Sugar Skull Mask Using Paper Clay (Day of the Dead Calavera)

A calavera, in the context of the Day of the Dead, is a representation of a human skull or skeleton. The term is often applied to edible or decorative skulls made from either sugar or clay, used in the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) and the Roman Catholic holiday All Souls' Day.

Calavera can also refer to any artistic representations of skulls or skeletons or to gifts or treats in relation to the Day of the Dead.

We will be making a paper clay mask and decorating it in the style of calavera.

Image Source

1. Paper clay or any clay of your choice
2. Acrylic paints
3. Paintbrushes
4. Permanent marker
5. Foam board
6. Cloth rags
7. Paper and pencil
8. Cutter or clay tools
9. Newspaper
10. Paper tape
11. Primer
12. Varnish paint/spray

Sketch out the basic shape of a skull. Use basic shapes like a circle for the upper half, a trapezoid for the middle, and an inverted triangle for the chin to make the overall shape.

Draw a vertical axis through the centre to use as your guideline.

Sketch out the eyesockets, nasal cavity, and teeth.

You may choose to sketch out your pattern at this stage.

Ball up a few sheets of newspaper and tape it down to your workspace. This will help give a rounded shape to your mask, rather than having it be completely flat.

Flatten out your clay into a uniformly thick layer. You may choose to press a cloth onto the top of the clay surface to create a nice texture.

Cut out the shape of the skull as sketched in Step 1. Lay your cutout piece of clay onto the newspaper ball and gently form it. We can now begin adding details to the mask.

Cut out circles for the eye sockets. Smooth out the edges using a bit of water and your fingers. Punch two small holes on either side if you plan to tie string/ribbon to the mask.

Add clay to the centre of the mask to create a nasal bridge. Carve out an upside down heart to create the nasal cavity.

Score out the shape of the mouth and teeth inside.

Leave the mask to dry. The paper clay I used required a few days to dry out completely. Drying time may vary based on clay type and environment.

Note: I added some more newspaper to base after detailing the mask to prevent the lower half of the mask from curving too much.

Coat a layer of primer on your mask.

Begin painting the designs on the mask. I chose to plan out my designs with pencil first and used acrylic paints. Finally, I outlined the designs with a black permanent marker.

Spray or paint a coat of varnish on your mask to seal the design. It will also add a glossy effect to the mask.

You can use foam board or any similar material to create a stand to display your mask. I painted my stand black to prevent the white of the mask from blending into it.

Secure your completed mask to the stand.