Author: Melissa

 

Hi! This is Melissa again! We are almost at the end! This will be the last hour of the art-a-thon. Hope you all have been having fun and enjoying the prompts.

For this hour we decided that there would be no prompt; since its only an hour and not two. This means you can do whatever you like. You could decide to finish up something you started for a previous prompt but were unable to complete, you could create something new or you could just chat away with the other participants and hosts.

My plan is to finish any pieces I started earlier as well as work on my piece for inktober and drawlloween.

If you haven’t done so already you can download the Halloween Activity Book we created and print it out for yourself or your kids. It contains coloring pages and puzzles. Click the image below to download the pdf.

 
 
Here is a video of a Halloween song based on “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. ~Melissa

 
Hi! Its Melissa again. We are now halfway through the art-a-thon. Hope you are all having fun.
The prompt now is to create a mask or other scary wearable. Humans have worn masks for over 9000 years and quite possibly even much longer than that. Masks can vary in usage. They can be used for ceremonies, rituals, protection, entertainment and disguise. Masks can be very simple or even very elaborate.
Halloween masks and costumes in particular originated centuries ago during the Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain is a celebration that honors the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was believed that, during this period, the veil between the living world and the world of the dead was thin. This allowed the spirits to pass through to our world. Food was left to welcome ancestor’s spirits. Evil spirits also would pass through so the Celts would dress up in costumes and masks to scare away and trick the evil spirits.
I will be making 2 masks today. For the first I purchased a skeletal mask that I will paint on and give it a calavera look. For the second mask I purchased a hard mask to use as a mold to create a clay mask using paper clay . I molded the mask a few weeks ago since it would take a couple of weeks to dry. While it dried it cracked in several places however rather than scrapping it and doing a new one I decided to use it as is and just incorporate the cracks in my design.

Below are pictures of the masks I will be painting.
 

The mask I will paint in a calavera style.

The mask I made using paper clay.

The hard mask I used as a mold.

 

	I believe I will be taking a dummy head and cutting off the face. I want to see if I can create a mask to look like my comic book hero from SUPER! Depending on the success or lack there of I may choose to glue a variety of objects to it as a base. It would be fun to make something I could wear on days other than Halloween or Comic cons. Possibly a monster on a hair clip….
	On the wearable scariness front… I have made a number of monsters… and have a few monster related pieces that I will share today in the feed… and this was made to be a prize offering for the winner that will be chosen today. that is my son facing you with the hat on his head but for reasons unknown to me, he pulled his hair over his face like Cousin It first. I promise he was clean… LOL Warning: This is less scary to wear than to be seen with while someone else wears it. IMO.
	I don’t make a lot of wearables in general, but I do love some crazy hats and jewelry.  I’ve been wanting to make a bunch of horrifyingly adorable pendants, so I guess it’s time to change that!!

 

Good morning all! This is Melissa and I will be your host during this prompt. Are you ready to begin a spooktacular art-a-thon? I know I am. If you haven’t already guessed the theme for this art-a-thon it is Halloween. I love Halloween. Its my favorite holiday. Probably because my favorite genre is horror.

Now on to the first prompt of the day.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday that honors the deceased. It is not only celebrated in Mexico but in other parts of the world too. It takes place November 1st and 2nd.

One thing that is very identifiable for the holiday is the calavera which is the representation of the human skull like in the sugar skulls which are made from sugar and colorfully colored with colored sugar, icing and foil but can also include representations of skeletons which may be dressed in clothing and doing everyday activities.

During the holiday family and friends decorate altars and cemeteries with the deceased’s favorite foods, drinks, personal items and sugar skulls. The altars and cemeteries are also decorated with marigolds which are believed to help guide the spirits to their altars because of its vibrant colors and scent. The most common marigold used is the African Marigold which is also known as the flower of the dead. Even though the holiday deals with the dead it is a very upbeat and joyous celebration.

So for this prompt you can create a piece that depicts the holiday or certain aspects of the holiday. As always though you can create whatever you want. The prompts and theme are just suggestions.

If you wish to decorate skulls I have created four templates that you can print out and decorate. You can click here or the image below to download them.

For this prompt I plan on creating a small calavera storage box. The skull is made out of paper clay which I created a few weeks ago since it took over two weeks to dry completely. The wooden flower box I purchased some time ago for another project that I then decided not to do. Unfortunately the flower box doesn’t look like a marigold so I am unsure yet if it will be painted in the marigold colors or in another color. This project will probably take the entire 2 hours.

It was partially painted for the other project that I decided not to do so that is not the color it will be.

 

	When ever I am attempting a style I’m not familiar with I google images it. In this case you will come up with a number of face paints, drawings, decorations and photographs. Scrolling down the page look for designs and styles you find appealing and translate them into your piece. Notice the color pallets and contrast that highlight the style. Incorporate choice moments and use them as inspiration. I’m fond of using make up and clothes catalogues as my base faces. I can draw on them and choose the most successful. If you make an atc sized window from cardboard or contact paper you can use it to choose your composition. Interacting with the side can have very positive effects. After cutting out the magazine I attach it to a sturdier paper or board. As far as what to use to draw on this material, I suggest ink. Sharpies and sparkly colors work great. I’ve also heard nail polish is a great way to get bold vibrant colors or sparkles that don’t end up all over your work area.
	I’ve already created some goodies and plan on following along with Melissa. I was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico and in Denver, Colorado where I grew up seeing and being exposed to a lot of the visual traditions of the Day of the Dead. I’ve had to go back as an adult to learn about the reason for the holiday and traditions. This little lady was made for Melissa as a gift and was inspired by some gorgeous artwork I saw on Pinterest. She is actually the direct combination of a couple of different really awesome sculptures and then, of course, my own inspirations… because everything is more fun with a bird on your head.
	Day of the Dead is my second-favorite holiday.  I find myself throwing sugar skulls, Monarch butterflies, and marigolds on something at least on a weekly basis.  I’ve been wanting to make some more Skullbunnies, so I think I’ll take this opportunity to make it happen!

 

Here is a video of Marilyn Manson’s version of “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas special edition album, Nightmare Revisited. I prefer this version over the original. ~Melissa