(As always, click to see the pictures close-up)
The most recent issue of Cloth Paper Scissors (my favorite magazine in the world!) included a feature article by the ridiculously talented Michael Demeng on making calacas. Of course I had to try.
The way you make these is to take Dollar Store figurines or wedding cake toppers (expensive!) and lop off their heads. I know - rather violent, no? I used a chisel, hammer and safety goggles and it was easy peasy.
Then I replaced their missing heads with skeleton heads torn from a garland, also from the Dollar Store.
Next, you cover the whole thing with modeling paste (which is like working with tartar control toothpaste - not fun but very textured) and decorate and paint them as you like. Using a paint pen was easier for fine details like the eye sockets and mouth.
For me, having a very tactile finished project is important so I glued lace to the dress and added dimensional flowers and added a veil turning my "pretty girl" into a "winsome bride".
The veil was one of my favorite parts as I sprayed it with yellow, brown and a bit of blue homemade glimmer mist and then burned the edges to make it curl after I attached it. The effect added a lot of age and movement to the figure. I used the same colors to dye the lace.
For the platform she's standing on I used a piece of scrap wood from our etagere that Brayden lit on fire back in May. I know those pieces would come in handy! The back (tall) piece is balsa wood, I love how it warps a little from the paint and gel medium and that adds a little bit more movement too.
After the wood glue dried, I covered the whole stage in modeling paste, waited for it to dry and then added painted book pages and acrylic paint. To finish I embellished the piece with wrinkle ribbon and blue Prima flowers.
You can see last year's shrines here.
This is my entry in the Mixed Media Monday "Shrines" challenge and the ethereal, non-corporeal, magic or supernatural challenge at Alter-it Monthly.
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36 comments:
Very cool! I saw that deMeng article the other day and thought these were wonderful. Great take on his project.
Nicole, it's so cool to be reading this from Mexico where I've lived for 13 years (near Guadalajara).
I wish I could send you some of the sugared calacas (skulls) that are so popular here this time of year.
The elegantly dressed skeletons like you've done so beautifully in this post are known here as Catrinas.
To be "muy Catrina" is to be "very elegant" and "un Catrin" is a very elegant woman.
Interestingly, there is no masculine version of the Catrina for Day of the Dead.
Your Catrina would fit in very well on any "ofrenda" (shrine) to lost loved ones in our little village ;-)
Wow Very cool! I read that article too and thought I gotta check out those wedding cake toppers and get some. I LOVE THE SHRINES!!!!! SO AWESOME! Thanks for sharing. :)
well... I am going to admit, I have seen these but never knew it had a name...Calacas??? Educational post for me!!! lol but I really enjoyed your creativity!!!! I think I am a hillbilly!
Awesome. So artistic! I love it.
Wonderful!!!
I am a great fan of the ethos behind the day of the dead and love the decorations that go with it. thank you SO much for joining in my shrine theme on mixed media monday...
this piece is also perfect for this months " alter it monthly" http://alteritmonthly.blogspot.com/ (there is a prize up for grabs there) we would be delighted to have you link to us there too if you feel so inclined..
I loove these in Mexico but they are so expensie. Really cute.
Wonderful art work!
thank you Nicole :)
This is amazing! Love the details like the veil and burnt background. Spotted your link at eighteen25's link party.
Nicole ~ Your shrine is fantastic...how fun....I love it.
I just finish doing a Day of The Dead piece for Inspiration Avenue's "Mexico" Challenge and I did a little research about it so I am really psyched on the subject.
Your creations are excellent.
Oh I love the young lady in yellow!
WOW! This is such a beautiful shrine - I love all the bold colors and floral elements - so cool, Kristin
I too am a fan of cloth paper scissors and michael de meng..what a great fun shrine
A fabulous shrine! Thank you for telling us how you achieved it! So happy to have you playing along at Inspiration Avenue!
Wonderfully ghoulish! And you described how you did it so well..even a newbie like me can gather inspiration from!
I was impressed by how much of YOU is in this piece and how little of deMeng. Your bride will surely have no trouble finding her mate.
I'm glad you joined this challenge because it brought me to your blog. I have really enjoyed looking around and love your art.
Am smacking myself in the head now as somehow between my blog revamp I managed to unfollow you and look - have missed some FABULOUS posts!
She's gorgeous - I am inspired to try! Someone told me that they had bought the new Cloth.Paper.Scissors and it had given them the heebie jeebies and therefore they thought I would probably love it (I took that as a compliment!) - if this is a sample of how inspiring it is I reckon I need to search me out a copy :)
I love this dark yet light peice I know of the holiday you speak of. You have a real talent thanks for sharing
Love Dawn xx
We would love to feature you. Come on over to our site and check us out..
Also we have a free beadboard giveaway going on now
Nicole, this is such an interesting and think outside the box creation, so much detail, very artistic piece indeed, thank you for sharing it with us over at AIM.
Totally kewl!
Love her! She so cool and I love that you included hoe you made her. So amped to try myself. Glad I found your blog.
Love her funky coolness. What a fun project!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing the how to. I love your shrines~ So lovely!
~Theresa
I really, really love this. Think I will have a go at this project.
Carol x
This looks great!
This is so cool! I love reading about how you did it. The veil is really special the way you did it.
Hugs,
Terri
Fantastic! Found your through both challenges ;D Love your piece & thanks for the walk-through
AHHH I love all the day of the dead stuff as well! I'm your newest follower and I'm hoping you'll swing by SewWoodsy.blogspot.com for my first ever link party today! This would be a fantastic project to link up!
Thanks for linking up @ SewWoodsy.blogspot.com!
Great work - love the contrast with using the lemon colourings.
So wonderful!
Wonderful day of the dead creations
your shrines are inspiring !
I am squeaking in with the MMM challenge with a little shrine
oxo
Now that is super cool. Very nice piece of art you've created.
Wonderful! Diane
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