SUGAR SKULL
Cameron Royster
History & Background
Sugar Skulls are folk art from Southern Mexico. To celebrate Day of the Dead. Mounds of colorful sugar skulls are sold by Indian vendors in open air village markets during the week preceding the holiday. Spirits of the dead are welcomed back to their homes with beautifully decorated altars made by their loved ones. Sugar skulls, marigolds, candles, incense and special foods adorn home altars. Día de los Muertos, on the other hand, is a holiday honoring deceased relatives and friends. Rooting from the Catholic All Souls’ Day as well as Aztec and other indigenous beliefs, it is a vibrant holiday that bears little resemblance to the Halloween we celebrate today. Food, candles, and Calaveras are brought to the graves of those who have passed on as ofrendas, or offerings. Marigolds are used in abundance due to the belief that they invite the spirits of the dead back to earth. Contrary to the spooky connotations of Halloween, Día de los Muertos is a bright, cheerful celebration.
How I Made it
I made the skull my first taking a face imprint and aluminum foil and mold the aluminum foil to the face sculpture. then put paper mache onto the skull. Then after I do that, I let it dry for a few days. Then I paint the skull and paint the board for the background. Then I let it dry for a day or two. I used form to shape the skull itself. By having the plastic skull sculpture I could mold the aluminum foil to look like a skull. I used repetition to draw waves in my my background as well. I had a pattern in my background because I used blue and yellow and alternatives the colors.