50 Times People Showed True Skill When It Came To Carving Halloween Pumpkins (New Pics)
Interview With ArtistRejoice, Pandas! Spooky season is in full swing and we’re watching Halloween decorations pop up everywhere we go. Though some of them are looking a bit suspicious. Was that decorative bat always there in the corner of the office or did it fly in through the window when your back was turned? Did your neighbor always have so many skeletons in their yard or did they crawl out from the basement when everyone went to sleep? But nothing screams Halloween more than jack-o'-lanterns—carved pumpkins, lit from within by hellfire (or candles if you’ve run out of the former).
Pumpkin carving is a lot of fun, and it grants a ton of creative freedom. All you need is whatever root vegetable you think looks the best, a sturdy set of tools, the ability to use Google and YouTube, and a bit of patience. To get you in the mood for Halloween and to inspire you to up your decorative game, our team at Bored Panda has collected pics of the most impressive and imaginative carved pumpkins from all over the net.
Check out the coolest jack-o’-lanterns you’ve probably ever seen below, Pandas. Don’t forget to upvote the ones you liked, and be sure to let us know which of these really wowed you the most. Got any carving tips or pumpkin pics? Be sure to drop by the comment section.
Oh, and if you’d love some more masterful orange-colored art, check out Bored Panda’s previous two pumpkin-flavored lists here and here. We promise you, the designs don’t bite… hard.
Bored Panda wanted to learn more about the art of pumpkin carving, so we reached out to award-winning artist Alex Wer, better known online as The Pumpkin Geek. We're also sharing a couple of his designs in this article. Check out our full interview with him below.
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Every Halloween For 50 Years, My Dad Carved A Story Into A Pumpkin. This Year It's The Man-Against-Machine Tale Of John Henry
Artist Alex's, aka The Pumpkin Geek's, work has been featured in hundreds of blogs and major news publications, and he himself has done projects for Sony, Legendary Entertainment, and Paramount. What's more, he has carved over 100 celebs in pumpkin form, from Gene Simmons and Stan Lee to Ming-Na Wen and Jeri Ryan, to name just a few. As far as Alex knows, he's the only pumpkin carver that has been touring Comic-Cons full-time for the past decade. We've also featured his designs in a previous article.
Bored Panda was very interested to find out how Alex had started carving pumpkins in the first place. "I basically wanted to be the cool neighbor on the block at Halloween when I bought a house!" The Pumpkin Geek said.
Happy Halloween, Donnie
wish I could up vote this a bazillion times but sadly It's only legal to vote once.
Forgot To Post A Picture Of The Pumpkin I Carved. Hope Everyone Had A Happy Halloween
"I had become a bit 'obsessed' about pumpkin carving and my wife asked me to carve a logo for a company she worked at that was having a Grand Opening in October, about 12 years ago. I decided to try the artificial pumpkins I had seen at Michael's, so her boss could keep it from year to year. I got 35 orders that night and The Pumpkin Geek was born!" Alex opened up about how his pumpkin art project was born.
He explained to us a bit about his work process. The pumpkins he actually works on are artificial (made from polyurethane), so they pretty much last forever.
"Since I hand carve on artificial pumpkins, I use Dremel tools and rotary carving bits. Basically, a handheld drill. I developed a '5-layer' carving technique to really make my work life-like and as realistic as possible. One section is cut all the way through, and then 4 different layers of depth to the surface."
Happy October! This Is My Submission To A Pumpkin Carving Contest At Work. The First Image Is A Meyda Tiffany Glass Lamp, Which Was My Inspiration. Took Me About 8 Hours
Beehive Pumpkin Carving
These Pumpkins
Alex shared with us that each pumpkin takes between 4 to 6 hours to carve. However, despite his dedication to his craft and his popularity, not everyone is a fan of his work.
"Sadly, I am always accused online of simply posting 'photoshopped' images. [It is] quite frustrating," he said that the same people don't question other professionals like tattoo artists.
The Pumpkin Geek had this advice for those of us hoping to get our hands orange carving pumpkins for the very first time this Halloween. "Start with the Halloween kits you can find at stores. They give you an introduction to more intricate carving. Then, search online for sites and patterns, there are many out there to help you take it to the next level!"
Halloween Ver
Custom Made
Have You Ever Seen A 1,000 Lb Plus Pumpkin?
We have the utmost respect for all the artists who are showing off their awesome pumpkin carving skills online. While the activity itself, essentially carving a root veggie, can sound incredibly simple, the truth is very different.
