31+ Pumpkin Painting Ideas That Are Creative Alternatives To Conventional Carving (2024)

31+ Pumpkin Painting Ideas That Are Creative Alternatives To Conventional Carving (1)

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As Halloween draws near, spooky decor might be on your mind. Jack-o’-lanterns are one of the most common—and beloved—pieces of Halloween furnishings. But, let’s face it: pumpkin carving can be a challenge. From cleaning out the seeds to using sharp utensils, there are a few reasons to avoid the activity. But if you’re still wanting to decorate a gourd to beautify your porch, there’s a creative alternative: painted pumpkins.

For pumpkin painting, you’ll only need a few supplies to get started. Beyond the pumpkin, you’ll want to grab your favorite set of paintbrushes, acrylic paints, paint pens, and a paint palette. Then, think of the orange gourd as your blank canvas for all kinds of artwork. You could skew traditional and paint a face onto the pumpkin that’s akin to carving a Jack-o’-lantern. You could find inspiration in nature by painting leaves, flowers, or even the night sky. Or, you could go abstract. Elspeth McLean, for instance, painted in a pumpkin in the style of artist Yayoi Kusama and decorated the surface with many tiny dots. Whatever route you choose, have fun with it.

Need some help getting started? Scroll down for creative and easy halloween pumpkin painting ideas.

Want to decorate for Halloween but don't want to carve a pumpkin? Try one of these pumpkin painting ideas!

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This article has been edited and updated.

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31+ Pumpkin Painting Ideas That Are Creative Alternatives To Conventional Carving (2024)

FAQs

31+ Pumpkin Painting Ideas That Are Creative Alternatives To Conventional Carving? ›

Carving pumpkins may be a traditional Halloween activity, but trading your X-Acto knife for a paintbrush has its benefits: Painting pumpkins is easier and safer for young kids, presents more design freedom for adults, and leaves you with an autumnal decoration that lasts until you trade your fall décor for holiday ...

Is it better to carve or paint a pumpkin? ›

Carving pumpkins may be a traditional Halloween activity, but trading your X-Acto knife for a paintbrush has its benefits: Painting pumpkins is easier and safer for young kids, presents more design freedom for adults, and leaves you with an autumnal decoration that lasts until you trade your fall décor for holiday ...

What paint is best for painting pumpkins? ›

Best Paint To Use To Paint Pumpkins - Acrylic Paints

Acrylic paints are water-based paints. You only need water to dilute them or for clean ups, which make them definitely easier to use. They also dry much, much faster than oil based paints.

How to make paint stick to a pumpkin? ›

Though this is optional, applying a sealer to the pumpkin's surface before painting will help the paint better adhere to the surface. Purchase a craft-grade sealer at a hobby or craft store.

What is a good substitute for pumpkin carving? ›

9 Of The Best Alternatives To Pumpkin Carving
  • Carve a pineapple. Pineapples: Small. ...
  • Pumpkins filled with flowers. Okay, so this might take a bit of carving but only for the insides. ...
  • Carve an avocado. ...
  • Scandi-pumpkins. ...
  • Melted crayon pumpkin. ...
  • Slogan pumpkins. ...
  • Golden fruit and veg. ...
  • Message on a pumpkin.
Oct 13, 2016

What used to be carved instead of pumpkins? ›

For protection from Stingy Jack and other apparitions, people in the British Isles began carving faces into pieces of produce—particularly turnips, but in some cases potatoes, radishes and beets. Celebrants placed lit candles inside the cavities, similar to the pumpkin jack-o'-lanterns of modern Halloween.

What do you put on pumpkins after painting? ›

The last step is to seal your pumpkin. Give the whole pumpkin a few coats of clear sealant spray. I like using Krylon spray… it's not too expensive. AND they have tons of options, but I have these 2: glossy and matte.

How do you seal paint on pumpkins? ›

Coat the entire pumpkin with an acrylic sealer to keep the decorative paint from peeling. Coat the top half of the pumpkin and let it dry. Flip it over and repeat for the bottom half. You can use either a spray- or brush-on sealer.

What kind of brush is best for painting pumpkins? ›

When painting a pumpkin, you'll want to avoid hard, bristly brushes. Instead, opt for sponge brushes and brushes with softer bristles so you don't damage the skin or scratch your pumpkin. If your pumpkin is already pretty rough, though, bristly brushes might be best.

Can you paint straight onto a pumpkin? ›

If you want to try out your pumpkin painting ideas, it is important that you prepare your pumpkin properly to help your paint stick and look good for longer. Painting straight onto an unprepared pumpkin could lead to peeling paint and less-than-ideal-looking Halloween decorating ideas.

How do you paint a pumpkin like a cupcake? ›

Find yourself a baby pumpkin (the smallest one you can find) and flip it upside down to make the top of your cupcake. Paint the pumpkin using the color of your favorite icing, stick the pumpkin in a cupcake wrapper, and, while the paint is still drying, add sprinkles (you can also glue them on after the paint dries).

What can I do with unused pumpkins? ›

What to do with your pumpkins after Halloween
  1. Eat the seeds. ...
  2. Cook the pieces of pumpkin you carve out. ...
  3. Cook uncarved pumpkins – they also look great in your home! ...
  4. Feed leftover pumpkin to your chickens. ...
  5. Compost your pumpkin. ...
  6. Make a pumpkin bird feeder. ...
  7. Bury your pumpkin. ...
  8. Check if local farms are looking for donations.
Oct 26, 2023

What can I do with a bunch of pumpkins? ›

Top 20 pumpkin recipes
  1. Pumpkin pie. This classic Thanksgiving dessert is well-deserving of a place in our top 20. ...
  2. Pumpkin curry with chickpeas. ...
  3. Halloween pumpkin cake. ...
  4. Pumpkin soup. ...
  5. Stuffed pumpkin. ...
  6. Pumpkin pie s'mores. ...
  7. Pumpkin hummus. ...
  8. Roast pumpkin & spinach lasagne.

What can I do with old porch pumpkins? ›

Compost them! You can get the best mileage out of a molding pumpkin by composting it. If you already have a pile going, consider breaking up the pumpkin a bit for speedier decomposition. If you'd rather give the pumpkin one more life, you could also consider donating it to your local zoo.

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