Under the skin drawing project for high school drawing classes. A great lesson to start a figure drawing unit with.

1. UNDER YOUR SKIN PROJECT
An Adventure in Skeletal Drawing

2. The skeleton often appears in art and
pop culture
• Fashion

3. Fashion (cont’d)

4. Costume or Disguise

5. Mexican Culture
• The Day of the Dead is celebrated on
November 1& 2 of each year
• This is a holiday celebrating the spirits of the
dead being able to visit
their relatives on earth
for 2 days each year

6. Day of the Dead
Festivals are held in Mexican cities and towns, celebrating the lives of those who have
passed away
Shops sell sugar skulls, trinkets and special breads and treats in the shape of skulls
Families create altars called Offrendas, to commemorate and welcome spirits of the dead

7. CALVERAS
Tiny skeleton figures, fully clothed are made
And sold during Day of the Dead
celebrations
These figures are made of painted
Clay, cotton and paper

8. UNDER YOUR SKIN PROJECT
• We will be creating a drawing similar to the
Mexican Calveras sculptures
• We will be drawing 2-3 clothed skeletal figures
in various poses in one composition
• You will need to be familiar with the human
skeleton in order to draw it accurately and in
proportion, this will help you further develop
your portrait drawing skills

9. The Human Skeleton

10. MATERIALS NEEDED
• You will need to chose and print or cut out 2-3
full or half body poses in magazines, books or
on-line
• Chose poses that interest you or will make a
good composition, you can use a theme if
desired
• Materials: Paper, Pencil, Prismacolor,

11. Materials (Cont’d)
• You may also include animals or pets in your
portrait