What paint is best for painting pumpkins?

Thomas agrees and recommends acrylic paint instead of oil-based when painting pumpkins. "It's quick-drying, easy to use, and clean-up is a breeze," she says. "Because acrylic is water-based, if you mess up, you can wipe it off with a rag and start over! Oil-based paint takes a long time to dry and can be fumy.

What draws best on a pumpkin?

Acrylic paints are ideal for decorating pumpkins as they adhere well, dry quickly, and offer a wide range of vibrant colors.

Why is my acrylic paint not sticking to my pumpkin?

Since real pumpkins grow in the ground, they are bound to have dirt on them that will not let your paint adhere to the surface. You can use a little bleach when washing them to help them last longer . I just used soap and water for these.

What is the easiest way to paint a pumpkin?

Start by drawing a design on your pumpkin using pencil — whether it's simple or intricate. Trace your pencil lines with puff paint and let dry completely for a few hours. Cover the stem of the pumpkin with masking tape and spray your pumpkin with matte spray paint or chalk paint, and let dry.

How to prep pumpkin for painting?

Before you jump right into painting your pumpkin, you should prepare the surface by washing it . Wipe it down with a sanitizing wipe or a soft cloth and some mild soap. This removes dirt and grime to give you a clean surface to paint on, and it also eliminates bacteria that might speed up the pumpkin-rotting process.

Will Crayola paint work on pumpkin?

Which Crayola products are recommended for pumpkin decorating? Crayola Quick-Dry Paint Sticks and Take Note! Permanent Markers are formulated to allow you to create works of art on real or fake pumpkins . Feel free to explore all your creative options.

What do you put on pumpkins after painting?

The last step is to seal your pumpkin. Give the whole pumpkin a few coats of clear sealant spray . I like using Krylon spray… it's not too expensive. AND they have tons of options, but I have these 2: glossy and matte.

Do you need to prime a pumpkin before painting it?

Step 2: Prepare Pumpkin Some people choose to paint or spray their pumpkin with a clear gesso, matte medium, or varnish. It's not necessary, but might preserve the pumpkin for longer and help the paint to stick to the surface better . Make sure you let it dry completely if you choose to do this step.

How do you make a troll pumpkin?

Use a blue foam sheet to cut out two years about 4" x 2-½". Cut out a small nose out of blue foam that measures about 3" x 1-½". With black foam, cut out eyebrows. Attach 2 eyes, eyebrows, ears and nose to the front of the pumpkin with hot glue.

How do you get paint to stick to a pumpkin?

You can paint straight onto the surface of a pumpkin, however it is best to clean the surface with warm soapy water beforehand to clear away any dirt that may prevent paint from sticking .

Is acrylic or tempera paint better for pumpkins?

Hutson says acrylic is the museum's go-to paint for their pumpkin painting workshops for kids . “Acrylic is fast-drying, washable, and easy to work with,” she says. Christian agrees. “Acrylic applies well and is more opaque for better coverage.

How do you get paint to stick to real 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.

How to seal paint on a 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.

30+ Pumpkin Painting Ideas (2024)

These super creative pumpkin painting ideas and other no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas are perfect for Halloween.

Painted pumpkins are so much fun to create. Have you ever painted a pumpkin before?

There are so many unique and creative ways to paint a pumpkin. I’d rather make a painted pumpkin any day than deal with carving a pumpkin and touching the gooey guts inside. This girl is a fan of no-carve pumpkins!

You can paint real pumpkins and fake craft pumpkins. The benefit of painting a fake pumpkin is that you can keep it from year to year. And if you get tired of the paint one year, you can always re-paint the pumpkin with a new design!

How to Paint a Pumpkin – What kind of paint do I use on pumpkins?

Here are a few different types of paint you can use on pumpkins and the pros and cons of each:

Acrylic Craft Paint – The little bottles of paint you can get at any craft store work great for painting pumpkins. They are inexpensive and come in a huge variety of colors. This is my go-to paint for pumpkins.
Spray Paint – Spray paint works great on pumpkins for doing a base layer of color, but it’s not very easy to make detailed designs using spray paint.
Chalk Paint – Chalk paint has great sticking power and a soft, matte finish and works really well on both fake and real pumpkins.
Latex House Paint – If you already have some leftover house paint on hand, you can definitely use it on pumpkins, but it’s more expensive to buy, so I wouldn’t choose this paint otherwise.
Kids Tempera Paint – Tempera paint is a great option for kids to use, especially if you buy a washable variety. It may scratch off the surface of real pumpkins, but if you don’t need it to last for a long time, it works just fine.
Watercolor – Watercolor paint does technically work on a pumpkin, but because it’s so runny, it drips on the curved surface of the pumpkin, so it can be difficult to work with. Watercolor paint also tends to be quite see-through, so you would definitely need to use another kind of paint as a base coat.

This video tutorial shows you four fun ways to paint a pumpkin!

