Paint your own pumpkins this autumn

For this project, you will need: 

Luxe Medium Liner, Luxe No 8 Flat Brush, Dotting Tool (all included in our Beginner's Masterclass).

Practice paper, tracing paper, transfer paper

To complete this design, we use techniques taught in our Beginner’s Masterclass 

DecoArt Americana Acrylics in: 

Tangelo Orange, Burnt Umber, Warm White, 

Avocado, Bright Yellow* 

*If you don’t have these colours, substitute them for colours you do have or if you have the DecoArt Primary Colours, have fun and mix your own 

Before painting your project, it is a good idea practice all the elements on the practice paper. (You can find the patterns on our Folk It patterns Pinterest board here.)  It's always a good idea to try painting the larger Pumpkin from this pattern first before moving onto the smaller ones on the wreath pattern.

1. Add a touch of Burnt Umber to Tangelo Orange and paint around the stem

2. Add a touch of Burnt Umber to Warm White and paint the stem

3. Add water to Burnt Umber and with this watery mix & your liner brush apply uneven diagonal lines to the stem

4. Add a touch of Tangelo Orange to Warm White and starting at the back paint each section of the Pumpkin using a 'C' stoke. 

5. Apply a second coat of this mix if necessary.  Tangelo Orange is a transparent colour, therefore we are creating a base so that the colour stays vibrant.  If you are painting onto a light coloured surface you can omit this step.

6. Next apply a coat of Tangelo Orange to the front sections.

7. Float Burnt Umber. (This is a technique we teach in our Teddy lesson from our Beginner’s Masterclass).   The Burnt Umber is going to create a shade, so we need to float the darker colour to any section that is behind another.  

8. Float Warm White on the edges of the Pumpkin that sit in front of another.  By using this technique, we help flat objects become more 3D. To the eye, dark colours recede so look further away and light colours advance and so appear closer. 

9. Make a wash with your flat brush using plenty of water and Bright Yellow and apply over the whole Pumpkin.  You will see how this wash reduces the whiteness of the floated highlights, this is a great way to dull your floated colours if you have just started learning...it also gives the Pumpkin a lovely warm glow.

10. Using your favourite leaf from the Beginner's Masterclass, add those around your pumpkin. 

11. Paint the pivot stroke flowers using Warm White and add the dots in Burnt Umber & Tangelo Orange.  

Once you are happy with your skills, you can create your final design.  If you wanted to create your own wreath design, you can learn more about how to do that here.

To use our pattern, check it out here on Pinterest. 

To create your wreath, begin by painting the pumpkins.  When painting the stalks, try to paint them in different directions to add variety. 

Next, add your leaves.  Using single leaves and clusters, aim to fill the majority of your circle.  As we said earlier, if you do not feel comfortable using the ruffled technique, use whichever technique you do feel comfortable with.  We painted leaves in a few sizes, again to add interest to the design.  

Next, add single blossom flowers around the wreath - don't worry if they overlap areas you have already painted.  Finally, identify any areas that look empty and add dots (using the small end of your dotting tool) and small comma strokes using your liner brush.  

To seal your work if you have painted a tray as we have done, apply a couple of coats of varnish.