Mexico: Sugar Skulls and the Art of Celebration

August 26, 2025

Before I discovered my passion for painting living creatures—those wild, wonderful beings often covered in fur or feathers—my work revolved around something quite different: skulls.

More specifically, sugar skulls.

A Spark Lit in Mexico
My fascination with sugar skulls was first ignited by my travels through Mexico—a country pulsing with colour, culture, and creativity. Later, this interest was reinforced by the animated film Coco, but the seed was planted long before that, somewhere between the streets of Oaxaca and the jungles of Palenque.

If you’ve ever set foot in Mexico, you’ll understand: the vibrancy of colour is inescapable. It’s in the neon flags strung overhead across cobbled streets, in the brilliant textiles woven by hand, in the food so richly spiced and aromatic it becomes a sensory event. The colours don’t just sit on surfaces—they breathe life into the environment. Mexico, in its essence, is electric.

Mexico City: A Surprising Muse

My journey began in Mexico City, a metropolis I’d expected to be crowded and claustrophobic. But the version I met was lush, green, and surprisingly spacious. It’s recognized globally as a creative capital, buzzing with design festivals, contemporary art, and a spirit that encourages bold artistic expression.

It caught me off guard—in the best possible way.

Puebla, Oaxaca, and the Pulse of Culture

Puebla captivated me with its lively street markets and colonial baroque churches, each corner humming with its own rhythm. Then came Oaxaca, a city that felt like a European town transplanted into Central America. With multicoloured homes, a rich tapestry of cuisine, and those larger-than-life celebrations, Oaxaca’s market square became one of my favourite places to sit, sip, and simply soak it all in.

San Cristóbal de las Casas: A Place That Stays With You

Then there was San Cristóbal de las Casas—a true gem tucked in the Chiapas highlands. This town felt timeless. Surrounded by Mayan villages, it offers a truly authentic experience, where culture and history are preserved with pride. The yellow cathedral, the cobbled streets, and the bright buildings—all painted a perfect backdrop for slow, thoughtful wandering.

San Cristóbal invites you to breathe more deeply, to walk aimlessly, to let the town reveal itself slowly.

Palenque: Echoes of the Ancients

From there, I ventured to Palenque, a mystical landscape of towering trees, swinging monkeys, and ancient temples. The Mayan ruins, rising from the jungle, were a breathtaking sight. Once a ceremonial centre, the site is now part of Parque Nacional Palenque, home to wild creatures like howler monkeys and even jaguars. I spent an entire day here, walking, absorbing, and feeling utterly transported.

Tulum Days: Sun, Sand, and Ancient Stones

The crystal-clear waters and powdery white sands of Tulum made it the ideal place to relax and recalibrate after our travels through this inspiring country. This beachside paradise offers the perfect mix of sun-soaked serenity and cultural discovery. Nestled right on the coast, more ancient Mayan ruins overlook the turquoise sea—an unforgettable backdrop for a swim. I loved watching the iguanas basking in the sun, weaving through the ruins or mingling with the crowds of beachgoers cooling off in the waves.

The Sugar Skull: More Than Just a Symbol

It was within this rich cultural tapestry that I fell in love with sugar skulls, or calaveras de azúcar. These colourful skulls, crafted from sugar, meringue powder, and water, are traditionally made for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a holiday that honours deceased loved ones.

But sugar skulls aren’t morbid. They’re joyful, bright, and celebratory—a blend of pre-Columbian symbolism and European influences, meant to acknowledge the beauty and sweetness of life, even in the face of death.

They’re often decorated with vibrant icing, sequins, and the names of the departed. And instead of mourning, families celebrate—creating altars (ofrendas), telling stories, and welcoming the spirits of loved ones back into the world of the living. It’s an optimistic, profound way of viewing the cycle of life.

From Skull to Surface Pattern

So moved by this celebration, I began to draw skulls—studying anatomy, experimenting with decorative elements, and eventually turning these designs into surface patterns. They weren't my best work! But I was experimenting. I printed them on cushions in an array of bright colours, combining my newfound cultural admiration with creative experimentation.
It was the very beginning of my artistic journey. And like many beginnings, it was bold, colourful, and a little rough around the edges. But it was mine.

The Magic of Coco

Later, Disney-Pixar’s Coco further deepened my appreciation for the tradition. The film tells the story of Miguel, a young musician who journeys to the land of his ancestors during Día de los Muertos. It’s visually stunning, emotionally rich, and filled with heartfelt moments about family, heritage, and memory.

Coco captures the same spirit that first drew me in—the beauty of remembering, the joy of life, and the importance of where we come from.

Where I Am Now

Today, my style has evolved. I now paint living creatures—usually animals full of character, often fluffy or feathered, sometimes shy, sometimes fierce. My palette has shifted from bright primaries to muted tones: gentle pinks, deep teals, and mossy blue-greens.

But if you look closely, you’ll still see the imprint of those sugar skull days in my work. There’s a thread of celebration, a reverence for symbolism, and a love for stories that live beneath the surface.

Art, like life, is always evolving. But I’ll never forget the joy, colour, and spirit that Mexico—and its sugar skulls—brought into my creative world.