Monday, October 28, 2013

Pumpkin Carving: Golem! Golem!

Looks like it's time for pumpkin carving!

Golem is watching you.

 My favorite method is to draw a picture on the pumpkin with whiteboard markers, in a "paint by number" method where you have 3 "numbers."  I tend to choose photos or movie stills off the internet that have the character in stark lighting with good contrast, or something in the glow of a fireplace. 

If drawing by hand is too boring a task, just print out your picture, trim out the character and tape it to the pumpkin, then use a needle or push-pin to put dots along the edges of the areas you will cut:
  • Highlights:  cut holes straight through the pumpkin into the interior.  Use tiny tools for the delicate detail work!  If you accidentally cut off a piece you need, just shove it back on there with a toothpick and then wrap the pumpkin with plastic wrap to keep it very moist until needed... nobody will really notice.
  • Lowlights:  remove the skin of the pumpkin so that the yellow flesh shows.  On the inside of the pumpkin, use a large stiff metal spoon to scrape away layers of flesh until it is thin enough to just barely glow when you shine a flashlight from inside the gourd.
  • Shadow/Background:  don't alter the pumpkin in these areas.

Last year I did Golem from The Lord Of The Rings... here is an example of what he looks like, in a pumpkin trimmed with this method:

It looks better in the dark.


Have a spooky holiday!

What are you carving this year? 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...