Those of you Pandas who have ever tried to turn a pumpkin or turnip into a work of art to spook and impress your friends probably know what we’re on about. Getting the darn design to look like you want it to is way harder than it seems. And at the end of the day, some of us (cough, cough) end up with something goofy, haphazard, and totally unInstagrammable.
However, those creators who have the patience and humility to learn from their mistakes can end up with some fabulous designs that capture the hearts and minds of millions around the globe.
Grandma Sent Us This Photo Of Her Beautiful Grand Baby Aria. She Had Created A Pumpkin With Our Vine Arms And Legs
Yesterday we received one of the most special emails we’ve ever gotten. Grandma also thanked us for the joy that was brought to this little girl.
I Was Told My Pumpkin Carving From This Year Belongs Here
My Dad Next To A Pumpkin Carved At A Competition In My Town
Let’s be frank, carving pumpkins is an art form, and we’re darn glad that it is. If we could, we’d have (at least) two Halloweens each year so that these artists can get the attention and adoration they deserve more often.
Halloween and jack-o’-lanterns have been intertwined, literally, for ages. Halloween is based on the Celtic festival Samhain, which was celebrated in Britain and Ireland, in the ancient past. The festival marked the end of summer and the start of the new year, falling on November 1.
Balrog (Durin's Bane) vs. Gandalf Pumpkin Carving 2.0
Little Buddy Posing Next To The Racc-O’-Lantern Hubby And I Carved Tonight
A Pumpkin For A Competition At Work
Those celebrating Samhain believed that the souls of those who’d died that year traveled to the otherworld that night. Meanwhile, other souls would return to visit their homes, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
In the 8th century, the Catholic Church moved All Saints’ Day to November 1, meaning that Halloween fell on October 31. This meant that some traditions from Samhain remained, including wearing disguises to hide from the souls that were wandering around your house.
Eddie Foam Pumpkin Carved By Me
Halloween Season Busting Out All Over. First Live Carve Of The Season In The Books
Stuffed Pumpkin I Did
Meanwhile, the tradition of carving pumpkins and turnips with demonic faces remained as well. Pumpkin carving was meant to frighten away Stingy Jack, a figure from Irish mythology, who’d tricked the devil for money. After he’d died, Jack wasn’t allowed to go either to heaven or hell, so he was doomed to roam the earth for all eternity. Though few people know about Jack, pumpkin carving has become a staple of Halloween.
Last Halloween, Bored Panda spoke to psychologist Lee Chambers about why we’re so fascinated by the holiday and why we love horror so much. He said that it’s all about testing to see where our limits lie, as people.
"The whole ethos of Halloween and the flirting with evil and death is fascinating because it is a place we rarely go as humans, especially in today's safe and sanitized world," the psychologist said.
It's The Night Before Halloween
May Have Gone A Little Overboard On My Pumpkin This Year
This Two-Face Was Carved For Dc Comics Many Years Ago. I Think It Took A Solid 8 Hours To Carve It
"We can get the adrenaline rush of being scared, all while knowing we are in control and can exit the situation if it’s too much. We also cognitively know it’s not real, so we can trigger ourselves and test how we respond to threats, giving us the ability to practice coping mechanisms for difficult times in life," the mental health expert said why Halloween and horror resonate with people so much.
It's Been A While Since I've Carved A Pumpkin That's More On The Simple Side, But This Was A Fun One
For anyone wondering, the tongue is a carved sweet potato and the staples are carved pumpkin painted to look like metal. The eyes and teeth are potatoes/ carrots.
We Did A Minecraft Pumpkin This Year, It Was A Hit
This Was My First Attempt About 10 Years Ago. Uncle Creepy Based On The Classic Portrait By Frank Frazetta
"We can explore the taboos of negative emotions like fear in a playful way, see where our limits lie, and do it in a supportive environment with other people. Getting scared and mastering our fear with scary entertainment and curated shocks can make us feel like we can take on all sorts of challenges, and can even feel like therapy when we take into account the physiological rush we get and the feeling of having survived."
My Pumpkin King Celebrating His 10th Birthday Today
I Decided To Carve A Self-Portrait
These Are Some Of The Most Beautiful, Creative Pumpkins I’ve Seen
So, Pandas, which of these pumpkins did you enjoy looking at the most? Did any of these scare the bejesus out of you? Do you have any plans for what you're going to carve this Halloween? Got any hard-earned artistic carving tips to share with the other Pandas? Be sure to help them out!
We'd love to hear your thoughts, so don't be shy, tell us all about your Halloween traditions and how much you love pumpkins in the comments.
