Creative Paperclay® Calavera Art

Time to get ready for the holidays starting with Halloween and Day of the Dead. I started by rolling out Creative Paperclay® on a masonite panel then laying a stencil over it and brayering it so the pattern would show well. Then a cast skull was glued to it with soft gel. The edges were then trimmed and smoothed with a small amount of water on my fingers then allowed to dry.

SUPPLIES
Creative Paperclay®
Soft Gel Gloss
Black and buff acrylic paint
Jewelry parts
Fake Flower

Black paint was applied to the surface and allowed to dry before a wash of buff paint was applied. This was followed by gluing jewelry parts and fake flower pedals down.

This would look great on the top of an ofrenda.

If you are going to create an ofrenda for Day of the Dead, here is the 3 level layout. This can all be miniaturized by creating the different ofrenda elements with the paper clay such as fruit, sweets and bottles. Be careful though. One year I made faux chocolates for a heart shape box using the clay and my husband tried to eat one.

Dream in Color!

Darlene Olivia McElroy

Add Depth to Your Painting

Starting the year with a narrative of freedom, taking flight and unlocking our personal cages in this piece, Set Me Free.  Affranchis (the letters on the bottom right) comes from the French meaning to liberate or free. The piece evolved from that concept.

Supplies
Collaged surface
Creative Paperclay®
Alphabet stamps
Cast lock
Lace
Red oxide & Burnt umber acrylic paint
Gold & Silver Rub

I started by taping off an area and laying Creative Paperclay® on to the surface. I then embossed it with lace and stamped with my alphabet stamps. I then removed the tape and the lace (which I glued back on later). 

When the first paper clay application dried I added more to make the shape and stamped with a liquid latex mold I had previously made. Then I cast a lock with the paper clay in a press mold from a previous project.

Sorry about the color changes. I took the photos at different times of day. The finished piece has accurate color.

Here is a detail of the cast vintage lock and the stamped paper clay that was painted red oxide then rubbed with both gold and silver rub.

May the new year give you wings to fly high and the key to open your heart to new experiences.

Darlene Olivia McElroy
darleneoliviamcelroy.com
darleneoliviamcelroy.comdarleneoliviamcelroy.com