This is a favorite project and a fun way to dive into human anatomy along with art history over this festive holiday.
I like to begin by looking at skeletons with the class, especially the skull, and do a practice drawing together. We notice the different areas of the skull, talk about its structure, connection points, and take time to locate those areas on our own head.
As students finish their skull drawings, I begin to share about the life and art of Jose Posada. If you're not familiar with his work, look him up! It is his animated skeletons, called 'calaveras' that have woven their way into how el dia del los muertos is celebrated today.
Above: Art by José Posada (1852 – 1913) a Mexican political cartoonist who used lithography to produce his popular illustrations, influencing many Latin American artists with his sharp humor and social engagement. Skulls, calaveras, and bones to convey political and cultural critiques. Among his most enduring works is La Calavera Catrina.
At this point we dive right into to creating our own calaveras using a brush and ink. Students balance the bold strokes of the brush with thin, contour lines made by a black pen, achieveing a similar look to Posadas black and white etchings.
A white oil pastel toward the end of the session can be used to add highlights.
Our second session began by looking briefly at papel picados and discussing how they are used in celebrations. We then created a border to apply to the bottom of our artwork in this style, folding the paper and cutting in small shapes to reveal the repeating patterns they form.
The rest of the class was spent adding colored paper embellishments to bring our calaveras to life. Throughout the process, we talked about telling a story with the images you choose and adding meaning details that describe those images.
