How to Carve a Michael Jackson Pumpkin

Move beyond the traditional jack-o-lantern with a personalized pumpkin portrait.

If you are an avid Michael Jackson fan and want to pay homage to the King of Pop at Halloween, you might want to carve a pumpkin to look like the star's face. The numerous photos and drawings of Michael Jackson make it easy to find an image that will work well on a pumpkin. The sharp contrast between his hair color and skin as well as the sharp shadows on many of his publicity photos make him an ideal candidate for a pumpkin portrait. To preserve your creation, carve Michael Jackson's portrait on an artificial pumpkin to display annually.

Things You'll Need

• Pumpkin, real or synthetic
• Image or computer
• Printer or copier
• Pumpkin saw or knife
• Large spoon
• Painter's tape
• Poking tool, thumb tack or nail
• Permanent marker
• Exacto knife or carving tool
• Washcloth
• Light or candle

Instructions

1. Find an image of Michael Jackson's face. The best images for making a portrait jack-o-lantern will have sharp outer edges, good shadowing and obvious contrasts where Michael Jackson's hair touches his face and similar areas. Search online for "Michael Jackson portraits."

2. Use your mouse to right-click on the image and save it to your computer, using either "Save as" or "Save image as." Print the image in black and white. If the image you like is in a book, on an album cover or on a poster, make a black and white photocopy. The result should be a realistic, but simplified image in black, white and gray.

3. Cut the excess paper off the outer edge of the picture, leaving an inch around Michael Jackson's face for affixing the paper to the pumpkin. Cut some lines from the outer edge in toward the image so the paper will wrap more easily onto the curved face of the pumpkin.

4. Carve out the inside of your pumpkin by cutting a fist-sized hole in either the top or bottom. If you use candles to light the pumpkin, cut a hole in the top. If you use an electric light, cut a hole in the bottom. Scoop out the insides and scrape the sides of the pumpkin until they are half an inch thick.

5. Position the image on the smoothest side of the pumpkin. Use the ridges of the pumpkin to add dimension to the image. For example, consider positioning Michael Jackson's nose or his cheekbones over ridges. Affix the paper to the pumpkin with painter's tape and press the paper into the crevices.

6. Punch holes along the lines of the template with a thumb tack or a pumpkin hole punching tool. Follow the outside edge of the image, as well as the areas outlining all white, gray and black regions within the image.

7. Remove the template and keep it at hand for reference. Note, the black areas on the template, such as Michael Jackson's hair. Locate them on the pumpkin. Do not cut or mark these areas. They will be left as is.

8. Use a permanent marker to mark the areas on the pumpkin which were white on the template, such as the parts of Michael Jackson's face that are not shadowed. Cut them out completely and slowly, using an exacto knife or pumpkin saw. If it is a large chunk, cut it into smaller pieces as you go.

9. Mark the areas on the pumpkin that were gray on the template. With an exacto knife, shave away the orange skin, leaving the yellow flesh. Proceed slowly, carving off small layers at a time.

10. Wipe the pumpkin clean with a damp or dry cloth.

11. Insert a light into the pumpkin and light it up.

Tips & Warnings

• A silhouette of Michael Jackson would also work. Draw a circle or oval around the silhouette so the image is touching the circle in at least two places. Cut out the areas inside the circle that are not black.

References

• Planet Green: How to Put Your Face On A Jack-O-Lantern
• Cool Pumpkins: Carving a Portrait into a Pumpkin

Resources

• Fine Art America: Michael Jackson Pencil Drawing
• Michael Jackson
• Edupics: Michael Jackson Coloring Page