Día de los Muertos face painting involves creating a face that looks like a calavera, the skull figure which is the most prominent visual symbol of the Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. The designs are a blend of skull outlines, marigold flowers, bright colors, decorative linework, and personal symbols selected to pay tribute to particular individuals who have passed away. Every colour and design has significance. The face paint is not a costume as in the Halloween definition. It is a reverent gesture, a means of embodying the spirit of the deceased and a way of joining in with a ritual of life after death.
Key Takeaways
- The calavera (skull) face painting is the basis for Día de los Muertos face painting and is inspired by the tradition of the skulls in Aztec and Catholic tradition in Europe, which symbolize the cycle of life and death.
- The art of painting faces to look like sugar skulls dates back to relatively recent times, and began as a public tradition in the 20th century, although the calavera design is hundreds of years old.
- The colors of the face painting have specific meanings: white (innocence), yellow (light and life), red (fire and warriors), blue (water and purity), purple (grief), and black (the Aztec underworld).
- The most prevalent design features include outlines of skulls, marigold flowers (cempazúchitl), tears, spiderwebs, crosses, and decorative linework around the eyes.
- Face painting is a personal and honorific act; it is not a costume, it is a person being honored.
- The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History says the idea of “correct” way to face paint during Día de los Muertos is not a universal one: colors and symbols are determined by each person, region and community.
- The practice has been strongly influenced by the image of the skeletal figure, La Catrina, which was devised by artist José Guadalupe Posada and named by Diego Rivera, who created the image as the visual template that is used around the world.
This lesson explores the origins of the Día de los Muertos face painting
Origins: Aztec and European Roots
HubPages says that the Día de los Muertos face painting designs combine Aztec and European symbols, Catholic beliefs, and native Mexican peoples’ religions. The skull is a symbol that predates the arrival of the Spaniards in Mexico. Skulls were shown in tzompantli, wooden skull racks, which were used to honor the dead, in Aztec culture. Queen of the Underworld, Mictecacihuatl was portrayed as a skeleton and led ceremonies in honor of the deceased.
The indigenous autumn death ceremony was combined with All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2) during the 16th century when the Catholic calendar was imposed on them by the Spanish colonists. HubPages also states that skulls and skeletons were also a crucial component of All Saints’ Day festivals in medieval Europe, especially after the Black Death of the 14th century, as artists throughout Europe created memento mori pieces as a reminder of death. These two traditions fused together to create the Día de los Muertos visual language.
The current use of face painting
But, HipLatina says, the face painting is not that old a tradition. The calavera decoration and art form dates back to centuries but the custom of painting a face to look like a sugar skull was popularized mainly during the 20th century. During the 1970s and 1980s, face painting became a public expression of the tradition, as public Día de los Muertos celebrations began to grow in Mexico City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities.
On Día de los Muertos, Olvera Street in Los Angeles is home to elaborate face painting booths, offering children a chance to become whimsical skeletons and adults more elaborate designs inspired by ancient Aztec designs.
La Catrina’s contribution to the template
The most popular visual template for contemporary Día de los Muertos face painting is directly from the printmaker José Guadalupe Posada’s work in the late 19th century, which was later christened by muralist Diego Rivera as La Catrina. The original figure of Posada, known as La Calavera Garbancera, was a skull in a fancy European hat, used to satirize politics. In Rivera’s mural from 1947, he put the figure in and named her La Catrina.
Today’s characteristic face painting, with its white skull base, dark eye sockets, floral pattern around the cheeks and forehead, and ornamental linework, is a legacy of the visual language that Posada created and La Catrina popularized. People paint their faces for Día de los Muertos because the visual grammar of the painting was influenced by one artist’s satirical drawing more than 100 years ago.
Learn about colors used in Day of the Dead Face Painting
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History says that each color and design in the Día de los Muertos face-paint has meaning for the person who is wearing it, and that each person, region, and community has their own interpretation of the colors. Here are the most common color correspondences.
| Color | Primary Symbolic Meaning |
| White | Innocence and purity |
| Yellow / Orange | Light, life, and the marigold flower that guides spirits home |
| Red | Fire, the sun, and honoring warriors (including those lost in childbirth) |
| Blue | Water, cleansing, and purity |
| Purple | Grief and mourning |
| Black | The Aztec underworld and the land of the dead |
| Pink | Celebration and festivity |
| Green | Youth and nature |
From the HubPages article, yellow relates to the cempazúchitl (marigold), copal incense and the candles for the ofrendas to cleanse the area and direct the spirits. Red is used to represent warriors and in some indigenous customs, women who died in childbirth were also considered warrior. Black’s connection to the Aztec underworld sets it apart from its European association with mourning, and makes it more neutral and geographically specific in this regard.
