His work often focuses on the quiet corners of urban life and historical costume studies. Skarbina used light to define space, whether in a cluttered antique shop or the folds of a military uniform. He avoided the stiff poses of traditional academic portraiture. Instead, he captured figures in motion or mid-gesture, such as a man raising a glass or a woman walking in the street. His palette moved away from dark studio tones toward the cooler, natural light he observed while living in Paris.

Modern collectors value Skarbina for his ability to document the atmosphere of the late nineteenth century without sentimentality. His paintings of interiors and street scenes provide a factual look at historical fashion and decor. The clarity of his compositions makes them suitable for contemporary homes. These prints offer a sense of historical depth through precise observation rather than romanticised fiction.