💀 Sugar Skull Watercolor Project — Día de los Muertos

💡 What This Project Is About

In this project, you’ll create your own Sugar Skull Watercolor Painting inspired by the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This tradition celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed away — not with sadness, but with color, memory, and joy.

You’ll learn about the meaning behind Día de los Muertos, explore color and symbolism, and design a sugar skull (calavera) that honors someone important to you or celebrates life itself. You’ll also practice watercolor techniques, symmetry, and composition to create a vibrant, expressive work of art.

📺 Step 1: Learn and Explore

1. Watch the video on Día de los Muertos.

2. Complete your Day of the Dead Handout as you watch.

3. Write down at least three new things you learned about the holiday — especially about its symbols, traditions, or meaning.

   

Think about what stood out to you:

• What are sugar skulls meant to represent?

• What colors or symbols are commonly used?

• How do families celebrate this day together?

✏️ Step 2: Plan and Sketch Your Design

Now it’s time to plan your sugar skull!

Think about:

• Who or what your design will honor.

• Their favorite colors, flowers, or symbols that represent them.

Create two different sketches on the following page:

Each sketch should include:

✅ Symmetrical balance (mirror image)

✅ Symbolism (flowers, candles, objects, colors, etc.)

✅ Elements of Art — line, shape, color, form, value

✅ Principles of Design — balance, unity, harmony

When both designs are complete, check in with Ms. Holmes or your teacher for approval before moving on. Once approved, use colored pencils on your selected design to plan your color palette for painting.

🎨 Step 3: Create the Final Artwork

After your design is approved:

1. Use the Large Skull Template to trace your skull onto 9"x12" watercolor paper, centered on the page.

   

2. Lightly sketch your final design in pencil (don’t press too hard—pencil lines should be faint).

3. Gather your supplies: watercolor palette, brushes, water cup, and paper towel.

Watercolor Techniques to Use:

• 🎨 Flat Wash — even layer of color

• 🌈 Gradated Wash — fades from dark to light

• 💧 Wet-on-Wet — soft, blended transitions

• ✨ Dry Brush — texture and detail

Tips for Painting:

• Be patient! Let areas dry before painting next to them.

• Use lighter washes first, then add darker layers for detail.

• Consider your background — do you want it white, colorful, or patterned?

• Clean your brush often and change your water when it gets cloudy.

🖼 Step 4: Finishing Touches & Display

• When your painting is complete, check in with Ms. Holmes for feedback.

• Mount your artwork on black paper for a clean gallery look.

• Sign your name neatly at the bottom corner.

Your final artwork will be displayed in The Bentley Gallery and the Del Oro Library Gallery during our Día de los Muertos celebration — a time to honor memory, identity, and artistic expression.

👩‍🎨 Connected Artists

• José Guadalupe Posada – Created the famous calaveras illustrations that inspired modern sugar skull art.

• Frida Kahlo – Used symbolism and color to express personal identity and emotion.

• Diego Rivera – Celebrated Mexican culture through murals and vibrant composition.

🧠 Learning Goals

By the end of this project, you will be able to:🎨 Create a symmetrical design using balance and unity.💧 Apply watercolor techniques to layer and blend color effectively.💀 Use symbolism to communicate meaning in your artwork.🪶 Reflect on how art can celebrate life, memory, and culture.

🪶 Materials You’ll Need

• Watercolor paper (9"x12")

• Large skull template

• Pencil and eraser

• Watercolor paint set

• Brushes (various sizes)

• Water cup

• Paper towel

• Lightbox or window for tracing

• Black paper for matting

🌟 Student Tip or Reflection Prompt

✨ Think about who or what your skull represents. How do your colors, symbols, and design choices tell that story?