Day of the Dead Dolls

The Día de los Muertos dolls are characterized by colorful clothing and decorative skeletal face paint. If you are interested in purchasing a Day of the Dead inspired doll or jewelry, please visit my SHOP page.

Day of the Dead Wall Relief

The face has been hand sculpted from an air-dry clay called Paperclay. The hair is synthetic but is very realistic. After the sculpt has dried and been sanded to a smooth finish, they are hand-painted in traditional Día de Muertos designs with acrylic paint and sealed.  The 'death masks' are mounted onto a wood backplate that can hang on a wall.

Pamela

This customer is from New Mexico, where the Day of the Dead tradition is celebrated in the US. She commissioned me to make the doll wearing her favorite custom cowgirl boots. There is a painting of the boots in this photo behind the doll. The doll is 12 inches tall. The arms, legs, and head are cast in resin from an original sculpt. Her clothing is hand-sewn and the boots were sculpted out of polymer clay and hand-painted. She was made in 2016 for Pamela.

Sonja

A modern dancer asked if she could do a performance with 2 of my Day of the Dead dolls. The night of the performance she dressed as one of the dolls. This piece was commissioned as her from that performance. The doll is 12 inches tall. Her arms, legs, and head are cast resin from an original sculpt. Her body and clothing are 100% cotton. She is sewn and painted by hand. She was made in 2014 for Sonja.

Día de Muertos Dolls

The Día de Muertos tradition of wild colors and playful costuming can also be offset by solid white outfits and a red sash. Which nods to the clothing for "The Running of the Bulls." The head and appendages are resin, cast from an original sculpt and mold I designed. The body is handsewn using using 100% cotton and stuffed with batting. This gives these smaller dolls a 'rag doll' aesthetic. Her face has been hand painted in the traditional Día de Muertos style using acrylic paint. The doll is 12 inches tall. I have made numerous versions of these little skeletal rag dolls over the years.

Dead Boy

This was a commission by a wife for her husband who loves dark things, as well as The Smiths. The doll is 22" tall. It was hand sculpted using air-dry clays Paperclay and Apoxie Sculpt. The clothing is hand-sewn. The spectacles are fashioned from wire. His body is made using a wire armature so he can sit and stand with ease. He was made in 2010.

Day of the Dead Wall Hanging

The body is hand sewn using vintage materials combined with modern spiderweb lace. This series of dolls were made a hanger on the back of the head so that she can hang on a wall. The head is cast resin from an original sculpt and hand painted using acrylic paints. The arms were fashioned from polymer clay. This was a series of dolls made in 2011.

Day of the Dead Brooches and Necklaces

Over the years I have made dozens of brooches and necklaces that are Muerte death masks. Every piece is a unique design for those of us that like to celebrate Halloween year-round. This jewelry design is inspired by vintage Mardi Gras mask brooches and pendants -- with a Strange Dolls twist. It was made from a Paperclay sculpt that is cast in resin for the durability of wear. The brooches have a straight pin backing.