pumpkins

Here is a perfect example of projects gone wrong. These little pumpkins were going to be painted in a completely different style than what you see here. Yes, they were going to be black and white. Overall, it's not how I had imagined it.

Just wanted to share the second crop of mini pumpkins I've been working on.

Their backdrop - the mossy field nestled into a weathered crate - is part of the table display I'm working on for the Festival of Fear Horror expo in August.

It's been a lot of fun experimenting with the different facial expressions and shapes of the pumpkins. Now that this second batch is finished, I have a better sense of what eyes and noses work the best (to my taste, at least) and I'm getting the multi-layered painting technique for this item more perfected (again, to my taste).

It's interesting. Even though I use the same basic approach to painting with each prop, they always end up with their own rhythm and tweaks. It's like experimenting with a recipe: you've figured out what works, but you change up the basic ingredients and cooking methods to get something different.

With the dark shroud of flu lifting from my frame (and apparently shifting to cloak Yetch once more *sigh*), I emerged from my couch cocoon to finish the final details on these little pumpkins carved from Super Sculpey.

Happy Friday the 13th, boils and ghouls. What better way to celebrate the day than with a marathon of pumpkin paper mache? That's what I say, anyway.

I realized that I've never created items traditionally associated with Halloween. I think an army of jack o' lanterns should solve that.

As a base, I'm starting with a technique touted by fellow paper mache com padre (lots of rhyming in today's blog. Unintentional, but amusing) Stolloween.

It's simple. You take plastic bags, stuff them with crumpled newspaper, close them up and pull string tightly around the outside of the bags to create grooves (defining the pumpkin's shape).

Scott suggests using tape over the string for further definition, but I've found this is only necessary when the string wasn't as tight as I wanted it to be. In that case, I would place the end of a long but thin strip of tape at the bottom of the pumpkin along the string, pull the tape tight against a length of the pumpkin/string, then press the tape in place before continuing.

Dave the Dead strikes again. I've blogged about his creations before, and thought I should share with you his newest project recently completed.

This is Pumpkin Baby (inspired by the Frog Baby statue in Indiana). I think I like Dave's better.

It's made from a bit of everything: pvc armature, rolled newspaper body form, scrap urethane foam, strip paper mache, celluclay, paperclay, spackling compound, sculpt or coat, and homemade pulp mache.

Look closely and you'll see the pumpkin seeds as entrails. I couldn't imagine anyone making all of those little bits of seeds by hand so I asked him about them. Those are real seeds beneath that clay.

Ray Villafane is a professional artist and sculptor. He's done work for Sideshow Collectibles, Reflex Publications, DC Direct, McFarlane Toys, and Bowen Designs.

Apparently in his spare time, he'll carve a pumpkin or two.

I found these on a flickr account after reading a post by Ray's brother who was bragging (justly) about Ray's talent as a pumpkin carver. I did a little google detective work and found Ray's website.

To see all of the pumpkins and a 'how to' (ha ha ha...right), check out Ray's pumpkin page on his website.

I have four days to finish getting ready for my party this year (hence the sporadic blog posts lately). Every free moment is being dedicated to decorating.

I just finished carving this craft pumpkin or Funkin. I've never bought one before because a large one will run you close to $20 at the craft store. I found this one in a second hand store for $1.50.

Carving was a little tougher than I thought it would be. If you try to carve one, be sure to use a sharp knife and please be careful. They are great because you can reuse them, they won't go mouldy, and you can put them anywhere.

Ok. That's all the time I have. I must get back to decorating. Speaking of which, if you're interested in seeing how the house is coming along, take a peek at Halloween 2008 in the Art Ghoullery. I'll be updating the album as I get each room finished. Right now, you'll find images of the kitchen.

A simple blog post for a long, complicated Monday. Since I've spent the day dealing with what everyone else wants, I decided I would blog about something just for me. Something that makes me happy. Hopefully it will make a few of you smile as well. I want to share the view I see when I look out my home office window.

Located at the side of the house, my office overlooks the backyard of gardeners. And what are they growing this year? To my delight, it's pumpkins.

It's Halloween morning, and I am adding some final touches to the front of the house. To decorate this year, I put all of my large monsters from the party out on the enclosed porch - Bubblehead in his crate, a demon and a hag. They are all looking out the window to the street.

Everyone is walking by, and I comment to my boyfriend Yetch that no one is looking up to take any notice of the evil creatures eyeing them.