Forget orange. A pumpkin is really a round, ridged canvas waiting for color.
Supplies Needed
- A pumpkin, real or faux (smooth-skinned varieties are easiest to paint)
- A damp cloth and mild soap
- White acrylic paint or primer for a base coat (optional, but it makes colors brighter)
- Flat and fine-tip paintbrushes
- Paint pens, or sharpies for details (optional)
- A pencil for sketching your design
- Painter's tape for stripes or clean edges (optional)
- Clear acrylic sealer, spray or brush-on
Steps:
- Choose your palette first. Pick three to five colors before you pick up a brush.
- Clean and dry the pumpkin. Wipe it with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, then let it dry completely. Paint sticks best to a clean, dry surface.
- Add a base coat. Brush on white paint or primer and let it dry. Add a second coat if the skin still shows through. You can skip this if you want the pumpkin's natural color to peek through.
- Sketch your design lightly. Use a pencil to mark shapes, stripes, or flowers. Painter's tape helps with clean lines. Keep it loose; the ridges will shift things a little, and that's part of the charm.
- Paint the big shapes. Fill in your largest areas first with a flat brush. Let each color dry before painting next to it so the edges stay crisp.
- Add the details. Switch to a fine brush or paint pens for outlines, dots, and small accents.
- Seal it. Once everything is fully dry, add a clear acrylic sealer to protect the paint, following the directions on the product.
- Style it. Group a few together on a mantel, table, or front step. Real pumpkins last longest kept somewhere cool and dry, out of rain and direct sun.
Meet the Artist: Heather Bergholt
Pick It Place Designs — bright, colorful murals and artwork that are the epitome of fun. Heather Bergholt paints everything from canvases and clothing to mugs and mailboxes. Combine her beautiful artwork with her husband Eric’s custom woodwork (think porch swings, dining tables, and cabinetry), and you’ve got this Atlanta-based gem.
Learn more and see more of Heather's artwork and follow her @pickitplacedesigns
Read more of her story and see more of her beautiful artwork, featured in Issue 03 • Vibrant Living.
Read more inside Issue 03 • Vibrant Living