Elements of Día de los Muertos Face Painting
The Skull Base
The skull outline is the basis for almost all Día de los Muertos face painting. The skull design usually includes intricate, colorful patterns and decorations on the base of the skull, and the colors, flowers, and other elements symbolize the celebration of life and death. The skull shape is created by applying the white base paint to the entire face. Black or deep color is used to darken eye sockets to give the appearance of a hollowed skull. Shading can be used to draw attention to cheekbones.
Marigold Flowers (Cempazúchitl)
HubPages reports that many skull designs feature flowers, and the most popular flower associated with Día de los Muertos is the marigold or cempazúchitl (flower of the dead). The most frequent use of marigold designs is near the eyes, extending from the eye sockets in petal shapes, or across the cheeks and forehead. The vibrant orange and yellow hues are set against a white base of the skull, forming a striking contrast in the design.
Decorative Linework
The design is filled with fine black linework, which creates a sense of structure and ornamentation. Complex line work with symbols like crosses, hearts or feathers can add a personal touch to the design while maintaining cultural relevance, according to Anka Bella. This linework may be delicate and lacy, indicative of craft and fineness, or bold and geometric, alluding to pre-Columbian design traditions.
Tears and Eye Designs
Tears, particularly those depicted as diamonds or teardrops that drop from the eye socket, are common in traditional and modern Día de los Muertos face painting. They are not symbols of sadness as such, but rather they are tied to the grief that follows loss as well as to the love that drives the whole tradition.
Gender differences in design
Anka Bella says that the face paint designs for women during Día de los Muertos tend to be more intricate with floral designs and colors. Floral crowns and decorative detail are the hallmarks of the Catrina style, most commonly seen in women’s face painting. Men tend to have simpler design on their skulls, with less floral detail, but again, it is personal and depends on the design.
This is a step-by-step guide to Día de los Muertos face painting
Materials Needed
- White face painting or theatrical face paint (not house paint)
- Black face paint or eyeliner
- Faces: orange, yellow, red, blue, purple and pink face paint
- Fine-tipped face paint brushes (at least 1 fine liner brush & 1 medium brush)
- This sponge applicator is used for base layers.
- Powder or spray with setting powder (optional, for long lasting)
- Use makeup remover to clean up.
Begin on a fresh canvas and have the following supplies: white base paint for the outline of the skull, colored paint for the flowers. Use cosmetic grade or theatrical face paint, not craft or acrylic paint. Acrylic and craft paints contain chemicals not meant for skin contact and may irritate or cause allergic reactions.
Step 1: Make the base with the White Base
Using a sponge, paint the entire face, or the entire area of the skull that you want to paint with white face paint. Don’t make the base thick or it will crack. Wait until the first layer is dry before adding the second. The white base is the base of the skull effect and should be even and completely opaque.
Step 2: Shade in Eye Sockets
With medium brush and black face paint, paint an oval or round shape around each eye to give the skull a hollowed eye socket. This can be a plain filled oval or can be shaped with pointed upper and lower edges to give it a more dramatic look. Slightly overlap the edges for a more natural appearance.
In Step 3, the Nose will be defined
Use a small black heart, triangle or elongated shape for the nose to represent the nasal cavity of a skull. One of the more subtle aspects of the design, but still plays a big role in the overall skull effect.
The Teeth are drawn in Step 4
Apply black lines with a fine liner brush from lips to suggest teeth on jaw. The most common method is to start at the upper and lower lips and draw horizontal lines across them and then add vertical lines above and below to form a style of teeth. Or use white paint to fill in the lips, and add black lines for a more realistic dental impression.
Step 5: Add Marigold Designs Around the Eyes
Add marigold petal shapes around the eye socket area using orange and yellow paint and a fine brush, radiating out from the eye socket area. The petals may spread out on the cheeks, up on the forehead or to the temples. Use white or contrasting colour paint to add small dot details to the centre of each flower.
Step 6: Add Color and Decorative Linework
Using a fine liner brush, fill in black linework all over the design: swirls at the temples, geometric designs on the forehead, teardrops below the eyes, or cross motifs on the center forehead. Fill in areas with colors: blue for a brow design, red for floral accents, purple for mourning-associated areas.
