Looking at the dates of my blog posts, I realized my last post was back in 23. The original plan was to post more frequently about my creative works and thoughts, and keep it almost like a diary. That has not quite manifested. But I do a lot of different stuff on a rather low requency. One of them are pumpkins carvings.
Moving into a family oriented suburban area back in 2020, we were exposed to Halloween and how our neighbors decorated their houses and made it a great experience for children. I wanted to do a better pumpkin than my neighbor., and started incorporating more 3D elements into the carve. I figured I could carve using spoons and kitchen utensils. In other words, very low entry.
My first 3D attempt was awful, because I couldn’t figures out how to carve without tearing the fruit fibers apart. However, the next year I had a bit more patience and a softer hand, it worked better. Also spraying with water and keeping it moist really helped. I felt my skills were progressing, carving this viking.
Our annual familytrips to Hungary gives me access to great pumpkins and some spare time. Here is a photo of a head I made there together with the tools I used. I am sorry I ruined some of my inlaw’s utensils. The butter knife never quite recovered.
This year I realized that you could get very crisp outlines if you you cut into creases with a sharp blade. First, cut the line and then cut in from the side. It is important to cut deep enough. Failing it and then trying to salvage it by pulling can ruin your carve.
What I find to be the hard part, is doing small details. This was my motivation for this one. trying to make teeth.
This one is so far my latest, from 2024. Every year I would love to have lots of these on my staircase. Every year I underperform. But these carving really are A LOT of fun to do. My pumpkin-goal for 2025 is to have multiple heads, and to write a blogpost about them and the progress. Wish me luck!