Easy Day of the Dead skull scratch art project

This scratch art technique it the perfect easy Day of the Dead skull art project.

 

 

Easy Day of the Dead skull scratch art project

The scratch art technique of hiding bright colours behind black works perfectly to create sugar skull inspired art.

This article is part of our Day of the Dead activities and crafts resources.

Materials needed:

:: skull template from the Day of the Dead Unit lesson plans

:: skull style guide from the Day of the Dead Unit lesson plans

:: wax crayons or oil pastels in black and bright colours

:: pencil

:: scissors

 

 

To create a scratch art sugar skull, start with a skull outline. You can draw your own onto card using a pencil or use the template from the Day of the Dead Unit lesson plans

Next prepare your skull with colour. You can use wax crayons or oil pastels.

Draw all over your skull with colourful crayons / pastels, making sure the whole skull is filled. Use as many colours are you like, in whichever locations you choose.

 

 

Then cover right over the top of all your bright colours with a black wax crayon / oil pastel. You might need to do two or three layers of black to completely cover all the bright colours.

 

 

Now you are ready to draw on your sugar skull design. You can use the skull style guide from the Day of the Dead Unit lesson plans to get ideas for how you want your skull to look or do a Google search for ‘calaveras’.

 

 

Use a pencil to draw on big eyes and mouth, a nose, and lots of other elaborate decorations to make your sugar skull look beautiful.

 

 

As you draw you’ll notice your pencil removes the top layer of black crayon/ pastel to reveal the bright colours hidden underneath.

If you want to make any changes you can add another layer of black over the top and then re-draw your design using your pencil.