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

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

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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10 DIY Pumpkin Crafts Using Simple Stuff

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This article has been edited and updated.

Related Articles:

31+ Halloween Pumpkin Carving Ideas to Creatively Celebrate the Spookiest Time of Year

How Pumpkins Have Inspired Yayoi Kusama’s Avant-Garde Art for Decades

14 DIY Halloween Decorations to Keep You Creative and Festive This Spooky Season

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

FAQs

What to do with a pumpkin instead of carving? ›

Paint your pumpkin—real or fake—in rainbow hues as a colorful palate cleanser for the good ol' traditional jack-o'-lantern. Start with a white pumpkin, or paint yours white, and then paint on three colors, blending them together where they meet.

Get More Info ›
What is a good substitute for pumpkin carving? ›

Aside from peppers, Murray says gourds and squash vegetables are other great alternatives to classic pumpkins. Choose ones with smooth fronts to carve your spooky faces into.

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Can you paint a pumpkin without carving it? ›

Check out the easy no-carve designs we did below! My favorite technique for pumpkin decorating is definitely a simple paint job. When arranged together on a door stoop or mantel, a variety of paint techniques can create a visually stunning display.

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How to decorate a pumpkin without cutting? ›

Paint, tape, leaves, crayons, googly eyes or tissue paper can successfully replace the carving knife. And this is great particularly if you spend Halloween with young kids (toddlers, preschoolers or kindergartners) and their little hands are eager to help you.

Learn More Now ›
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.

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How do you scrape a pumpkin instead of carving? ›

You can create interesting designs without cutting all the way through the pumpkin. Scraping away just enough of the outer shell to let the light glow through opens up new design possibilities. The ideal tool for scraping the pumpkin shell are linoleum block cutters, LaRochelle said.

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What paint works best on pumpkins? ›

Thomas agrees and recommends acrylic paint instead of oil-based when painting pumpkins. "It's quick-drying, easy to use, and clean-up is a breeze," she says. "Because acrylic is water-based, if you mess up, you can wipe it off with a rag and start over! Oil-based paint takes a long time to dry and can be fumy.

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How long will a painted pumpkin last? ›

The nice thing about painting pumpkins instead of carving them is that they last longer this way - for at least a month.

Learn More Now ›
Does Crayola paint stay on pumpkins? ›

Crayola Quick-Dry Paint Sticks and Take Note! Permanent Markers are formulated to allow you to create works of art on real or fake pumpkins. Feel free to explore all your creative options. Experiment with Crayola acrylic paints, washable paints and non-washable markers.

Get More Info Here ›
How do you carve a pumpkin without pumpkin carving tools? ›

Craft knife: A craft knife works well for carving out intricate pattern work. Gutting tools: Use a large ice cream scoop or spoon to scrape out the insides of the pumpkin. Large bowl: Use a bowl to scoop seeds and pumpkin slime into. You can separate the seeds for toasting later.

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What can I do with my uncarved pumpkin? ›

7 Delicious Ways to Utilize Your Uncarved Pumpkin
  1. Pumpkin Puree.
  2. Pumpkin Candy.
  3. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds.
  4. Pumpkin Hummus.
  5. Homebrewed Pumpkin Beer.
  6. Pumpkin Butter.
Oct 24, 2014

Get More Info ›
What to do with whole pumpkins after Halloween? ›

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.

See More ›

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