Pumpkin Painting Video Tutorial

I’ve also gathered over 30 pumpkin painting ideas to inspire you. There’s a style for everybody… spooky, colorful, sophisticated, whimsical. You’ll have a hard time choosing which painted pumpkin to make! Click on the text link with each picture to see more about how to make each individual pumpkin idea.

Pumpkin Painting Ideas

Plaid just screams fall. Learn how to paint a simple buffalo check plaid onto pumpkins.

Plaid Painted Pumpkin

If you want to try painting an abstract design, this one is super fun. Get the look of watercolor by using Sharpie markers!

Sharpie Watercolor Pumpkins

These bold, graphic black-and-white pumpkins are really striking!

Black and White Pumpkins

Have you seen hydro-dipping before? You mix paint in with water, then dip the pumpkin into the water and all the paint clings to it and you get a marbled effect. Super cool and fun to do.

Marbled Pumpkins with Nail Polish

This next idea just makes me giggle. Paint two pumpkins to look like witch legs! I love the stripey tights and pointy shoes. Such a cute way to paint pumpkins!

Witch Legs

Get creative by copying fabric patterns freehand with a few colors of craft paint and you’ll end up with some really beautiful painted pumpkins with that artsy vibe.

Artsy Hand-Painted Pumpkins

I adore the style of this next pumpkin. That folk art vibe is just so cute! Go blue and white for a Scandinavian vibe or black and orange for a more spooky Day of the Dead look. You’ve got to see both!

Folk Art Pumpkins

Paint a gorgeous floral motif on pumpkins in pretty fall colors. Love the velvet bow too!

Gorgeous Floral Fall Painted Pumpkins

This painted pumpkin idea looks like an old witch’s spell book! It is easy to do and only takes a few craft supplies.

Spooky Word Painted Pumpkin

For the princess lover, this glittery whimiscal pumpkin is perfection. Cinderella does have a thing for pumpkins, after all.

Cinderella Glitter Pumpkin

Did you doodle in your notebooks as a kid? I sure did! And that’s exactly what this next pumpkin painting idea reminds me of. Grab some paint and start doodling designs until the whole pumpkin is covered.

Doodle Pumpkin

Dip white pumpkins in neon paint and let it drip. So cute!

Neon Dipped Pumpkins

If you want something a little more shiny, try using metallic paint. I like how this one fades from one color to the other and that copper color? Perfect for fall!

Metallic Painted Pumpkin

I’m digging these abstract pumpkins. I think they call this kind of art Memphis style? Whatever it’s called, it’s loads of fun!

Abstract Colorful Pumpkins

Here’s an idea for the kids. Turn a pumpkin into an adorable owl!

No-Carve Owl Pumpkin

Take inspiration from mud cloth fabric and make these cool boho style pumpkins. Using a paint pen makes it simple!

Mud Cloth Painted Pumpkins

If you want something more sophisticated to use for decor, try painting pumpkins in varying shades of the same color. They turn out so pretty!

Muted Tones Painted Pumpkins

Okay, these are truly gorgeous. Paint pumpkins inspired by antique blue and white porcelain. I love these!

Blue Porcelain Painted Pumpkins

Paint a boho-inspired abstract mountain scene onto pumpkins for really cool landscape art. I love how the two pumpkins go together.

Mountain Landscape Painted Pumpkins

Using chalk paint will give you an ultra-matte finish that almost looks like velvet. Pretty neat!

Vintage Chalk Paint Pumpkins

Faux Bois is a painting technique that mimics the grain of wood. In black and white, it makes for a really eye-catching pattern on pumpkins!

Faux Bois Painted Pumpkins

Have you tried pour art? It’s really fun to do and you never know just how your project will turn out. Try it on a pumpkin!

Pour Art Painted Pumpkins

These pumpkins have a similar look to the pour art pumpkins, but you do it by melting crayons and letting the colorful wax drip down the sides. How fun!

Melted Crayon Pumpkins

These black and white pumpkins are a lot spookier looking and would be really great to decorate for Halloween.

Spooky Black and White Pumpkins

You can tell that the artist who painted these pumpkins was having a great time. I love the idea of a set of pumpkins painted cohesively like this. So pretty! Check out the link… she has a ton of other amazing ones!

Artsy Painted Pumpkins

Okay, technically this pumpkin isn’t painted, BUT it’s so cute I had to include it. Use letterboard letters on a pumpkin to spell out a cute fall saying!

Letterboard Pumpkin

These pumpkins have a rock and roll attitude that I just love!

Rock N Roll Pumpkins

Have a sports lover in your house? Check out this baseball themed pumpkin!

Baseball Pumpkin

PUN – kins. Get it? These pumpkins feature cheeky puns on them and I am here for it!

Funny “Pun”kins

This might be the most beautiful painted floral pumpkin ever. I just love it! I love the color combination, the chunky brush strokes, the design… everything is perfection.