How To Paint Pumpkins

This is a really simple method to paint a pumpkin for Fall. You can paint them on canvas, watercolor paper, wood, or fabric. It will work for all of them. 



Basecoat the first layer with Orange. I started on one side, then painted next to it, then moved to the other side and finished in the middle.



You’ll probably need two basecoats. If you follow the original pattern of the other edges and move inward, you’ll keep the basic shape of your pumpkin. 



Apply shading with Burnt Umber. Or any brown will do, actually. You just need one coat. Paint it on the outside of each curve. 



Next, add highlighting with Yellow. Apply it on the inside edge of the curves – on the edge next to where you painted the shading.



Then take your basecoat color – Orange – and apply it all over the pumpkins. One coat should do it. The highlighting and shading will still peek through. 



With Green, paint the stem. Add a little curve to the stem, just for fun. 



Now take Yellow and add some lines. This highlighting will add the ridges that pumpkin stems have. 



Finally, topcoat the stem with Green. You’ll still see the yellow ridges, but they’ll look blended.

There you go! Super simple pumpkins! You can turn them into jack-o-lanterns, if you want. Or just leave them as is. Maybe add some fall leaves to your painting, or grapes, apples . . . well, you get the idea.

Colleen

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