I haven't been posting very often while I have been working on the paper mâché pumpkins. Watching layers of paper mâché go on is akin to watching paint dry. However, I have made some significant progress. Three pumpkins have reached the stage where I am ready to start working on the faces.
The first large pumpkin I made was cast on a real pumpkin for three layers. Then the layers were cut off the pumpkin and reassembled using hot glue. Then three more layers of paper mâché were added. Once that pumpkin was complete, I used it as the mold for casting another pumpkin on top, which was also removed and reassembled. For now, I plan to keep the first pumpkin to use as a mold to make other pumpkins. The second pumpkin will be the one for carving faces.
Two smaller pumpkins were cast over a plastic pumpkin, using the same procedure as above. They are also ready for carving.
The plan is to use the large pumpkin for a very complex face. The larger surface area will allow for a lot of detail. The smaller pumpkins will have very simple faces, but more accessories to add personality and help tell a story. The smaller area will work best without trying to get too much detail. I call the small pumpkins "Grinners" as it will be mostly about the traditional type of pumpkin smile.
One of the small pumpkins has a top hat. I am wavering back and forth about how much decoration to add to the hat. Sometimes I want just a formal hat. Other times I think about adding a lot of decorations such as skulls and bones or perhaps just painting it with Halloween themed items and colors. That is yet to be determined. However, if I do add bones or other items, they need to be made of paper mâché and glued on before the hat is painted. Items need to be glued to the solid surface before painting. If an item is glued to a painted surface, the hold is only going to be as strong as the coat of paint. I guess I will explore my options a little more before making a final decision.
Eventually the pumpkin with the hat will also have a bow tie. I am currently working on the bow tie. I spent yesterday afternoon making the basic shape. I am not yet satisfied with the result, so at least another days work before it is finished. I want to have the bow tie ready so that when I cut the face, so I can paper mâché over the cut areas of the face and cover the bow tie at the same time.
I have plans for the other pumpkins as well, but I will save that for future posts. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself because some times I decide to change directions on a project.
Check back soon. Now that the pumpkins are made, the work will go a lot faster.
