How to Paint Pumpkins to Look Like a Brain

Use acrylics to paint a brain on a pumpkin.

The surface of a pumpkin has natural bumps and imperfections. The best jack-o-lanterns and painted pumpkins use these natural features to highlight the overall design. If you have an especially bumpy pumpkin with an oval shape, you can paint it with acrylic paint to make a creepy brain decoration for Halloween.

Things You'll Need

• Pumpkin
• Pink acrylic paint
• Brown acrylic paint
• Paintbrushes
• White acrylic paint
• Blood red acrylic paint (optional)
• Shellac (optional)

Instructions

1. Mix pink acrylic paint with a bit of brown to make a brain-like color. Coat a clean pumpkin with the paint.

2. Mix the brain-colored paint with a little bit of brown to make a darker tone for the brain's crevices. Paint curvy paths over your pumpkin to resemble the patterns made by brain matter. See the resources at the end of this article for some examples of painted brains.

3. Mix the original brain-colored paint with a little bit of white to make highlights. Paint the lighter paint on the areas of the brain that light would hit to create the illusion of shine.

4. Accent the brain's crevices with blood-red paint for a scary effect.

5. Allow the paint to dry according to the manufacturer's directions, then coat the pumpkin with shellac to protect the paint and add a shiny finish.

Resources

• Brainwashed; Paintings; Daniel McKernan; 2000
• Tekay Illustration: Human Brain