| When most of us think about pumpkin carvings, we | | | | portrait into a pumpkin. |
| generally think about the traditional carvings where you | | | | Pumpkin Portraits |
| cutout the triangle eyes with the jagged smile. Although | | | | Pumpkin Portraits are just as they sound, a portrait of |
| there is nothing wrong with these types of carvings, | | | | a person carved into a pumpkin. The key to creating |
| most people are unaware of the different ways to | | | | amazing portraits in a pumpkin is using a technique |
| carve amazing looking pumpkins. | | | | called shading. If you already have some experience |
| One method that can be used to create mind-blowing | | | | using templates for pumpkin carvings then you know |
| pumpkins is to carve a design into them using a | | | | there are basically two colors that a template creates, |
| template. If you are not familiar with using a template | | | | black and yellow (part of the pumpkin where the light |
| to carve a pumpkin, then you will be happy to know | | | | shines through). Advanced templates, or portraits on |
| that it is a fairly easy skill to learn. | | | | the other hand use three colors; black, yellow, orange. |
| In a nut shell, a template is the negative image of a | | | | The orange color is created by an effect called |
| design. For example, let's say you have a drawing of a | | | | shading. Instead of cutting an image all the way |
| black cat. On the template, the drawing of the cat | | | | through the pumpkin, you will use tools to shave the |
| would represent the area of the pumpkin that we | | | | skin down. The thinner skin restrictively shines the light |
| would cutout. The image on the template is transferred | | | | through creating a darker version of the yellow |
| to the pumpkin usually by first taping the template to | | | | (orange in this case). |
| the pumpkin. A punch or needle is then used to outline | | | | Although the process may appear difficult at first, |
| the design onto the pumpkin by punching a hole | | | | carving a three layer pumpkin using the shading |
| through the template and outer skin of the pumpkin. | | | | technique mentioned above really is not that difficult at |
| Finally, a carving saw is used to cutout the image into | | | | all. The key is to start with a simple design and |
| the pumpkin. Once you light up the pumpkin, the image | | | | develop your skills from there. |
| of the cat will simply jump out at you. | | | | The real beauty of pumpkin portraits is that you can |
| Now, creating an image of a cat into a pumpkin is | | | | use a permanent pumpkin, like a Fun-Kins pumpkin, to |
| impressive but nothing is more impressive then carving | | | | create the image one time and have a wonderful |
| a portrait of a person. The principles for carving basic | | | | decoration to use for years to come. Portrait carving is |
| images from templates still apply to portrait carving. | | | | fun, simple and a great way to add an amazing |
| Although the degree of difficulty increases, with a little | | | | decoration for Halloween. |
| practice just about anyone can carve and amazing | | | | |