Sketching for my next show coming up in August. Details TBA!

“Memento Vivere” (Sold) The Title piece for my April show. Inspired by the tombs at St. Sebastians Cemetery Salzburg, Austria

“The Devil’s Lettuce” (Sold) From a botanical themed show last year at Arch Enemy Arts in Philadelphia . #michelemelcher #art #artist #artistoninstagram #darkart #darkartist #darkartists #darksurrealism #skull #skeleton #mementomori #oilpainting #macabre #beautifulbizarre

. Green Man (Sold) From my show “Memento Vivere” earlier this month. 🌱💀🌱 . #michelemelcher #art #artist #artistoninstagram #darkart #darkartist #darkartists #darksurrealism #plants #skeleton #mementomori #death #life #skull #oilpsinting #greenman #foliage #beautifulbizarre

“The Matriarch” From my sold out show, “Memento Vivere”. . #michelemelcher #art #artist #darkart #darkartist #darksurrealist #death #mementomori #oilpainting #darksurrealism #skeleton #skull #artistsonbluesky #blueskyartists #gothic #macabre

. I’m playing a bit of catch up with posting images from my sold out show, “Memento Vivere”, that happened earlier this month. This one was simply called,Medusa”. ‘Nuff said! 🐍 . #michelemelcher #darkart #darksurrealism #art #mementomori #death #oilpainting #darkartist #skeleton #medusa

My solo show, “Memento Vivere” opens next Friday, 4/11/25 @mortalmachine.bsky.social in New Orleans French Quarter. Contact the gallery for the preview list!

Varnished this big Memento Mori painting for my upcoming show, “Memento Vivere”, opening at Mortal Machine Gallery in New Orleans 4/11!

Saturday varnish of this green man. A little over a month until my solo show @mortalmachinegallery 🌿💀🌿 . #michelemelcher #art #artist #artistoninstagram #darkart #darkartist #darkartists #darksurrealism #skeleton #greenman #skull #oilpainting #reels #wip #beautifulbizarre

I keep forgetting to post here.Unfortunately, I can’t upload it with the music from my insta reel, so just imagine Motorhead’s cover of “Sympathy for the Devil” playing. 😜

. One from the wayback machine circa 2019… . “Space Oddity”, was for the rock n roll themed group show, Sonic Splendor, at Revolution Gallery in Buffalo, NY.

Plus one more that didn’t fit in the last post…

. A collection of nuns. To judge your actions going into the weekend…

Today’s work. Goodnight! 😴

Here’s a mid century Moravian star light that I got for my birthday the other week. I have been wanting an old one for some time, they are so pretty. We hung it in my studio and I love it!

A little stained glass gift that I got from @primer-inc.bsky.social back in 2021 for the holidays. We finally got a chain to hang it up! It looks to be a Dance of Death or possibly an Odd fellows mementomori

Workin’.

Hey there! I’m the face behind all of the bones that you see here. Thanks for following me. I’m a dark surrealist painter and find inspiration in all things spooky. I’m from historic Bucks County PA where I live and work in an old brick schoolhouse circa 1861. The Schoolhouse is not haunted. 👻

How I block in a skull part 2: The teeth!

How I block in a skull part 1: The Face.

“Time For Tea” From my 2023 solo show @archenemyarts.bsky.social (sold 🔴)

. I am busy working on new things do here are some older paintings from late 2022. “Kid Gloves” “Valentine” “Regret” This trio was for the show, Divine Alchemy, @laluzdejesus in LA. .

Here’s a glazing timelapse from the other night. I took this reel from my account on the “other” platform. Enjoy! Music: “He Comes” by In Solitude.

It’s been a minute, because I am buried in work but here’s a new little painting for a show titled “Thise Darn Cats” opening at Cactus Gallery in LA this weekend! “Nonjudgemental” (sold🔴

CAPUCHINS' CRYPT - The burial place of the Habsburg family in Vienna, Austria.

Krampusnacht part 4: Singing songs. #grussvomkrampus #krampus #krampusnacht #salzburgaustria

Krampusnacht part 3, The Dance: #krampus #krampusnacht #Grussvomkrampus

Krampusnacht part 2: Hugs ❤️👹❤️

About last night: Krampusnacht part 1

The jeweled skeleton of Saint Munditia 💀 #mementomori #michelemelcher #munich

The fabulous interior of Asamkirche. The gold skeleton at the entrance cuts the thread of life. A reminder that tomorrow is never guaranteed, so LIVE. #mementomori #michelemelcher #munich

. “The Cat-Sìth” (sold) The Cat-SÌth is a dark fairy creature from celtic mythology that steals the souls of the dead before burial. It appears as a large black cat with a white spot on its chest . #michelemelcher #artist #darkart #darkartist #darksurrealism #folklore #oilpainting #death

“Tainted Skies” Oil on panel. 12”x12 (sold) 🦇💀🦇 This little painting is already sold, but it will on view with Arch Enemy Arts at Aqua Art Miami for Miami Art week December 4-8! Go see their booth, great art! (And yes- I named this after the Tribulation song @adamzars.bsky.social 🙂)

Here a throwback to an old favorite “Levitation by the Seaside” Sold . #michelemelcher #art #artist #darksurrealism #darksurrealist #darkart #mementomori #skeleton #magic #witchcraft #oilpainting

. A painting that I did in 2019 of the famous Jacques Gamelin etching, “Surgite Mortui Venite ad Judicium” ( “Arise, Ye Dead, and Come to Judgement “) Sold💀 . #michelemelcher #artist #darksurrealism #darkart #darkartist #mementomori #skeleton #macabre #oilpainting #death #mementomori

. Title: “Galdrabók” Medium: oil on panel Dimensions: 12”x16” (16”x20”) Year: 2024 Sold ✨💀✨ . This painting was for the group show, “Grimoire “ at Haven Gallery. The Galdrabók is a 16th century Icelandic occult grimoire . #michelemelcher #artist #oilpainting #darkart #darkartist #darksurrealism

. Seated Lady in Green (sold) One from earlier this year 💚💀💚 . #michelemelcher #art #artist #darkart #darkartist #darksurrealism #mementomori #skeleton #oilpainting

“Angel” Medium: oil on panel in antique frame Dimensions: 16”x20” (20x24) Year: 2024 🖤 Sold . This is my 4th of 4 paintings that will be accompanying Mortal Machine Gallery to Scope Art in Miami December 3-8! . #michelemelcher #artist #darksurrealism #mementomori #darkart #oilpainting

. “Mourning” Medium: oil on panel in antique oval frame Dimensions: 16” x20” (21”x25”) Year: 2024 🥀 . This Victorian ghost is available and will be with Mortal Machine Gallery at Scope Art Show Dec 3-8 . #michelemelcher #artist #darksurrealism #darkart #mementomori #oilpainting #darksurrealist

“Marie” Medium: oil on panel in antique frame Dimensions: 16”x20” (20”x24”) Year: 2024 💀 Sold . Another one of my four paintings for Mortal Machine Gallery’s booth at Scope Art Show Dec 3-8 . #michelemelcher #artist #darksurrealism #mementomori #oilpainting #darkart #darkartist #darksurrealist

“Irreparable” Medium: Oil on panel in antique frame Dimensions: 12x24” (16”x31”) Year: 2024 🫀 Sold . One of my new paintings for Scope Art Show Dec 3-8 . #michelemelcher #artist #blueskyartist #darksurrealism #oilpainting #mementomori

In the words of the late Daniel Johnston, “Hi, how are you?”