Fish Skeleton, Carved Pumpkin
My Girlfriend's Halloween Pumpkin This Year
As I Reflect Over The Past Month, I Have To Smile Because It Has Undoubtedly Been One Of The Lightest “Carving” Seasons I Have Done In Decades
Accidentally Walked In On My Pumpkin This Morning
I Carved Myself A Pumpkin Today
Perfecto! I love that lil' knife and how could you expect any trouble from that sweet face!?
We Worked Our Magic Together Last Year For Maniac Pumpkins And Had A Blast
50-Year-Old Pumpkin, He Is
The Level Of Detail That Artists Put Into Carving Thousands Of Pumpkins At The MN Zoo Is Incredible
Water, Earth, Fire, Air… Pumpkin? Louisville, KY, Jack-O'-Lantern Festival
My Entry Into The Pumpkin Carving Contest At My Job. Wish Me Luck
Just Keep Smiling Whatever It Takes. I Always Have To Take Time For At Least One Pumpkin Carving This Time Of Year
Lazy Pumpkin Carving
"The Kid Comes With Me". My 2021 Pumpkin Carving
My Pumpkin This Year
My Demogorgon Pumpkin
Got To Carve An 853-Pound Pumpkin
This Year's Pumpkin
Nosferatu Carved Pumpkin
Paleman 3D Pumpkin Carving
Yes, I'm A Total Amateur At Carving, But There's Something So Satisfying About Scraping Away At The Flesh Of A Pumpkin
I'm 33 Years Old And Third Time Ever Carving A Pumpkin In My Entire Life. Was Ambitious, Very Happy With It
Evil Eye, Me, Pumpkin Carving, 2019
Carved A Night King Pumpkin
I Carved The "This Is Fine" Dog Into A Pumpkin
Spy vs. Spy. Hand Carved Pumpkin By Me About 20 Minutes Ago
These Dilation Pumpkins. It Was Set Up By Midwives At The Royal Oldham Hospital In Lancashire, England As Part Of A Pumpkin Decorating Competition
Pumpkin Who Carved A Home Out Of A Pumpkin
I Carved A Pumpkin Inside Out Today
My Pumpkin Carving Of The Witch King Of Angmar. I Love His Character Design So Much
This Year's Carvings (Better Late Than Never)
Every Year A Lady From My Hometown Carves Pumpkins Into Horrifying Works Of Art And Then Auctions Them Off For Halloween. This Is One Of The Highlights From This Year
Here Are A Few Snaps From An Event And A Rotating Pumpkin Carving Workshop I Did Yesterday At The Riverstone International Private School Fall Festival
What Came First? The Pumpkin Or The Seed?
Helped My Wife Carve A Pumpkin For Our Pregnancy Announcement
My Attempts At A 3D Pumpkin Carving
Thinking Of The Countless Folks, Their Friends, And Families, I Carved The Most Dangerous Scary Thing I Could Think Of Today In My Pumpkin. The Victim Of Misinformation
My Sister And I Worked Together To Try To Win Her Dorm Pumpkin Carving Competition
The Mold Aged Well. Happy Halloween
It's Corn! Hand-Carved Pumpkin By Me In 2022
My David Rose Pumpkin
Carving My Dad Did For Halloween
A Look Back At The Life And Times Of Beloved Mr. Long Stem, RIP
That is so cute 😍 I also enjoy the changes that happened around the pumpkin as well
I Carved A Pumpkin
My Mario Pumpkin
My 6-Year-Old's Pumpkin This Year. He Is A Big Fan Of Venom Although Not Old Enough To Actually Watch Any Of The Movies
YouTube advertising does not have very good age filters...
My Jack-O'-Lantern This Year
Even The Pumpkins Are Getting Sick
This Jack-O'-Lantern Will Give Me Nightmares For Years
Hail To The King. Portrait Of Godzilla (King Of Monsters Era). I Carved This By Hand On A 14" Funkin Artificial Pumpkin
The Grabber. Hand-Carved Pumpkin By Me 30 Minutes Ago
Husband And I Carved LOTR Pumpkins This Year
Shoutout To The Neighbors With The Goat Pumpkin
If 2020 Was A Pumpkin
This "Venom" Jack-O'-Lantern
Gnarly Pumpkin Made Gnarlier By Mold
Blessed Jack-O'-Lantern
Small Carved Pumpkin Munching On Tangerine
This Jack Nicholson Carved Pumpkin In A Local Park
My Disney-Themed Carved Pumpkins
My Pumpkin's Deteriorating Nicely
The fact that the mold and rot perfectly add to the aesthetic is insane lol. Awesome job!
