Faerie Lantern - Alt Mache

Faerie Lantern - alt mache
"alt mache" is a term I invented that means my papier mache creations are directed by the "random" things I find.  I find these "random" things like small tables, or beds, or even this lantern, which I "alter" and add a papier mache person to, so there you have it, "alt mache".

Calavera Sisters

Just finished yesterday, these giant calavera skulls.  They are an order for the Veuve Clicquot champagne company's Dia de los Muertos event.  Hope you like these sisters.

The 3 Calaveras

I created these 3 Calaveras as a series to show the evolution of the "Calavera" within the Mexican Tradition.


This calavera I call, "First Skull".  A hallmark of "modern" humans was the actual burial and ceremonies that followed the death of a loved one.  The body would be decorated and placed in a shallow grave, to be unearthed later and displayed as an honored Ancestor.

The second skull, "Aztec Warrior" .  This calavera shows all of the magical, mystical warrior marking on this skull face.  The Aztec civilization took the power of life/death to another level.

The final skull is the modern Sugar Calavera with bright colors and common motifs.  The modern era has turned the Calavera into more a caricature of death, rather than the powerful and revered original skulls of the Ancestors.

Viva la Vida - a Frida Calavera

This calavera represents Frida Kahlo's art and her life, how they intertwined.  Through her artwork she showed the world her pain, her vulnerability and her strength as well.  It is titled, "Viva la Vida", the title of Frida's last work of art.

Frida's Heart

Here is my latest work titled, "Frida's Heart".  This calavera depicts Frida Kahlo rising from her chair in order to offer her "heart" to someone.  This is an all hand-made papier mache calavera, it took about 3 weeks to make the entire scene.  She is on her way to the Corazon Gallery at Olvera Street for an art show.

Frida La Sirena

Just finished for 2014,
"Frida la Sirena"
a large shadowbox featuring Frida Kahlo as a mermaid!  I love this one, it was really wonderful to create her.  Hope you like her too.

Frida in Bed - a new calavera for 2014

Continuing my papier mache dia de los muertos journey for 2014.  Just finished this calavera scene, it's Frida Kahlo in her bed with her body cast and sugar skull.  This calavera is modeled after an actual picture of Frida in her home the Casa Azul.