How to Carve a Realistic Face on a Pumpkin
- Step 1: Choose the Right Pumpkin Selecting the right pumpkin can make a big difference. ...
- Step 2: Tools and How to Make Your Own. Set of sculpting/carving tools. ...
- Step 3: Design and References ...
- Step 4: Preparing the Pumpkin ...
- Step 5: Start Blocking in the Face ...
- Step 6: Keep Carving ...
- Step 7: Details ...
- Step 8: The Eyes ...
Full Answer
How do you transfer a picture onto a pumpkin?
Using a wooden skewer or the plastic punch tool provided in your pumpkin-carving kit, transfer the photograph to the pumpkin by poking a series of close holes through the paper and directly into the flesh of the pumpkin.
How do you outline a pumpkin?
1:473:51How to Carve a Pumpkin Using a Template - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStart at the center of the template. And work outward carefully saw through the pumpkin wall. AlongMoreStart at the center of the template. And work outward carefully saw through the pumpkin wall. Along the outline one shape at a time gently push the pieces. Through then remove and discard.
How do you carve a scary face on a pumpkin?
2:4322:52HOW TO CARVE A SCARY PUMPKIN- VERY EASY CARVE TUTORIALYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause so both sides of it are equal so i'm gonna draw out one side and then flip it and draw onMoreBecause so both sides of it are equal so i'm gonna draw out one side and then flip it and draw on the other side with the sharpie onto the pumpkin. So i made like really sharp. And scary teeth.
How do you carve a name on a pumpkin?
0:180:57Pumpkin Carving Tips - How to Carve Initials into a Pumpkin - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd it's so easy just use a large pin to prick holes through the paper and into the pumpkin. SkinMoreAnd it's so easy just use a large pin to prick holes through the paper and into the pumpkin. Skin following the outline of the letter space the holes about an eighth of an inch apart.
How do you scrape a design on a pumpkin?
0:312:38HOW TO ETCH A PUMPKIN - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFace done and using my scraper. I'm just gonna kind of carve. Around the outside like this. JustMoreFace done and using my scraper. I'm just gonna kind of carve. Around the outside like this. Just right around the periphery of my design.
How do you etch a pumpkin?
Use a gouge or rotary tool ($50, The Home Depot) to etch large sections. A crafts knife works best to outline and cut out fine details. Create a scratchy texture by roughly scraping a gouge across pumpkin flesh.
How do you carve a simple and scary pumpkin face 2?
0:566:59How to Carve a Simple and Scary Pumpkin Face 2 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow remove the top of his skull. Look at the hungry boy. Now for the eyes we'll be using someMoreNow remove the top of his skull. Look at the hungry boy. Now for the eyes we'll be using some oranges give them a coat of white paint. Once dry we'd start adding the iris.
How do you carve a Pennywise pumpkin?
0:249:07How to Make a Scary Realistic Pennywise Halloween Pumpkin ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPrint off its face cutting out the eyes and mouth. Now you have a template that you can draw at yourMorePrint off its face cutting out the eyes and mouth. Now you have a template that you can draw at your pattern. After cutting out the three face hills use your scalper to remove a small area of flesh.
How do you carve a ghost on a pumpkin?
3:074:10How To Carve A Ghost Pumpkin Lantern - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe're the back and forth motion use a small saw or a serrated knife to join the dots. Always removeMoreWe're the back and forth motion use a small saw or a serrated knife to join the dots. Always remove the smaller areas. First start on the eyes and mouth.
What tools do you use to carve a pumpkin?
The Only 2 Tools You Need for Pumpkin CarvingA Serrated Vegetable Knife. ... A Hacked Soup Ladle.
How do you carve a pumpkin without cutting it?
0:111:45How to Carve a Pumpkin without Cutting Through - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTool. With the dremel at your disposal you can crank up the spooky stuff or you can keep it pretty.MoreTool. With the dremel at your disposal you can crank up the spooky stuff or you can keep it pretty.
Can I carve a green pumpkin?
"Make sure it's a good color, and what you want is a deeper orange." A pumpkin that is mostly green, but has patches of orange, will work if you don't plan on carving it right away, Rufener says. "It can still ripen even after you've picked it from the patch, but don't start carving until it's mostly orange."
What do you call the lines on a pumpkin?
Ribs – Look at the outside of a pumpkin. There are indented ridges running from top to bottom. These are called ribs.
How do you draw a easy pumpkin?
0:000:33How To Draw Easy Pumpkins #shorts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOn top you're gonna draw two curved lines that kind of look like butt cheeks and a rectangle colorMoreOn top you're gonna draw two curved lines that kind of look like butt cheeks and a rectangle color the entire body of the pumpkin orange. Once that's done get a brown marker.
How many sides does a pumpkin have?
Another, more prevalent school of thought goes by the stem: If it's soft and rounded, you've got a squash; if it's hard and ridged, with five to eight sides, you have a pumpkin. What's commonly called a pumpkin in North America is called a squash, or even a gourd, somewhere else.
How do you make fake pumpkin stems?
4:316:53DIY faux pumpkin stems - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd start rolling them into a shape of a. Stem once the top part has been given a little bit ofMoreAnd start rolling them into a shape of a. Stem once the top part has been given a little bit of shape i take the three pieces on the bottom. And that's going to be the base of my pumpkin.
Step 1: Choose and Prepare Your Picture
The first 2 images show my first experiment. For this tutorial, I've taken a new picture so that I can walk you through the process from beginning to end.
Step 2: Preppin' Your Punkin
I like to do my pumpkin work in a big plastic storage box. (The one's used for storing stuff under a bed are just about perfect.) That way I can carve just about anywhere in the house without making a mess.
