The dummies guide to painting pumpkins — Laura Murray Creative (2024)

FAQs

What paint works best on 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.

When painting a pumpkin, you'll want to avoid hard, bristly brushes. Instead, opt for sponge brushes and brushes with softer bristles so you don't damage the skin or scratch your pumpkin. If your pumpkin is already pretty rough, though, bristly brushes might be best.

Seal With Clear Coat

If you plan to display your painted pumpkins outside, it's essential to seal your masterpiece with a clear acrylic sealer. This step enhances the colors, adds a subtle sheen, protects against moisture and prolongs the life of your pumpkin decoration.

'Priming your pumpkin before painting is optional, however, it might help your paint job last longer,' Rachel says. Choose any craft-grade sealant such as this highly rated, quick-drying sealant on Amazon and apply liberally to your clean, cry pumpkin's surface.

A coat of Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover Primer in White provides a great base for your color and gives you a longer lasting finish. Place your pumpkin on a drop cloth. Spray on the primer according to the directions on the can.

Clean and dry your pumpkin.

Use a soft, dry cloth to thoroughly but gently dry your pumpkin. Avoid brushing the pumpkin with a hard brush because you might bruise or scratch your pumpkin or just damage the skin. Take care not to get the stem area (top) or the blossom end (bottom) of the pumpkin wet.

In your case I would try an epoxy primer to coat the surface of the pumpkin. Epoxy primers are water resistant. But before applying your acrylic paint you need to first coat the dried expoxy primer with a sealant. Once the epoxy primer is sealed you can then apply your acrylic paint.

Use a damp sponge or spray bottle full of water to soak a small area of paper (Image 1). Gently begin to rub away the paper with your finger (Image 2). You'll notice the black image has transferred to the pumpkin. This may take a few moments so be sure to keep the area damp.

Pro-Tip: After you're done carving, spray your pumpkin with a light coating of WD-40_® Multi-Use Product. Not only does it grant extra shine, but the coating will help the pumpkin last a bit longer and delay the onset of decay. Be sure not to spray near a lit candle and wipe away any excess liquid with a cloth or rag.

Once it's dry, petroleum jelly may be rubbed on the carved surfaces to inhibit bacteria and keep the jack-o'-lantern from dehydrating too rapidly, suggests Good Housekeeping. Wipe off any excess petroleum jelly with a paper towel. Angell, who finds petroleum jelly too messy, opts not to use it on his jack-o'-lanterns.

Will Mod Podge seal a painted pumpkin? ›

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. Modge Podge works well.

Acrylic paint is made with a polymer resin that dries like plastic, making it water proof. It will stick to a pumpkin for the life of the pumpkin. It usually has a semi shinny finish. If you put your pumpkin outside during the autumn season it will withstand weather and rain, no paint will drip off or wash away.

"When we carve pumpkins, if we get a week out of it, that's pretty good—but a painted pumpkin can last months," says Marc Evan, founder and co-owner of Maniac Pumpkin Carvers.

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. Experiment with Crayola acrylic paints, washable paints and non-washable markers.

To ensure that your pumpkin paint job lasts as long as the pumpkin, use a water-based paint. This is a great opportunity to use up leftover wall paint from previous DIY projects or old sample pots, but be sure to stir the paint before using it if it's been stored for a while.