How to paint pumpkins: Easy pumpkin painting tutorial
Say hello to your new favourite Fall craft project! Pumpkin painting look set to enjoy a huge surge in popularity this year, and it couldn't be easier to try at home!
We've put together this step by step guide for you to try decorating pumpkins with modern floral motifs. Designer Becki Clarke has actually used dual tip marker pens and ceramic pumpkins in this guide but you can easily swap these for acrylic paints and thin paintbrushes, or even try it with real pumpkins!
Plenty of pumpkin projects!
For more creative Halloween projects, take a look at these no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas.
In our step by step tutorial with photos, you'll learn how to create three different pumpkin painting ideas, one stroke at a time.
We love any excuses to get creative in the run up to Halloween (for more fun craft projects, head to our easy Halloween crafts for kids) but Becki's DIY painted pumpkins will also give your home a cosy handmade revamp all Autumn.
How to paint pumpkins – step by step
You will need
- Ceramic Pumpkins
- Dual tip marker pens
SQUIRREL_13115292
SQUIRREL_13115294
DIY painted pumpkins tips
- These techniques can be applied using Acrylic, Posca or gouache paint as well as illustrative markers.
- You can rough out where you motifs will go using a pencil
- Have a practice on a sheet of paper before you work onto the ceramics
How to paint pumpkins - Floral pumpkin design
Step 1
Your first pattern is made up of simple floral shapes, firstly draw a rough circle shape to form the first flower motif and colour in.
Step 2
With another colour draw two leave shapes (elongated ovals with points) that work from the circle, colour in and add a small circle in the middle. This will complete your first motif shape.
Step 3
Repeat this motif across the pumpkin leaving equal space between the circles and adding in the leaves heading in different directions to create a fun floral pattern.
Step 4
Now in-between these main florals add smaller ditsy flower shapes in another colour, break the shapes down into 5 teardrop shapes that join at the centre if you are having trouble with illustrating them. Keep these in groups of 3 and 5.
Step 5
Add a small dot to the centre of the ditsy florals and then leaves working out from the groups of them. Your pumpkin should now be covered in a ditsy floral autumn pattern.
Haunted honeycomb
Get petrifying with paper this Halloween with our how to make a honeycomb paper pumpkin tutorial.
DIY painted pumpkins – Spooky pumpkin design
Step 1
For this next design, start by writing the word “Spooky" on to a ceramic pumpkin using the brush end of the dual markers. Download our Spooky practice template here if you’re feeling nervous about lettering straight onto the pumpkin.
Step 2
Using another colour begin illustrating stars across the ceramic pumpkin.
Step 3
Mix and match between colours and size of stars for a graphic style pattern, if you have any awkward spaces then add in some dots in groups of 3 or 5 to fill the space.
Keep it classic (and creepy)
For top tips and expert advice on how to get a brilliant result, take a look at our guide on how to carve a pumpkin for beginners.
How to paint pumpkins – hearts pattern
Step 1
For the final design you’ll need to firstly draw and colour in a heart shape.
Step 2
You can then add 3 more petals to the bottom half of the love heart shape to create your floral base.
Step 3
With a darker colour add in 3 lines that are heading towards the top of the flower.
Step 4
You can then add your leaves working out from the petals and groups of 3 dots sat within the leaf shapes.
Step 5
Repeat this motif across the pumpkin and use the dots to fill any spaces that are looking a little too big but not big enough for another floral.
Step 6
Colour in the stalk of the ceramic in your chosen colour.
If you love to get creative with paints, you might also like our other projects: painted plant pots and acrylic painting guide. Or treat yourself to some new supplies and read our guide to the best acrylic paints.
Creative carving
If you fancy trying some traditional pumpkin carving this Halloween, check out these pumpkin carving kits and tools.
Show off your painted pumpkins with pride
The pretty pastel colours and stylish floral shapes mean these painted pumpkins are far too nice to only display at Halloween. Show them off on your windowsill, or give them a spray with sealant if you fancy displaying them on your front porch.
More pumpkin painting ideas
If you've enjoyed this painted pumpkins tutorial, there's loads more inspiring projects to try in our roundup of pumpkin painting ideas.
