Skull art inspiration for Day of the Dead
You will be introduced to the Day of the Dead festival to start a clay or plaster task. You may research other cultural examples for inspiration (e.g. African, Mayan, Maori, Olmec, Aztec, Tlingit, tiki, Sepik, Aboriginal, Asian, Celtic/Norse, etc.) You will create designs based on style and symbolism of your chosen cultural group to display concept (sculptural works may be a synthesis of more than one complimentary influence eg. the Day of the Dead and Australian Aboriginal Art).
- Conceptualisation and development of imaginative or personally relevant visual ideas. (Evidenced through annotations and practical work) PA1
- Documentation of creative visual thinking and/or problem-solving processes. (Evidenced through folio work) PA3
- Application of technical skills with media, materials, and technologies to communicate visual ideas in resolved work(s) of art or design. (Evidenced through tests, craftsmanship and challenging your skill level) PA4
- Knowledge and understanding of visual arts in different cultural, social, and/or historical contexts. (Evidenced through annotations and practical work) KU2
- Evaluation of own practical work. (Evidenced through annotations) AR3
Process:
- Research the Day of the Dead or another cultural art form providing a short introductory paragraph followed with dot points.
- Collect images from the Day of the Dead or chosen culture as reference. Annotate why you chose them. This should be based on the concept, inspiration and problem solving for practical work that the images provide.
- Quickly sketch ideas considering all sides of the form. Break down your form into simple shapes/forms to consider construction.
- Experiment and problem solve with clay in the demonstration lesson, look at the sketches you have created to help you problem solve the construction.
- Construct your clay sculpture making sure you:
Wedge (remove air bubbles)
Use good joining techniques.
Store your work at the end of each lesson in a bag making sure to seal it well. You may add some moisture to the clay if it is warm weather to reduce drying. - Once you are satisfied with your sculptures form store your work in an open bag so that the clay dries slowly to avoid cracking.
- Two days after opening the bag, check with the teacher to see how dry it is and then remove it completely from the bag if it is ready. Place on something that will allow air to flow underneath for quicker drying time.
- As the clay is drying we will go on with other work – make sure your folio work is up to scratch and add any evaluative comments on what you have learnt from the practical.
- Once all the class have completed and dried their work thoroughly the work will be placed in the kiln to be fired (baked).
- Apply your design with acrylic paint created at the start of the unit. Consider any changes or improvements. Make sure to reference the culture chosen or apply some meaning / concept to the design.
Right: Aztec skull, mosaicked with turquoise. Left: Damien Hirst, For the Love of God, diamond coated skull, 2007
What do you think Hirst was trying to say by covering a skull with diamonds?
To help you, what do you think of that is connected to diamonds?
What do you think of when you think of death?
Are there any similarities or differences?
Death is something that everyone has in common, no matter where you are in the world. However, there have been differences in the way that death has been portrayed.
In the Victorian era (1837 – 1901), death was considered a ‘normal thing.’ Many people died during childhood. Why do you think there were high mortality rates back then?
What we consider as an unusual or morbid tradition developed during this time. Photographs were not as common during this time and many people did not have a photograph, especially when they were young. In order to remember loved ones who passed away, photographs were sometimes taken after death. They were dressed nicely and positioned in a way as though they were still alive.
Another take on death was during periods of war. Many artists portrayed scenes of war from the front lines, while other painted the ‘behind the scenes.’ Others still like Dada and the Surrealists portrayed the psychological effects after the war.
Henry Moore, Tube shelter perspective, 1941
Salvador Dali, Premonition of Civil War, oil paint on canvas, 1936
For many death is something that people find intriguing. It is the unknown and mystery surrounds it.
For our task we will be looking at a Latin American perspective on death.
Day of the Dead
Read the article below and highlight the key learning points to help you form a definition.
What are the key points about the festival and the artwork? Write 5-8 sentences. Use the photos to help you generate an answer.
- What colours do they use?
- What symbols do they use?
- What are they wearing?
- Why do they celebrate this festival? Who are they honouring?
The Day of the Dead Article:
Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—is a holiday celebrated on November 1. Although marked throughout Latin America, Dia de los Muertos is most strongly associated with Mexico, where the tradition originated. Dia de los Muertos honours the dead with festivals and lively celebrations, a typically Latin American custom that combines indigenous Aztec ritual with Catholicism, brought to the region by Spanish conquistadores. (Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, minor holidays in the Catholic calendar.)
Assured that the dead would be insulted by mourning or sadness, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life. Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community. On Dia de los Muertos, the dead are also a part of the community, awakened from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones.
