Looking for pumpkin painting ideas ? This curated list of pumpkins will walk you through an entire host of pumpkins, from easy and beginner-friendly to artsy and cool pumpkins. This list has a few kid-friendly pumpkin painting ideas too ! This way it could be a family art project.
You don’t have to be an established artist, but you’ll find you’ve got a whole lot of ideas after looking at these pumpkins. Choose a few favorites from the list, and try your hand at making them.
And if you’re looking for more painting projects for inspiration check out these 65+ easy painting ideas,
If you’ve never painted a pumpkin before there’s an FAQ at the end of this post for you to check out.
77 Pumpkin Painting Ideas To Get Inspired
This list of pumpkin painting ideas will bring you a lot of inspiration, from princesses and spooky characters, to pets and nature, to minimalist pumpkins with a creative streak. There are ideas for big pumpkins and mini pumpkins, and many of these work well together (either stacked or as a theme).
Most of these pumpkin painting ideas require a thin brush, a round brush, some really well pigmented acrylic paint, a few metallic ones, and glitter if you want to get fancy.
Now let’s take a look at the list and get inspired.
77+ pumpkin painting ideas for some gourd-geous gourdes this fall. Ideas for all ages and skill levels: from easy kid friendly ideas, to more advanced.
1
Easy Trick or Treat Ombre Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.sarahhearts.com
If you can handle 3 colors, you can handle this ombre effect on a pumpkin, with amazing results.
2
Jack Skellington Painted Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
A classic Halloween character with a large fan base, so you're going to find a lot of stencils and examples on how to get it right.
3
Monster Face Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.aubreeoriginals.com
These cute monster face pumpkins are a great way to practice painting on mini pumpkins.
4
Ghostbusters Painted Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
A Halloween classic - you definitely need a Ghostbusters pumpkin !
5
Creative Frozen Elsa Pumpkin
Photo Credit:apumpkinandaprincess.com
Frozen's captured the hearts of many, so if your kid's an Elsa fan you could paint this one together.
6
Colorful Gold Splatter Painted Pumpkins
Photo Credit:akailochiclife.com
Try these neon-painted pumpkins with gold splatter to cheer up the neighborhood.
7
Copper Striped Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.homeyohmy.com
Paint your pumpkins off-white and use metallic paint in a copper shade to get a light and airy look.
8
Cute Mini Pumpkin Unicorns
Photo Credit:poshlittledesigns.com
Making this unicorn is pretty easy, and it can be part of a fairytale themed Halloween.
9
Creative Donut Painted Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Feast your eyes on these donut-themes mini pumpkins !
10
Unique Galaxy Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.dreamalittlebigger.com
A bit of black paint, some metallic pink, blue, and gold, a thin brush and a big round brush, and you're good to go !
11
Cool Metallic Painted Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.thecraftpatchblog.com
Any metallic paint will work great with pumpkin orange, but a nice contrasting one (like blue, green, or purple) works best.
12
Decorated Glitter Pumpkins
Photo Credit:theinspirationboard.com
These glittery painted pumpkins can feature any print you like, but glittery ghosts and bats are the new best thing. If you don't have glitter sequins will work too.
13
Mini Painted Pumpkins
Photo Credit:liagriffith.com
Mini pumpkins are the cutest, so painting them in neutral, pastel colors will make them even cuter. Add a metallic accent stem here and there and you'll have the best pumpkins.
14
Easy Marbled Pumpkins
Photo Credit:glitterinc.com
Marbling is easier than it looks. You need a bucket of water, a white-painted pumpkin, and your choice of nail polish. To get the best results you need to spin the pumpkin a little while dipping.
15
Cute Copper Herringbone Pumpkins
Photo Credit:lovelyindeed.com
This design works great with either white or black pumpkins, as both will make the copper paint pop. Freehand this design to get an artsy look, us use a stencil for a cleaner look.
16
Painted Fall Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pmqfortwo.com
Paint this pumpkin with fall colors, and add either a short quote or a word to make it even cuter. Leaves, flowers, twigs, and grapes are the usual fall motifs.
17
Painted Pun-kins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Showcase your favorite fall, Halloween, and pumpkin puns on these simple but funny painted pumpkins.
18
Colorful Patterned Painted Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.handmadecharlotte.com
Any pattern will work on a pumpkin, as long as you let your creativity flow. Bring the kids into it to help them express their creativity too !
19
Watercolor Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.linesacross.com
Watercolor is fun on any canvas, including pumpkins. As long as you start with a white pumpkin any color you add will pop !
20
Easy Sharpie Pumpkins
Photo Credit:boxycolonial.com
Sharpies are great for many things, including decorating your pumpkins with hand-written lines, and even simple notebook doodles.
21
Artsy Gold Botanical Mini Pumpkins
Photo Credit:lovelyindeed.com
Start with a neutral base for your mini pumpkin, and use a gold sharpie. You could do black and gold, white and copper, sage green and gold, teal and silver, and even burnt orange and silver.