Once you have finished, you can set it
Inspect the entire design and add and refine areas that have accidentally been covered with the white base or where line work is not well defined. For setting spray, lightly spray to make the design last longer. Finished areas can be gently pressed over with a large soft brush to minimize transfer when setting powder.
Día de los Muertos Face Painting for Kids!
Children’s Día de los Muertos face painting is done in the same vocabulary as the adults, but is usually simplified and done in a shorter time. Kids laugh as they are painted as fun whimsical skeletons, and the simpler sugar skull designs work well with younger faces as the skull base and one or two floral details are clearly visible at a small size, according to the Oreate AI blog.
The most critical aspect for children is to use products that are specially tested and approved for sensitive skin. There are many brands that make hypoallergenic face paint and theatrical makeup. Test on wrist before applying to larger areas, especially for children who have known skin sensitivities.
The design can be simplified to just the basic outline elements: white base, dark eye sockets, simple nose, stylized teeth, and one marigold on each cheek. This takes about 10 minutes to apply and creates an identifiable design without the need for the fine linework of longer designs for adults.
Cultural Considerations in Día de los Muertos Face Painting
HipLatina says the face painting is not only culturally beautiful, but it also has meaning, and is a way to celebrate the life of those who have gone. This tradition has grown much larger than the Mexican and Chicano community, especially in the United States, where Día de los Muertos is celebrated in cities throughout the country.
As the practice grows, there are good questions of context and respect. There are a few things HipLatina says people should know before they paint their faces, such as where the tradition comes from and that doing so in a thoughtful way involves more than just aesthetics, it involves understanding the meaning of the tradition.
The most respectful way to use it is to find out what it means, before using it: The skull is a tribute to a person, Colors have a symbolic meaning, It is a tradition of a certain cultural and spiritual practice. This knowledge does not prevent people from participating but enhances it. The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History states that there is no correct way to face paint during Día de los Muertos – each person and community adds to the meaning of the art.
The connection between artistic surface and meaning is a different one in different cultural contexts. The precision needed for applying face paint, matching the technical requirements of the design to the surface to which it is applied, relates to the technical principles that govern the application of any paint. The principles, especially concerning surface preparation and controlled application, are explored in a completely new light in the practical guide to painting swimming pool with epoxy paint, in which the quality and durability of the painted swimming pool surface are determined by the material requirements of the surface to be painted.
Día de los Muertos Face Painting Designs by Style
Traditional Sugar Skull
The traditional sugar skull design is a full calavera treatment, with white base, black eye sockets with petal extensions, stylized nose, extended teeth on the jaw and marigold flower designs on the cheeks and forehead. This is the most familiar version and most like the visual template.
La Catrina Style
The skull base is complemented by elaborate ornamental detail, such as decorative hat references painted onto the forehead, lace-effect linework at the jaw and temples, and more complex floral arrangements, which are all inspired by the Catrina. This style is most closely related to face painting among women, and is closely inspired by Posada’s original figure.
Colorful Skeleton Design
This design is not just black and white, but includes bright blues, purples and reds in skeletal forms, symbolizing happy celebration, says Anka Bella. This emphasizes color and celebration over traditional accuracy and is suitable for community celebrations and festivals.
Floral Marigold Design
Anka Bella says the face paint is surrounded by a ring of marigold blooms, which highlights the floral theme of the holiday, and sometimes also with glittering accents. This design emphasizes the flower, not the skull, creating a vibrant and joyful image that is still firmly rooted in the Día de los Muertos imagery.
Minimalist Calavera
Simplified skull design with only black and white, clean skull outline, darken eye sockets, and stylized teeth. Ideal for beginners and face painting in a time-limited environment like a classroom or a community gathering. These can be expanded with additions as time and ability permit.
As with any art form, the careful design of the application yields a more lasting and meaningful result than the unplanned application of paint; the same goes for face painting as it does for the fine art traditions covered in the guide to Ad Reinhardt Abstract Painting 1957, which saw the artists making sure that every element of their work was necessary and necessary only.
How to take off Día de los Muertos Face Paint
Theatrical and cosmetic face paint are meant to be washed off with water and mild cleanser. General face painting rules state that the best way to remove the paint is:
- Dip a cotton pad with a little baby oil, coconut oil or oil-based makeup remover.
- Press firmly on the painted surface and let the oil sit on the paint for 30 seconds.
- Use the cotton pad to wipe the design in the direction of the design being applied.
- Use a gentle facial cleanser and warm water rinse.
- Use light moisturizer, face painting and removal may dry the skin.
