A skeleton's color depends on several factors, primarily whether it's part of a living organism or a detached, cleaned bone.
In a Living Body
In a living body, bones possess a slightly pinkish hue due to the periosteum, a surface layer containing blood vessels. The overall color can also be described as white-yellow-red, reflecting the presence of minerals, fat, and blood components. [Source: Bones are whitish because of their chemical composition. When alive, bones are white~yellow~red because of the mineral, fat and bloody components. 07-Oct-2016]. A healthy, unbroken bone in a living person has a very slight pinkish tinge. [Source: Reddit - askscience]
Detached Bones
Once detached from a living organism and cleaned, bones typically appear off-white or whitish due to their mineral composition. Various artistic representations and commercial products use colors like "Skeleton Bone" to represent this appearance. [Source: The Army Painter - Colour Primer: Skeleton Bone] However, the specific shade can vary depending on factors like age and preservation methods.
Artistic Representations and Digital Use
In artwork, video games, and other digital contexts, skeletons are often depicted in shades of white, gray, or ivory. This is a stylistic choice and not necessarily reflective of the actual color of bones in life. The color can be further manipulated for artistic effect, as exemplified by color customization options in digital tools and games. [Sources: Reddit - modelmakers; Reddit - Warhammer40k; Tumblr - hungry-skeleton; Google Play - Dark Skeleton Color by number; Game Maker 2 forum; Instagram - Butch Locsin; Github - material-ui issue]
In summary: While the bones of a living skeleton have a pinkish tinge due to blood supply, the most common perception of a skeleton's color is white or off-white, based on the appearance of cleaned bones. Artistic interpretations allow for a broader range of colors.
