Register for Pumpkin Painting Workshop Here
When people think of Halloween, one of the most common images that comes to mind is the jack-o-lantern. Most choose a simple face to carve, throw it on their front porch to display, and don’t give it anymore thought. Believe it or not, this tradition has a rich history and there are professional pumpkin carvers out there taking this art medium to a new level.
Snapshot of this post:
The History of Pumpkin Carving
Artists That Have Made Pumpkin Carving Their Livelihood
Pumpkin Carving Tips and Tricks
The History of Pumpkin Carving
The beloved tradition of jack-o-lanterns stems from an Irish folklore story of the character Stingy Jack that we will summarize here for your enjoyment. Stingy Jack had a history of playing tricks on the Devil, which led him to a fate of roaming the Earth after death since neither God nor the Devil would accept him into their respective realms of the afterlife.
In order to scare off Stingy Jack and other negative spirits, people began carving scary faces into turnips and displaying them in front of their houses on the night of Samhain. On the Celtic calendar, Samhain marks the end of the summer harvest and the beginning of Fall – a night where the veil between spirits and humans thins.
Samhain happened to fall on the same day as Hallow’s Eve in England, which was in turn spread to the US through colonization. In the US, pumpkins were more abundant and easier to carve than turnips, leading to the transition of the use of the famous orange gourd.
Tradition Turned Sculpting Medium
While there are plenty of people that opt for a more creative image than the standard jack-o-lantern face, there are a few sculptures known specifically for their pumpkin masterpieces.
Maniac Pumpkin Carvers
Founders Marc Evan and Chris Soria began working together over 20 years ago when they were both still in high school. After rediscovering their love of Halloween and pumpkin carving while studying at Parsons School of Design, the pair soon began to receive commissions from clients including Food Network and Martha Stewart. Eventually establishing a full-blown creative studio, Marc and Chris began offering services to the public such as, custom artworks, classes and workshops, as well as live demonstrations.
Ray Villafane Studios
Ray Villafane stakes his claim to fame on his win of the first ever Food Network Pumpkin Carving Competition. This competition inspired the network’s series Halloween Wars in which Ray participated and eventually served as a judge for. Many of his pieces serve as art installations with multiple parts beyond one pumpkin. He aims to create scenes that tell a story for his clients such as restaurants, hotels, and special events.
Pumpkin Carving Tips and Tricks
1. Sketch and Transfer
Once you have decided on an image to carve, make sure to sketch it as a simple line drawing on paper before transferring it to your pumpkin. Then tape your drawing onto your pumpkin and use a toothpick to poke holes along the lines of your drawing creating a connect-the-dots type of situation as a guide. Make sure to keep in mind which shapes you will be removing, and which will remain attached to your pumpkin to form the image.
2. Tools
While the standard plastic carving tool sets will get the job done, there are more ways to bring your pumpkin carving to the next level. If you are wanting to make more precise shallow cuts, a linoleum cutter is the way to go (pictured below). Also, if you accidentally carve off a chunk of pumpkin you weren’t supposed to, toothpicks can be used to reattach them. Just stick one end of the toothpick in the severed chunk and then put the other end back into the pumpkin where it should go!
3. Preservation
Most people suggest not to carve your pumpkin earlier than a week before Halloween, so it doesn’t rot before the big night. In order to make it last a little longer, try rubbing petroleum jelly on the cut surfaces to prevent drying in more arid climates. Or try spraying the cut surfaces with a water and vinegar solution to prevent mold and bacteria growth in more humid environments.
In addition to pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting is another beloved Halloween activity that’s accessible to all ages! Come join us for an afternoon of pumpkin painting on October 18th from 1-3pm! Click below for more information and registration.
Register for Pumpkin Painting Workshop Here
Check out some pictures from last year's Pumpkin Painting Workshop below!
