE’. I had some ideas around the use of hearts, but nothing very original was coming to mind.

Then I remembered how my grandparents and my mom would sign their letters to me. They always used xoxo at the bottom. This little addition always communicated their affection for me. It made me feel warm and loved across long distances. I knew that this abbreviation meant hugs and kisses, but I googled it anyway to see if there was anything I didn’t know. It turns out that the X’s symbolize the kiss, and the O’s symbolize an embrace.

This work literally has me embracing skulls. This broad statement is an oversimplification. What exactly am I embracing? The aesthetic? Yes of course, but there is always more. The skull is a container for our minds and all the beautiful, scary, and sorrowful things that happen inside of them. When we are gone, our skulls remain… a type of tangible legacy or proof of existence. Thousands or even millions of years from now, your skull may be discovered, proof of your life even after all your accomplishments and even your identity have been lost to history.

In this way our skulls also remind me of our impermanence. That magic that is housed in our skull is not long for this world. It is a reminder to embrace every day. Our time here is tragically short, but my love of skulls is eternal.

Skull NFTs. My name is Jason Sanders. I go by DrainedEye online. DrainedEye is an independently owned & operated artist gallery/brand. My artwork is strongly fine art focused. This Skull Collection is my first experience with Digital Art & NFT's. I love the energy of the NFT Community & I want to thank you for spending time with my work.

I know I'm not the first to explore this subject matter & I'm a big fan of those who've been focused on 💀 NFT's before I arrived here. I want to personally thank Eddie Gangland for breaking ground & encouraging me and probably thousands of other artists to learn about the NFT space.

I don't talk about it a lot, but I have a bone condition called Multiple Hereditary Exostoses. This condition causes bone tumors to grow near your growth plates. These large bone masses can be quite painful as they distort the muscles & tendons that have to work around them. Due to this condition, Skulls have been an important part of my work for years.

Category Art