This year for Halloween I wanted to make a pumpkin-head scarecrow. The rest of the costume didn’t quite work out, but the mask did, and I took pictures of the process;
![IMAG0112](https://kver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/imag0112.jpg?w=660)
Basic reference carving, got the shape out. I used a scalpel for the initial carving, but later I switch to a bread knife to speed things up.
![IMAG0116](https://kver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/imag0116.jpg?w=660)
First round of paper-mache. I used bathroom tissue, glue, and a small amount of water. I mixed it into a thick paste and painted the mache on. Taped a garbage bag to the side of my desk because Styrofoam was getting EVERYWHERE. Didn’t help at all.
![IMAG0121](https://kver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/imag0121.jpg?w=660)
Coated the inner side of the dome with straight-up glue. Still not sure why, seemed like the thing to do.
![IMAG0125](https://kver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/imag0125.jpg?w=660)
Pumpkins aren’t just orange; there’s some green veining under the skin in some places, and also areas which are lighter. So I added that to the pumpkin. Areas which are especially dark will be where I apply the spotting you see on some pumpkins to give it a more “imperfect” look.
![IMAG0144](https://kver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/imag0144.jpg?w=660)
I add the spotting I mentioned over the darkened areas. I purposefully allowed some of the still-wet green paint get onto the brush so the colours would be less uniform.