How to Decorate a Pumpkin as Artwork

Pumpkin-carving is an old practice that dates back many years.

Pumpkins have become a symbol of Halloween and Thanksgiving for many people. At Halloween time, pumpkins are often carved into many different things, including the traditional scary face with triangle eyes and missing teeth. You can also decorate pumpkins without carving into them. You can add beads, buttons, and other trinkets to spruce up a pumpkin as a centerpiece. Pumpkins can also be painted or spray painted to create your own work of art.

Things You'll Need

• Medium pumpkin
• Can of white spray or primer
• Assorted colors of acrylic paint or craft paint
• Medium and small bristle paintbrushes
• Magazine clipping or photo of your choice
• Old cloth

Instructions

1. Find a pumpkin with few bumps and ridges. Place the pumpkin on an old cloth outside or in a well-ventilated area. Shake the spray primer can to loosen and mix the contents.

2. Spray an even coat of primer on the pumpkin. Allow it to dry for 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Spray a second coat of primer on the pumpkin and let it dry 30 minutes to one hour.

4. Place the picture of the object or scene you want to paint near your pumpkin. Depending on your painting skills, you may want to avoid pictures with a lot of details and subject matter. The pumpkin is like a canvas with the coat of primer so you can paint flowers, people, animals and more. Make it realistic or just an impression of the real thing. For example, prepare to paint a grapevine around the pumpkin.

5. Dip a thin bristle brush in dark green and yellow paint. Move the brush around the pumpkin making a thin wavy line to create a vine appearance. With another brush, paint medium and small size circles with purple paint to make grapes. Paint them so they appear to dangle from the green vine. Paint a few leaves on the grapevine.

6. Finish adding details according to your preference. Allow the paint to dry.

References

• Countryliving: Pumpkin Decorating Ideas