Baby oil is the mildest and most effective first step for kids face painting. Most of the face paints used by professional face painters will come off with soap and water (except for oil-based face paints, which need the oil-based removal step).
The thoughtful selection of material before the surface and the proper way to remove or care for it is linked to a larger concept of material respect that is applicable to the professional craft of all disciplines. It’s the same reasoning that’s applied in the consumer’s guide to car painting shops near me, where the selection of materials to the surface, and a knowledge of the whole process of application and upkeep, is what makes the difference in the final product.
Día de los Muertos Face Painting Quick Reference
| Element | Description |
| Base | White face paint across full face or skull area |
| Eye sockets | Black oval or shaped dark areas around eyes |
| Nose | Heart, triangle, or elongated black shape |
| Teeth | Horizontal lip line with vertical extensions |
| Flowers | Marigold petal designs in orange and yellow |
| Linework | Fine black decorative lines, swirls, crosses |
| Tears | Diamond or teardrop shapes below eye sockets |
| Colors | White, black, orange, yellow, red, blue, purple |
| Key symbol | La Catrina / calavera de azúcar |
| Cultural origin | Aztec, Spanish Catholic, Mexican folk tradition |
Conclusion
Día de los Muertos face painting is one of the most striking and meaningful aspects of the public celebration today. It was a form of personal portraiture in which skull outlines, marigold flowers and colour symbolism are integrated into the design, a fusion of Aztec and Catholic Catholic visual culture, greatly influenced by the work of the artist José Guadalupe Posada, and thereby producing a costume that celebrates the lives of specific individuals.
The practice is personal, cultural and artistic at the same time. The colors have significance. The design elements are based on a tradition that goes back centuries. The wearing of the face paint is a gesture of remembrance and celebration, not a presentation of fear and an appropriation of horror imagery.
Anyone painting a face for the first time will get something that really does reflect what the tradition is about, and is eye-catching, if they start with the base of the skull, add some marigold flowers around the eyes, and select colors that have significance for the person being honored.
To read more guides about art traditions, painting techniques and cultural practice, visit Shani Levni‘s full collection of content.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Día de los Muertos” face painting mean?
Día de los Muertos face painting involves painting the face to look like a calavera or skull during the Mexican holiday on the 1st and 2nd of November. The designs feature skulls, marigold flowers, and symbolic colors, all of which represent the death of loved ones. It is a respectful gesture stemming from a belief that death is a continuation of life.
Is the face painting of Día de los Muertos an old tradition?
The design of the calavera dates back to several centuries ago and is a blend of Aztec and European Catholic influences. In the 20th century, however, the custom of painting oneself to look like a sugar skull became commonplace. Artist José Guadalupe Posada’s figure of La Catrina, which dates to the late 19th century, has had a great influence on the visual template used today.
What are the significance of the colours in the face painting for Día de los Muertos?
Every color has a symbolism: white is innocence, yellow and orange are light and the marigold flower that helps spirits return, red is for warriors, blue is for water and purity, purple is for grief and black is for the Aztec underworld. The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History states that each person and each community has its own tradition of defining these colors, which may differ by region.
What supplies do I need to use for Día de los Muertos face painting?
White face paint, black face paint, colors (orange, yellow, red, blue, purple), fine tipped face paint brushes, sponge for base application and makeup remover for cleanup. Use cosmetic grade or theatrical face paint, never acrylic or craft paint.
How to take off Dia de los Muertos face paint?
Use a cotton pad with baby oil, coconut oil or oil based makeup remover to gently press on the painted area. Allow 30 seconds for the oil to dissolve the paint, then wipe away. Gently cleanse with a facial cleanser and warm water rinse, then moisturize with a light facial lotion. Professional face paints use most water-based face paints which are easily removed with soap and water.
Should non-Mexicans do Día de los Muertos face painting?
The tradition has grown far beyond Mexican and Chicano communities and many of the cultural figures in the tradition are receptive to thoughtful participation. The most respectful way to do this is to appreciate the significance of the design before you apply it, to understand that the skull represents a specific person, and that the colors have symbolic meaning and to respect the cultural context rather than the face paint being just decoration.
So, what’s the difference between Día de los Muertos face painting and Halloween makeup?
There is some visual commonality between the two traditions, such as skulls and skeletal imagery, but these have different meanings. Halloween skull facepaint is often about fear and the fearsome nature of death. The face painting of Día de los Muertos is a reverent way of honoring the dead, celebrating, and believing that the spirits of the dead come back to visit the living. The designs are not frightening, but rather they are joyful and colorful, and each element has a certain symbolic meaning.