Vertebrae Designs: Bone FAQs

I’m an artist and art educator who has been collecting bones since I was a child! I found my first animal skull on my front lawn. It was a broken muskrat skull and I was utterly amazed that this treasure was once inside of a creature. Later, biology class dissections and microscope investigations inspired my fascination with the patterns that lie beneath our skin. Bone samples and anatomy illustrations have long been the inspiration for my printmaking, collage, and photography.

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How do you clean the bones?

I use maceration - a process of using naturally occurring anaerobic bacteria in water to decompose flesh, ligaments, and tendons to leave us with nearly clean bones.

Do you bleach the bones?

Bones are whitened with a hydrogen peroxide mixture and time! I do not use bleach or other processes that deteriorate the bone.

​What is "ethically sourced"?

I define Ethically sourced bones as roadkill, a great hiking trip find, livestock, etc. I do not make art from bones that resulted from hunting or poaching.

Do you clean bones for customers?
I do! If you have bones that need cleaning, degreasing, or repair, send me an email.