How to Paint a Gourd for Halloween

Choose a design that complements the shape of the gourd.

Dried gourds, including bottle and dipper varieties, bring to mind fall harvest, making them a suitable decoration for the Halloween season. Add a spooky design to the gourd by painting it with a Halloween-themed design. A silhouette of a black cat or witch requires minimal skill to paint on the gourd's surface, or you can add color and detail for a more decorative design. The standard Jack 'o Lantern face also works well on a gourd, and there's no need for messy pumpkin carving if you use paint instead.

Things You'll Need

• Bleach
• Cloth
• Pencil
• Halloween stencils
• Enamel or acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Art gum eraser
• Spray sealer

Instructions

1. Mix one part chlorine bleach with nine parts water. Wipe the surface of the gourd clean with the bleach solution. Dry with a clean cloth.

2. Set the gourd on top an empty coffee can to prop it up and prevent it from rolling. Large gourds with a flat bottom may not require a can to sit flat.

3. Draw your design on the gourd with pencil before you paint. Alternatively, tape a stencil onto the gourd and trace the stencil design onto the gourds surface with a pencil.

4. Paint the design onto the gourd with enamel or acrylic paint. Allow each color to dry completely before painting on the next so the paint colors don't bleed together.

5. Erase any pencil lines that are still visible after the paint dries with an art gum eraser.

6. Spray the finished gourd with a clear spray sealer. Use a glossy sealer to give the gourd a shine or use a matte sealer for a more natural look.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also paint non-dry gourds, such as pumpkins, using the same method. There's no need to spray pumpkins and other fresh gourds with a sealer.

• Spray paint the gourd a solid color before you begin if you prefer a solid color background instead of the natural color of the gourd.

References

• Kansas State University Extension; Ornamental Gourds; Charles Marr; November 2002