It's Not Perfect But I Carved A Minecraft Pumpkin
I Carved The Front Man Into A Pumpkin
My Sister Made This Pumpkin Today
The Batman Pumpkin Carving Done By Me
I’m So Proud Of My Pumpkin
Boo! Sorry If I Startled You Guys, But Tonight I Made A Rentoid Jack-O'-Lantern To Get Me In The Spooky Halloween Spirit
Honestly, I am kind of scared just looking at it, it feels like it will come alive and fill my room with those funko pops! Happy Halloween, landchads and queens!
Smile
Carved This Squid Game Pumpkin
Carved A Fitting Pumpkin To Get In The Mood This Year
Stark/Targaryen Jack-O'-Lantern With Dragon Projection In A Craft Pumpkin
2021 Pumpkin Carving
My Rotting Goomba Pumpkin Looks More Like Goomba Now Than It Did When It Was Freshly Carved
My "Signs" Pumpkin
This Pumpkin Had Just The Perfect Shape To Turn Into A Jog-O'-Lantern
Another Pumpkin
My First Pumpkin Of The Season
Welcome To The Pumpkin, Pal
My Guildie Reckeva Made A Twilight Archmage Carved Pumpkin, And It Looks Amazing
Did Fleshtaker By Kev Walker This Year
My Pyro Jack-O'-Lantern Won Our Carving Contest
Our Persona 5 Inspired Pumpkins
A Very Talented Son
Made A Honeycomb Umbrella Pumpkin
Reality Can Be Whatever I Want
Happy Halloween From Max Verpumpkin
Me (Left) And My Wife (Right) Carved Some Pretty Sweet Pumpkins
My Phantom Pumpkin
Deep Pumpkin Value
Came looking for ideas but these are all way above my skill level. Guess it’s kitty cat face with whiskers again this year
Kitty cat’s with whiskers are the best pumpkins, last year I painted hello kitty on the pumpkin we got :)
Load More Replies...Where I am from, Halloween isn't really a thing, so I have a question for all the pumpkin carvers out there: What kind of tools does one use to carve a pumpkin? Aren't pumpkins very solid?
They sell tool kits for carving but we always did them with basic kitchen tools when I was a kid so I still do. Pumpkins are thick but they are not super hard like acorn or butternut squashes. I use a big knife with a not to thick blade to cut out the top ‘hat’ then you can scoop out all the guts, a grapefruit spoon is best for that. Then a smaller size knife for the face carving. You kinda have to chip away at the face carving to get any kind is finer detail
Load More Replies...Geez. I feel like such a schmoe. I'm still doing the triangle eyes and nose thing. But last year I figured out how to do round eyes. It was my crowning achievement. Lol.
My Uncle Ray (Duey) is an award winning chef (he was on last season of Foodtastic) and is renowned for his fruit & vegetable carvings. He did pumpkins for the Obama White House & for the opening scene of Season 1's "American Horror Story".
Never seen anything like the skill involved in these masterpieces. Amazing work and talent, especially the faces. I'm blown away.
I attempt to do something elaborate but alas I am terrible at the carving thing lol
these were all so cool! y’all remind me about this page sometime ok?
These are amazing! Some people are so talented. Certainly above my skill level!
Came looking for ideas but these are all way above my skill level. Guess it’s kitty cat face with whiskers again this year
Kitty cat’s with whiskers are the best pumpkins, last year I painted hello kitty on the pumpkin we got :)
Load More Replies...Where I am from, Halloween isn't really a thing, so I have a question for all the pumpkin carvers out there: What kind of tools does one use to carve a pumpkin? Aren't pumpkins very solid?
They sell tool kits for carving but we always did them with basic kitchen tools when I was a kid so I still do. Pumpkins are thick but they are not super hard like acorn or butternut squashes. I use a big knife with a not to thick blade to cut out the top ‘hat’ then you can scoop out all the guts, a grapefruit spoon is best for that. Then a smaller size knife for the face carving. You kinda have to chip away at the face carving to get any kind is finer detail
Load More Replies...Geez. I feel like such a schmoe. I'm still doing the triangle eyes and nose thing. But last year I figured out how to do round eyes. It was my crowning achievement. Lol.
My Uncle Ray (Duey) is an award winning chef (he was on last season of Foodtastic) and is renowned for his fruit & vegetable carvings. He did pumpkins for the Obama White House & for the opening scene of Season 1's "American Horror Story".
Never seen anything like the skill involved in these masterpieces. Amazing work and talent, especially the faces. I'm blown away.
I attempt to do something elaborate but alas I am terrible at the carving thing lol
these were all so cool! y’all remind me about this page sometime ok?
These are amazing! Some people are so talented. Certainly above my skill level!