In Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) culture, Catrina and Catrin are iconic figures symbolizing death and the afterlife. Catrina is a skeletal representation of a wealthy woman, often depicted wearing an elegant dress and a fancy hat, originally created by Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada. Catrin is the male counterpart, portraying a well-dressed gentleman. These figures are not meant to be scary but rather serve as a reminder of the cycle of life and death, with the belief that death is a natural part of the human experience to be embraced and celebrated.
Let's begin! You'll need acrylic paint, wood glue (or any adhesive)
Triptych Day Of The Dead Catrina and Catrin Kit
Let's start by gathering all the components of our Day of the Dead Catrin and Catrina kit on our workspace, preparing for a creative journey into this rich cultural tradition.
With our materials ready, we begin sketching the Catrin's graceful form, ensuring a strong foundation for our painting. Using a blend of blue paint delicately watered down, we craft a sky that evokes a sense of depth and tranquility, layering on white to fashion fluffy clouds that dance across our canvas.
As we bring our painted cutouts to life with vibrant colors, the Catrin begin to embody the spirit of the Day of the Dead, each stroke of the brush a testament to the celebration of life and remembrance.
Lets add some detail with our fine black pen.
Transitioning to our Catrina, we repeat the process, infusing her with the same care and attention to detail, capturing the essence of her elegance and beauty.
To complete our shrines, we carefully glue the cutouts to their triptychs, creating a stunning shrine that honors this tradition in a truly unique and personal way.
Behold, our finished Day of the Dead shrines, a testament to our creativity and respect for this beautiful cultural celebration.
Artist: Lupe Flores