The most familiar symbol of Dia de los Muertos may be the calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere during the holiday: in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls. Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations.
- Family members often clean and decorate the graves of loved ones on Dia de los Muertos.
- In addition to celebrations, the dead are honoured on Dia de los Muertos with ofrendas–small, personal altars honouring one person. Ofrendas often have flowers, candles, food, drinks, photos, and personal mementos of the person being remembered.
- Dia de los Muertos is actually spread over two days. November 1 is Dia de los Inocentes, honouring children who have died. Graves are decorated with white orchids and baby’s breath. November 2 is Dia de los Muertos, honouring adults, whose graves are decorated with bright orange marigolds.
Aztec
Noun
people and culture native to Mexico and Central America.
Catholicism
Noun
type of Christian religion loyal to the Roman Catholic Church and the leader of that church, the Pope.
conquistador
Noun
Spanish explorer or conqueror of Latin America in the 16th century.
Dia de los Muertos
Noun
(Day of the Dead) holiday honouring deceased family and friends, celebrated on November 1 and November 2 in Mexico and throughout Latin America.
holiday
Noun
period of celebration or honour.
indigenous
Adjective
native to or characteristic of a specific place.
Latin America
Noun
South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
originate
Verb
to begin or start.
ritual
Noun
series of customs or procedures for a ceremony, often religious.
Dia de los Muertos Paper Sugar Skulls
One of my favorite units to teach is Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. Dia de los Muertos introduces students to the colorful world of this happy celebration that honors deceased relatives. Children learn about the traditional celebration, common in Mexico and parts of the United States, that is celebrated on November 1 and 2.
A fantastic book that incorporates all the history and key items to help prepare for Dia de los Muertos are found in this colorful book Day of the Dead by Tony Johnston and Jeanette Winter.
My students just absolutely love this unit! We have been making all the beautiful items used in one’s home for the special day. Inspired by the books illustrations, 5th grade students created their own personal paper skulls. These mixed media projects are filled with fun painted backgrounds and borders and embellishments to complete the artworks.
Supplies you will need:
Paper Sugar Skull
First create the skull. Add oval eyes, upside down heart for nose and and oval with teeth for the mouth. (Use the skull template if needed available as a free download in the shop.)
Next, add symmetrical patterns with a pencil. Stress symmetrical designs to keep a cohesive look. Use the FREE pattern handout for inspiration. Just download and print for your students to use.
Color in the shapes and designs with thin sharpie markers or regular markers then outline all the shapes with black permanent sharpie marker.
Background
Use a 9″ x 12″ piece of colored construction paper for the background. Use a ruler to create a border around the paper. Make sure to line the ruler up with the edge of the paper to get nice, straight lines.
Add simple designs and patterns in pencil to the border. Very small patterns such as dots, dashes, and wavy lines create fun borders. Next, add color with tempera paints. When using tempera paints, start with the lightest color first and work up to the darker colors. This will keep your colors bright and clean. Add a simple border in the interior rectangle for added contrast.
Glue down the skull with Elmers Glue-All. Add rhinestones and/or sequins. Make sure the embellishments are placed symmetrical and affix with tacky glue.
Gallery
If you love Dia de los Muertos then this Art Lesson Bundle is perfect for you and your students. Key projects are mixed media Calacas (Skeleton) Vignettes, Frida Kahlo’s Still-Lifes using air-dry clay, Mariachi Band Guitars, Marigold Still-Life Collage, and Mexican Serape Blankets. Students will create beautiful, vibrant mixed media projects using tempera paint, oil pastels, painted paper, markers, construction paper and air-dry clay. Plus they will gain an understanding of basic art concepts and art historical and cultural celebrations.
Day of the Dead Bundle 74 page bundle includes:
Calacas (Skeleton) Vignettes – 13 pages
Frida Kahlo Still-Life – 15 pages
Mariachi Band Guitars – 13 pages
Marigold Still-Life Collage – 11 pages
Mexican Marigolds – 11 pages
Mexican Serape Blankets – 11 pages
Each Art Lesson contains:
• Step-by-step instructions and full color photographs
• Supplies list
• Vocabulary words
• Learning objectives
• Artist Statement page
• National Standards
• I Can statements tailored for each project.
Also included are:
• Project specific reproducible handouts and templates
• “How to Make Painted Paper Handout”
Now available in the shop
These lessons are great for ages 6-12 but any age student will enjoy these delightful projects, I know my students sure do.
Keep on Creating!
Laura xox
