Decorating a white pumpkin for Halloween

I was challenged by Virginia to decorate a beautiful white pumpkin in the studio Sunday afternoon, and decided to sketch one of my sun faces that I have drawn for years for a different "spin" on a pumpkin decoration. I always like to find a unique take on projects like this, and got out some of my SHARPIES for the fun.

I started with a thumbnail sketch in my gallery guestbook, and when the design details were complete I started the sketch on the white pumpkin (all the rage, see here) with a thin SHARPIE. Once the initial design was complete on the pumpkin I went over the sketch with a thick SHARPIE for a bold and graphic look.

Now for the fun. I was challenged to make a very colorful design on this perfect white pumpkin.... a perfect blank canvas for painting! I started with some yellow in the sun rays to check for compatibility issues and the translucent color was perfect and dried well. Little by little I built the color and design, adding stippled dots with the SHARPIES to build depth and texture.

The pumpkin was heavy to hold and turn in my hands, so propping it on a book now and then helped as I filled in the sun design. In no time at all I had a bright and colorful alternative pumpkin design.... very artsy and unique! Try your own designs on white pumpkins at home, and one tip: keep some paper on hand to scuff the markers across from time to time to be sure they keep working full strength on your clean and dry (and room temperature) pumpkin.

To see all the process pictures for this white pumpkin, click here!