Jenkintown artist Michael Butler uses the remains of the dead to create art for the living. His company, Loved Ones Art, isn't the first or only business to offer such a service - a quick Internet search reveals multiple artists who specialize in art made from human or pet remains. But that may be what's most notable: The world of mourning and remembering has changed, with more people looking for unique ways to leave this world or stay behind.
"I'm focusing more on the life than the death," said Butler, 49, who mostly works with land- and seascapes. "It's not for everybody, and the whole topic is weird for some people, but we're all going to go through it. We've all lost loved ones we miss. Is there a way to make the pain a little less stinging? That's what I do."