22
Vintage Clown Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.craftingcheerfully.com
Bring back the past with these old school clown inspired pumpkins. These could be part of a nostalgia-themed Halloween.
23
Emoji Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.madewithhappy.com
More of a modern vibe person ? Paint your favorite emojis on pumpkins and you've got a project for the kids as well !
24
Easy Poured-Paint Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.countrypeony.com
Pouring paint is messy but the results are satisfying, so these pumpkins will be a fun project to make. Try using various but related colors to get some cool effects.
25
White Painted Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.stonegableblog.com
To keep things simpler try only using one color - in this case white. Practice painting with just one color and let your creativity flow. You'll get beautiful results.
26
Stacked Pumpkin Tree
Photo Credit:www.decoist.com
Consider building a tree out of pumpkins, like you'd build a snowman. Split your design into 3 or 4 pieces and paint each pumpkin, starting with the largest.
27
Ombre Spiderweb Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Ombre is pretty easy, and all you need is a spiderweb stencil to put over the pumpkin before you add some color to it.
28
Stripes, Chevron, and Harlequin Patterns
Photo Credit:www.decoist.com
These are classic Halloween patterns, so you'll easily find stencils for them. Keep the colors simple - orange, black, white - to get the best effect.
29
Artsy Floral Painted Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.craftberrybush.com
Try your hand at floral motifs to bring back the warm weather for Halloween.
30
Chalky Paint Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.purelykatie.com
To keep things in a neutral, nature tone consider using these matte chalky paints for your pumpkins. Gold/metallic accents optional.
31
Gold Patina Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.thecraftpatchblog.com
You need gold paint, a bit of black to smudge into the nooks and crannies, and the pumpkin's texture will do the rest.
32
Cheshire Cat Painted Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Honor this classic spooky, funny cat by dedicating a pumpkin to it. You could to the old Cheshire cat, or the new one. Both have wide, wicked grins.
33
Animal Print Pumpkins
Photo Credit:carolinegardner.com
Animal print is easier than it seems. Metallic accents like gold, silver, or copper make the pattern pop even more.
34
Beginner-Friendly Monster Eyed Pumpkins
Photo Credit:byquinn.com
This one is beginner-friendly, and kid-friendly. You each get a pumpkin and paint a small version of your favorite monster or ghost. Better yet, let the kids do this one by themselves (with supervision).
35
DIY Menu Pumpkin
Photo Credit:themerrythought.com
Showcase this dinner menu pumpkin so guests know what to expect when they walk in.
36
Desert Oasis Painted Pumpkins
Photo Credit:wethedreamers.com
If you want a desert-themed Halloween these pumpkins will make it very easy. Cacti, canyons, agave, and a hawk or two are common motifs.
37
Porcelain Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Fine porcelain is always beautiful, so making your pumpkin look like fine China is going to make it stand out. You need a perfect white base and a deep, inky indigo paint.
38
Harry Potter Pumpkin
Photo Credit:whiteoakbyamy.wordpress.com
Paint your favorite Harry Potter characters onto your pumpkins for a Hogwarts-themed Halloween.
Moon and Stars Pumpkins
Photo Credit:ohsobeautifulpaper.com
You need black or deep blue paint for the sky, white for the moon and stars, and glitter to accent some of the stars.
40
Sunflower Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Sunflowers are fun and bright, and they'll work great for a flower-themed Halloween decor.
41
90's Neon Splatter Pumpkins
Photo Credit:akailochiclife.com
Bright, colorful neon pumpkins with neon splatters are going to stand out !
42
Painted Cat Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Love the cat-o-lantern look but don't want to carve ? Paint a cat face, either black-on-orange or orange-on-black and you've got a cool pumpkin.
43
Minion Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
If you've got big pumpkins try making life-sized Minions !
44
Caramel Apple Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Caramel apples are a fall staple, so paint your mini pumpkins to fool the neighbors. You could do any color apple you like, as long as it has a creamy brown base.
45
Spooky Ghost Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
These ghost pumpkins absolutely have to be white, or at least light grey. You could leave the features orange, or paint them black.
46
Easy Painted Color-Block Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
These color-block pumpkins are easy and beginner friendly. You can do a bunch of them at once, and stack or group them leading up to the front door.
47
Red Ombre Pumpkin
Photo Credit:mypinterventures.com
For this haunting but beautiful red and black pumpkin you need just the two colors, and a sponge for the ombre effect.
48
Hocus Pocus Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Hocus Pocus themed Halloweens are a must, so why not be the one hosting it this year ? You can reference as many lines as you like !
49
Easy Stranger Things Letter Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Amp up the spook factor with this Christmas lights and letters pumpkin, and hope for a message from Will.
50
Monsters Inc Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Monsters Inc was a hit, so you're bound to have some very happy trick-or-treaters coming your way when you put these out.
51
Spongebob Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
A Spongebob pumpkin could be just the right canvas for your kids to develop their creativity. Don't forget to do a Patrick one as well.
