Skeletons come to life in day-glo mural

Livonia, Michigan

MacFarland Painting

The Mexican Day of the Dead – “Día de los Muertos” – turns mourning on its head.

Instead of black outfits and a somber tone, the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrates with colorful art and festive gatherings. Skeletons and “sugar skulls” are supposed to serve as a reminder of the closeness of death, which in turn reminds participants to enjoy life.

That was the inspiration for a truly jaw-dropping three mural display by MacFarland Painting.

The Blind Owl Restaurant in Royal Oak, Michigan, asked for the bony motif, which was a nice fit for the restaurant’s eclectic atmosphere. The macro scale design required artistic vision, technical skill, and a lifetime of ingenuity.

“The best part of working on this project was to get to create our own designs and bring them to life,” Owner John MacFarland said. “We are very grateful to the owner for trusting our vision.”

It began with concept sketches by muralist Alex Simich. Once the client settled on a basic design, the team enlarged it with a projector casting it on the wall. 

Painting started with white silhouettes of all the characters and buildings using dry brushing techniques. The fine line work was accomplished with acrylic Posca paint parkers.

To top it off, they used spray paint to add fluorescent highlights.

“Our biggest challenge was working with the fluorescent paints,” MacFarland said. “It always takes some time to master new products and techniques.”

As for the Blind Owl owner, he was incorporated into the mural as a skeleton. A fitting tribute. As the Spanish saying goes: “Death is democratic. At the end, regardless of whether you are white, dark, rich or poor, we all end up as skeletons.”