BLOOD SHOT EYES PUMPKIN
This project is cut from 3mm cardboard. After he is cut, rub the edges of the cardboard with a wooden spoon handle to gently roll those edges into a curved shape.
Three coats of Workable Fixative are applied to the front, back, and sides of the cut-out.
The base painting of rust orange to the pumpkin body and forest green to the stem are applied, allowed to dry, and then sealed with a new layer of Workable Fixative.
Golden yellow highlights are added to the pumpkin, pale and medium green shading lines painted into the stem area, black paint for the nose and mouth. A slightly water thinned layer of dark brown is used to paint the stem shadows and half-load shade the sections of the pumpkin.
After these layers of paint have dried, use 2 -1 ½” white painted wood rounds for the outer eyes. Then add 2 – ½” yellow painted wood rounds of the iris area of the eyes. Attach the wood rounds to the cardboard with wood glue.
Seal the finished pumpkin with your favorite spray sealer.
CARDBOARD CONSTRUCTION – Cardboard is a wonderful and often free media for your pumpkin designs.
Cardboard comes in various widths from 2 – 6mm thicknesses and may have several corrugated layers in one thickness.
Trace your design to the cardboard using graphite paper. Do not use hard pressure on your ink pen as you trace as that can leave a fine line indent on the surface of the cardboard.
Use an Xacto knife, surgical blade, or well sharped bench knife to cut out the design. You can lightly rub the cut edges of your cardboard with a wooden spoon handle to roll the edges down into a nice, neat curve.
Cardboard does soak up any water from your painting steps because it is paper. To make painting easier and to keep the cardboard from become saturated with water that will cause the cardboard to bend and warp, spray the cardboard with Workable Fixative before you begin any painting steps.
Workable Fixative is similar to your spray sealers and used in the same manner. It is commonly used for colored pencil and pastel work to seal a paper surface while allowing the artist to add more layers of coloring.
Apply three coats allowing each coat to dry for 10 to 15 minutes before adding the next. Spray the front, back, and sides to totally seal the cardboard.
As you paint your project, avoid over thinning any paint color with water. Allow each layer of coloring to dry before working the next layer.
You can also add new layers of Workable Fixative between paint layers.