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

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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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

31+ Spook-tacular Gifts To Get Your Spirit Ready for Halloween

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

FAQs

Is painting pumpkins better than carving? ›

Carving pumpkins may be a traditional Halloween activity, but trading your X-Acto knife for a paintbrush has its benefits: Painting pumpkins is easier and safer for young kids, presents more design freedom for adults, and leaves you with an autumnal decoration that lasts until you trade your fall décor for holiday ...

Learn More ›
What paint works best on pumpkins? ›

Acrylic paints are ideal for decorating pumpkins as they adhere well, dry quickly, and offer a wide range of vibrant colors. Their versatility allows you to create stunning designs, from simple patterns to intricate masterpieces.

Continue Reading ›
Will Sharpies work on pumpkins? ›

A lot less messy and still relaxing and fun! I love how they turned out.

Discover More Details ›
What can you use to decorate a pumpkin without carving? ›

  1. Method 1 of 4:Painting on Pumpkins. ...
  2. Use adhesive stencils. ...
  3. Scrape designs into spray painted pumpkins if you want a unique look. ...
  4. Paint designs directly onto your pumpkin. ...
  5. Write a message with thumbtacks for a unique twist. ...
  6. Method 3 of 4:Gluing Items to Pumpkins.
Oct 13, 2018

Read More ›
Can you paint a pumpkin without carving it? ›

A Halloween epiphany: No-carve pumpkins can look just as good as—if not better than—the carved pumpkin of your dreams. Designs can be painted, taped, dripped, drawn, or glued on, to name just a few.

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How do you keep painted pumpkins from rotting? ›

Let your pumpkin dry completely, then choose one of the options below to keep it fresh:
  1. Spray daily with a bleach solution (use ratio above)
  2. Spray daily with a pumpkin spray (either store bought or homemade)
  3. Spray with WD-40 (just once or after each soak)
  4. Rub with petroleum jelly (just once or after each soak)

Discover More ›
How do you get paint to stick to a pumpkin? ›

Though this is optional, applying a sealer to the pumpkin's surface before painting will help the paint better adhere to the surface. Purchase a craft-grade sealer at a hobby or craft store.

Learn More Now ›
How long will painted pumpkin last? ›

PAINTED pumpkins.

The beauty of those craft pumpkins is that they will potentially last forever; whereas a real pumpkin will only last one season. If you prefer real, go ahead and use real (the technique will be the same).

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How do you seal a painted pumpkin? ›

Coat the entire pumpkin with an acrylic sealer to keep the decorative paint from peeling. Coat the top half of the pumpkin and let it dry. Flip it over and repeat for the bottom half. You can use either a spray- or brush-on sealer.

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What is the best pen to draw on a pumpkin? ›

POSCA paint markers are a brilliant multi-surface, creative pen – so they are great for Halloween. The pens are non-toxic and water-based so they are great for kids activities.

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Can you use acrylic paint pens on pumpkins? ›

Finally, they have a range of tips, from ultra fine to thick, so that you can really choose the right pen for the job. Additionally, for covering a large area with paint when you're painting pumpkins, I find that acrylic craft paint has a nice coverage.

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What do you use to draw on a pumpkin before carving? ›

Once you're satisfied with your plan and before you begin carving, use a pen to draw it onto the pumpkin. If you are planning to cut shapes all the way out of your pumpkin, you might make one of your concept drawing into a stencil that you can then transfer onto the pumpkin.

Show Me More ›
What can I do with uncut Halloween pumpkins? ›

Cook uncarved pumpkins – they also look great in your home!

There are so many delicious recipes you can make with your pumpkin, from soup and risotto to pie and even cake. Uncarved pumpkins are also great seasonal decorations for your home, and come in a range of shapes, sizes, and colours!

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What can you do with real pumpkins? ›

Here are some fun ideas for ways you can use your freshly picked pumpkins!
  1. Carve Your Pumpkin.
  2. Paint the Pumpkin.
  3. Cook Delicious Pumpkin Treats.
  4. Decorate Your Home.
  5. Create Gorgeous Centerpieces.
  6. Make Beautiful Place Settings.

Read More ›
What to do with all the pumpkins after Halloween? ›

Wondering what to do with your pumpkins after Halloween has come and gone? While you can't do much with the ones you carved, any solid pumpkins can be used for all sorts of things like fairy gardens, feeding farm animals, and even making pumpkin bread.

Find Out More ›
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