Caught on Instagram: Handmade Polymer Clay Sugar Skull Art Beads

The Day of the Dead, or Dia de Muertos, is a special day to celebrate and remember loved ones who have passed on.  This holiday tradition is celebrated on November 1 and 2, the days immediately after Halloween, and has its origins in Mexican culture.  

I've been inspired by the beautifully decorated sugar skulls, or calaveras, and wanted to create some unique, one of a kind beads for art jewelry.  I love the idea of smiling skulls formed from a simple material, like clay, and painted with bold patterns and bright colors to remind us of loved ones we hold dear.

 

I sculpted three different versions of sugar skulls. These small beads were a challenge because the details were so intricate!

 

Here's a glimpse of most of the beads after they were baked and sanded for the first time.

 

This style of large sugar skull had colored polymer clay back-filled, or inlaid, in the carved designs.  This created a permanent design with a beautifully smooth matte finish!

 

These one of a kind art beads are now available in my Elysian Art A La Carte Etsy Shop.  The medium and small sugar skulls are individually hand painted and finished with a layer of liquid polymer to protect the paint from scratching.

I am also working on creating unique pieces of handmade art jewelry.  This is a photo of the first piece in process.  Click here to see the finished piece!

Even though these beads and jewelry pieces are fun for autumn holidays, I believe they are special all year round.  Look for more art jewelry featuring sugar skulls to come soon!