Step 3: Place Your Picture
If you haven't already, print your edited photo. 8.5x11 paper should be large enough for the job. Make sure that your photo is large enough on the page - so that It will be large enough on your pumpkin. Choose your paper size based off of how large your pumpkin is and how large you want the face to be on the surface of the pumpkin.
Step 4: Let the Carving Begin!
Using your carving tool of choice, fully cut out all of the black areas into the inside of the pumpkin.
Step 5: Carving: Part 2
For the next step, you will need a sharp craft knife. Make sure that you use a brand-spanky-new blade!
Step 7: Finalize Your Pumpkin!
As a final step, print out a spare picture, and use it as a guide to tweak the fine details. You may find a few areas you want to carve a little deeper to get more light through.
Step 1: Choose the Right Pumpkin
Selecting the right pumpkin can make a big difference. You want a pumpkin with thick walls, with a lot of meat to carve in. Look at all the pumpkins with a similar size and get the heaviest one. Preferably with an oval shape, looking at it from above.
Step 2: Tools and How to Make Your Own
Set of sculpting/carving tools. (Very useful but, not necessary.) Instead you can make your own tools (see explanation below).
Step 3: Design and References
Sometimes this step can be the most difficult for me. You want something original, fun, creative and at the same time, easy to carve. If you don’t have much experience carving or sculpting, choose something simple. A face with a good expression and personality is more important than a very complicated one. Look at your pumpkin.
Step 4: Preparing the Pumpkin
After giving a good bath to your pumpkin start removing the rind (skin) from the area where the face will be. Don’t cut the pumpkin open or remove the guts because it will go bad from the inside out before you know it. I use the big loop tool, but you can use a potato peeler or a knife. Remove the rind only where needed and avoid removing any meat.
Step 5: Start Blocking in the Face
Start with the placement of the eyes and the nose. Roughly mark where the eyebrows will be. Do the contour of the nose and the bottom of it. Now get away from the pumpkin and see if it makes sense from faraway. If you are happy with it, keep getting those lines a little deeper. Go slowly, there is no rush.
Step 6: Keep Carving
This is the longest part. Basically, you have to slowly keep carving. Making those lines and shapes deeper and deeper. Define the eyes better. Eyelids, the bags under the eyes, wrinkles, nostrils, mouth, chin and forehead.
Step 7: Details
One simple and very important step is giving definition to wrinkles and folds. Remember this kind of pumpkin will relay on lights and shadows. There is no paint or colour that help with the shapes. And it doesn’t have a candle or light inside.
Print Out Images
First things first, find a good collection of Halloween-themed imagery and print it out. Black-and-white imagery tends to work best with this technique. And while any printer works, a laser printer will work best.
Cut Out Images
Next, use scissors to cut out the images. When cutting, get as close to the black lines as possible.
Glue
Using your foam brush, cover the printed surface with decoupage glue (Image 1). Then, place the image face/glue side down on your pumpkin. Be aware that if you have two pieces of paper overlapping, only the bottom image will show up. Let dry for one hour (Image 2).
Apply Water
Use a damp sponge or spray bottle full of water to soak a small area of paper (Image 1). Gently begin to rub away the paper with your finger (Image 2). You'll notice the black image has transferred to the pumpkin. This may take a few moments so be sure to keep the area damp. Repeat on small areas until as much white has been removed as possible.
Seal It
If you plan on keeping your decoupaged foam pumpkin for next year, spray it with a clear acrylic sealer to protect the transferred images.
Pumpkin worksheets
Before we continue to the pumpkin tracing sheets, just take a quick look at more freebies for your pumpkin theme in preschool and kindergarten.
Pumpkin letter tracing
With these pumpkin letter tracing worksheets, children will get an opportunity to trace uppercase and lowercase letters.
Pumpkin number tracing
With this number tracing worksheet, children will practice number recognition and number writing from 1 to 10.
Pumpkin tracing sheet
If your children enjoy tracing activities, then make sure to also grab my fall tracing pack and Halloween tracing sheets too!
Tips for Success
Marion Boddy-Evans is an artist living on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. She has written for art magazines blogs, edited how-to art titles, and co-authored travel books.
Attaching the Stencil to the Pumpkin
Follow these steps to prepare the pumpkin and attach the design or stencil:
Tips
Make sure there are no little holes between the pumpkin's flesh and stem; this indicates rotting.
Warnings
If you are using a spray sealant, apply it outside. You don't want to breathe in a lot of fumes.
About This Article
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What is the best way to carve a pumpkin?
Watch our video guide to learn the best, beginner-friendly pumpkin-carving method.
How do you prepare a pumpkin for carving?
Prepare your pumpkin by washing it and wiping it down to remove any dust that may have accumulated.
How to make a Jack O' Lantern – carving the pumpkin
Now get ready to make some mess! Pumpkin carving is a messy job and it’s a good idea to have something nearby to put the pumpkin guts in. Draw a circular lid around the pumpkin stem. Depending on the size of your pumpkin, your lid should be around 12-15cm in diameter.
How to carve a pumpkin without cutting through
As before, you’ll want to first hollow out your pumpkin first, so that there is space to put a light inside.
What do you need to carve a pumpkin?
All you need is a small, sharp knife with a sharp, serrated edge to cut out the pumpkin’s face, along with a large spoon to scoop out the middle of the pumpkin. You can also get some helpful kits and templates – read on to stock up!
Pumpkin carving ideas
Martha Stewart has created this super easy design for a pumpkin owl that just about anyone can master. Just grab two pumpkins (one large for the body, and one smaller for the head) and use toothpicks to join the two together.