52
Cookie Monster Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
The Cookie Monster fits right into the rest of the spooky but fun Halloween creatures. You could use a big, tall pumpkin and paint the eyes right onto the pumpkin.
53
Painted Mushroom Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
You could paint or glue some cute and easy mushrooms onto the pumpkin, if you're going for a general fall theme.
54
Colorful Leaf Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Paint a pumpkin all-white, and start painting the colorful leaves onto it. You could use any colors, but actual fall leaf colors work best - orange, yellow, red, dark green, brown, burgundy, purple, even shades of blue.
55
Address Number Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Make your address number easier to see by painting it right onto the pumpkin.
56
Full Moon & Spooky Trees Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Paint this spooky scenery pumpkin with a full moon, gnarly trees, and a grave.
57
Cacti Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Cacti-themed pumpkins are actually popular, especially in places it doesn't get that cold for Halloween.
58
Metallic Patterned Painted Pumpkins
Photo Credit:smallstuffcounts.com
Blue-tone chalk paint and metallic accents always work great, even on pumpkins.
59
Easy M&M Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
The M&M gang is always a fun crowd, so make sure you get all of them lined up on your porch.
60
Pumpkin Pi
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Simple, easy, to the point, and might make you someone's new favorite neighbor.
61
Pet Paw Print Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Bring the family pets into the Halloween celebrations by dedicating a pumpkin just for them, and some stylized paw prints.
62
Easy Cow Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Sometimes the best pumpkins are the simplest, including this cow print one.
63
Monogram Pumpkin
Photo Credit:girlintheredshoes.com
Try some simple, minimalist monogram pumpkins this year.
64
Eyeball Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Play into the Halloween atmosphere with these eyeball pumpkins.
65
Candy Corn Painted Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Showcase your love for candy corn by painting the pumpkins. Works best with a slight ombre effect.
66
Disco Ball Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
The disco ball pumpkin needs metallic silver paint, and it would work best with a black background instead of orange. Fairy lights are optional but they add to the atmosphere.
67
Glow In the Dark Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Want your pumpkins to stand out at night too ? Use glow-in-the-dark paint !
68
Simple One Word Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Get some white and black paint so go to town on these pumpkins with simple but fun quotes (or just one word).
69
VanGogh Starry Night Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Practice your color composition some more ? Try Recreating VanGogh's Starry Night. It'll fit right in with the other artsy Halloween pumpkins.
70
Easy Rainbow Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Stack a rainbow of pumpkins to liven up the neighborhood.
71
DIY Ladybug Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
If you're a nature enthusiast this ladybug Pumpkin is right up your alley.
72
Pop Art Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Pop art can turn a boring orange pumpkin into a cool orange pumpkin.
73
Argyle Pumpkins
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
Argyle prints are always in, and an argyle pumpkin is a perfect mix of old school, cozy, and cool.
74
Striped & Dotted Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
This pumpkin can be left striped - just orange and black - or you could add white spots down the seams. Bonus points if the dots glow in the dark !
75
Painted Mummy Pumpkin
Photo Credit:www.pinterest.com
A mummy pumpkin goes great next to Frankenstein and a few witches.
76
Easy Black & White Painted Pumpkin
Photo Credit:thesweetestoccasion.com
Black and white are the easiest colors to pain a pumpkin with, so why not give them a try ?
77
Neon Stem Pumpkins
Photo Credit:akailochiclife.com
A take on the neon pumpkins, this time paint the pumpkins white and only do neon stems. Gold flecks optional but add a lot of flair.
Pumpkin Painting FAQ
What’s the best type of paint to use for pumpkins ?
The best paint for pumpkins is acrylic paint. It has a better grip, is usually very pigmented, dries very fast, and can easily be applied in multiple layers. If you mess up, it can be removed with water very easily.
What’s the metallic paint on pumpkins ?
The metallic paint is usually acrylic paint, but with a metallic finish. You can use this for accents, or to paint the entire pumpkin if you like. If you’re doing the whole pumpkin it’s easier to work with spray-paint (also metallic).
How long will a painted pumpkin last ?
Your pumpkin should last for several weeks, as long as it’s not cold enough and not directly exposed to water (snow, rain, mist, spills, etc). Acrylic paint is water-sensitive, so if you live in a very humid area and will keep your pumpkins outdoor be sure to use a sealant when you’re done (preferably spray version).
Does the pumpkin need a primer ?
A coat of primer is necessary to give the paint something to stick to. You can use a spray-on clear acrylic sealer in a matte finish so the paint can properly stick to the smooth surface of the pumpkin. Otherwise the pumpkin is too shiny and you’ll need more coats of paint. Be sure to wipe down the pumpkin with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or dried juices from the skin, before adding the primer.
So there you have it, pumpkin painting ideas to last you for several Halloweens. Be sure to stay in a well ventilated area when painting your pumpkins, and dress in clothes you won’t mind staining. Have fun !
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