Mad Pumpkin Carving Skills!

I'm Ephemeral and I'm Worth It!-Jack O'Lantern

Ray Villafane’s Pumpkin Sculptures

See

Ray Villafane is a celebrated master pumpkin carver. His work is phenomenal! Notice the variety, ingenuity, and personality in his sculptures!

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Say

• Describe one of Villafane’s sculptures to someone who cannot see it.

• Why do you think Villafane has become so famous for his Pumpkin sculptures?

• From 1993 to 2006 Ray taught Art students grades K-12 in Bellaire, Michigan. It was during his teaching tenure that Ray began “dabbling” in pumpkin sculpting, initially as projects with his students. After several custom-carved requests from students’ parents, Ray realized he was on to something with his pumpkins and started offering them to local hotels and restaurants. It became his fall hobby for several years. (twistedsifter) Is there anything you have done for a child that ended up becoming your passion?

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Do

Up your pumpkin-carving game with these 5 expert tips (USAToday)

1. Choose a pumpkin that is heavy for its size. A heavier, denser pumpkin means more pumpkin flesh to work with.
2. Keep a spray bottle of water nearby and wet the pumpkin flesh as you work. It will make the flesh more pliable and easier to work with.
3. Ditch the grocery store pumpkin carving kits for pottery instruments, like ribbon tools. They’re cheap and easy to find at art-supply stores.
4. If you’re carving a face, keep a mirror nearby and use your own expressions as a reference.
5. Practice on a potato. They’re much smaller and cheaper, and the flesh resembles a pumpkin’s.

• Watch Villafane

• Carve a realistic face on a pumpkin

About Ray Villafane

Ray Anthony Villafane (b.1969) is an American sculpture artist. Villafane was an art teacher for 12 years in Bellaire, Michigan, before becoming a full-time sculptor in 2006. He gained national attention in 2007 when he competed on and won the Food Network’s Challenge Show segment “Outrageous Pumpkins”.

Since he has started a s started a company called Villafane Studios an award-winning studio with a focus on natural and up-cycled materials. Mining Magic at the historic Vulture City Ghost Town in Wickenburg, AZ.

Though often compared to other awe-inspiring minds and creative geniuses from the likes of Walt Disney, Dr. Seuss, and Tim Burton, Ray Villafane is stepping into his brand of brilliance and creative legacy.  

Exuding his own flare and flavor of creative direction and infusing an eclectic mix of mediums in addition to his epically funny storytelling creates many magical worlds to immerse oneself in. villafanestudios.com, IG:@villafanestudios

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