Project: Calacas Figurines for The Day of the Dead

This project is a favorite for most of my Advanced Art students. They love to learn the process of sculpting the figure-starting with a wire armature and enjoy paying tribute to a loved one that they would like to remember.

1) Create a wire armature in correct human proportion. These are all 7-7 1/2 heads tall. (include only a neck for sticking the head onto later)

-study proportion from handouts, draw body using ovals, measure and check student body proportions (for fun)

2) View Day of the Dead video, create papel picado banners and tissue flowers for display case. Choose personal hero to honor and pose armature before sculpting. Sketch out ideas using proportion handout and add THREE or more accessories to create a setting.

3) Wrap torso and any thick areas like pant legs or puffy sleeves, etc with foil to conserve on clay.

4) Wrap rolled out sheets of white Sculpey clay or press small pieces onto armature. Use a pasta machine for sheets to create basic body.

5) Use rolled out sheets of Sculpey to press in place and model for clothing. Emphasize the overlap of sleeves and pant legs over body parts for 3-D effect.

6) Roll out a head and squeeze bottom half for jaw. Use a dull pencil to press in eyes. Use a dull toothpick to press in nostrils and indent teeth lines.

7) Add enlarged shoes for stability and indent finger lines for detail.

8) Bake in toaster oven on brown paper bag according to clay directions. Thinner accessories bake for less time unless you WANT them to brown like one of my students mini pretzels.

TIPS: Do not cook clay standing or feet will deform. Prop extended body parts up with wads of foil in the toaster oven. Cook for less time than recommended on the package to limit breakage when students paint. Paint with acrylics. Use permanent markers for details and for painting face features. When incising lines in clay always press the side of the toothpick in place instead of dragging it along to avoid building up of what I call "boogers." Add head just before cooking to avoid loosening the neck area around the wire when handling it. Tapping clay to smooth works better than smearing. Must use HOT glue sticks to get sculptures to stand onto board bases.

Next year I plan to encourage students to be more flamboyant and fun with thier accessories. I want to see some feather boas, painted eyelashes, glitter covered outfits, and loads more color.