Pumpkin carving can be a fun family activity, but young children can not directly join in the fun due to obvious safety concerns. Try this fun family pumpkin painting activity with children who are too young too help carve. This kid’s activity is also a great way to introduce new art processes and concepts to an older child.
Materials Needed for Pumpkin Painting
- Pumpkins
- Markers (permanent work the best in terms of not smearing, but may be too messy for a family with young children)
- Non-toxic paint such as tempera paints or finger paints
- Paint brush
- Optional: Glitter, yarn, felt, or fabric scraps
Art Themes and Ideas for Family Pumpkin Painting
It is helpful to choose a specific theme or concept for the pumpkins before beginning the painting process. The particular theme chosen may reflect the family directly in terms of the age of the child (or children) or leisure and enjoyment activities. For example, themes may include:
- Pumpkin Portraits: Create the family in pumpkin art. Purchase one pumpkin for each family member and create individual self-portraits or paint portraits of each other.
- Abstract Pumpkins: This is great for very young children or older children learning about art styles and genres. Allow a young child to explore and experiment with the paint by mixing colors, creating shapes and lines, or splattering the paint onto the pumpkin. An older child can research abstract art styles and try to recreate them on the pumpkin.
- Leisure Activities: paint a pumpkin that reflects fun family activities such as tennis, volleyball, or fishing. Use props to add a very special effect.
- Spooky Halloween Pumpkins: Design a witch, ghost, or werewolf pumpkin for a scary surprise at a family Halloween party.
Steps to Paint Pumpkins with Children
Pre-planning
After selecting a family theme, create a painting work space. Find an area large enough to hold all family members, pumpkins, and paint. Make sure that there is enough room to move around freely without knocking into paint or people. Cover the work surface with a washable or disposable cover. Newspapers or a plastic shower curtain work well for this.
Process Steps
- Use the marker to draw a face, a design, or shapes onto the pumpkin.
- Once the design is in place it is time to paint the pumpkin. It is not necessary to purchase a large variety of colors. Instead try color mixing with the paints. Use the three primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) plus white to create a unique palette that can be individualized t the needs of each young artist.
- Optional: Add a special effect using glitter. Sprinkle Halloween colors of glitter over the paint before it dries.
- Optional: For pumpkin portraits, add yarn, felt, or fabric scraps as hair or clothing. Set aside to dry.
- Display! The pumpkin paintings are not weather resistant and should not be kept outside in rainy or other inclement weather. Additionally, these decorative pumpkins should not be lit from within using a candle or any other type of lighting/flame device. Keep the pumpkin whole, and display it proudly as a work of art.
A family pumpkin painting activity is a great way to spend time together creatively. Choose a theme, and then start drawing the design. After a work space has been prepared, set out the paints and begin the creation process. Once the pumpkins have fully dried, display these unique works of art in a prominent spot in the house.
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