• 120 designs

Pumpkin Painting Ideas That Use the Ribs and the Stem

Three no-carve pumpkin designs at a time, each with its colours and where it sits on the pumpkin.

Pumpkin Painting Ideas That Use the Ribs and the Stem

All 120
  1. Cheeseburger in layersTan, brown, green, yellow. Bands round a squat pumpkin: bun, lettuce frill, patty, cheese corners, bun. Seeds on top.
  2. Grumpy face with the stem as the noseBlack, white. Lay the pumpkin on its side, stem forward; heavy brows above the stem, a flat frown below it.
  3. Pie chart of pumpkin pieWhite, orange, black. White disc on the front; one huge orange slice labelled 'mine', a sliver labelled 'shared'.

Next step Sketch Halloween ideas on paper first

All 120 designs

Funny 33

  • Avocado half with the stone Dark green, pale green, brown. Dark base on a tall pumpkin, pale oval on the front, brown stone low in the oval.
  • Baseball with red stitching Red on a white pumpkin. Two facing curves either side of the front; short V stitches along each one. Paint pen.
  • Basketball on bare orange Black on bare orange, no base coat. One line round the middle, one over the top, two side curves. Narrow flat brush.
  • Bubble-gum bubble Pink, black, white. Shut eyes high up; one big pink circle covers the mouth, white shine at its top left.
  • Cactus in bloom Green, white, pink. Green all over a tall pumpkin, white V spines down each rib, one pink flower beside the stem.
  • Cheeseburger in layers Tan, brown, green, yellow. Bands round a squat pumpkin: bun, lettuce frill, patty, cheese corners, bun. Seeds on top.
  • Chick with the stem as the beak Yellow, orange, black. On its side, stem forward: paint the stem orange as the beak, a dot eye either side.
  • Cow print with a pink muzzle Black, pink on white. Irregular patches wrapping over the shoulder; pink muzzle oval low on the front.
  • Cupcake with a cherry stem Pink, white, red, tan. Frosting swirl on the top half, tan liner pleats down the ribs below; paint the stem cherry red.
  • Doughnut with pink icing and sprinkles Pink, white, five sprinkle colours. Icing edge drips down from the stem of a squat pumpkin; sprinkles in paint pen.
  • Face not found error message White, black. Flat white rectangle on the smoothest face; letter the message in black paint pen, tiny X in the corner.
  • Fried egg, sunny side up White, yellow over black or bare orange. Wobbly white patch draped over the top, yolk circle off-centre with a shine.
  • Friendly monster with lots of eyes One bright colour, white, black. Base coat, then as many eyes as the child wants in different sizes, and one smile.
  • Gherkin with a worried face Green, dark green, black. On a long green gourd: dark bumps in rows, tiny worried eyes and brows near the top.
  • Goose on a long-necked gourd White, orange, black. The gourd's neck is the goose's neck: all white, orange bill on the tip, wing arc on the body.
  • Grumpy face with the stem as the nose Black, white. Lay the pumpkin on its side, stem forward; heavy brows above the stem, a flat frown below it.
  • Laughing face with tears Yellow, black, white, blue. Yellow base coat; shut arc eyes, a wide open grin, one blue tear on each cheek.
  • Monster mouth with candy-corn teeth Purple, white, orange, yellow. Purple base, one huge open mouth; every tooth is a candy-corn triangle in three bands.
  • Party hat on the stem Two brights, black. Stripe the stem as a party hat; a small round mouth and raised brows on the body below.
  • Pie chart of pumpkin pie White, orange, black. White disc on the front; one huge orange slice labelled 'mine', a sliver labelled 'shared'.
  • Pig with the stem as the snout Pink, dark pink, black. On its side, stem forward: paint the stem dark pink with two nostrils; ears above, eyes wide.
  • Pineapple with a green crown Yellow, brown, green. Criss-cross brown diagonals over yellow, a tick in each diamond; paint the stem green.
  • Pirate with an eye patch Black, white, red. The patch strap runs right round the pumpkin; red bandana painted over the top up to the stem.
  • Pug with rib wrinkles Tan, black, white. The ribs are the forehead wrinkles: black muzzle low down, wide-set eyes, ears beside the stem.
  • Pumpkin dressed as an apple Red, green, yellow. Red all over, stem left as it is, one green leaf painted beside it, yellow shine on a shoulder.
  • Pun in a speech bubble White, black. Bubble on the smooth face, its tail pointing at a tiny mouth: 'Oh my gourd' or 'Squash goals'. Paint pen.
  • Round glasses and a curly moustache Black on bare orange. Glasses span three ribs of a tall pumpkin; the moustache curls end in the grooves. Paint pen.
  • Six moods on six minis Black pen on minis. One face each: sleepy, shocked, smug, cross, giggling, winking. Line them up on a shelf.
  • Sleeping face with a row of Zs Black, white, blue. Two down-curved eyes and an open mouth; blue Zs climb one groove toward the stem, shrinking.
  • Takeaway coffee cup with the wrong name White, tan, brown. White base on a tall pumpkin, tan sleeve band round the middle; misspell your own name on it.
  • Toad on a warty pumpkin Olive, gold, black. Sponge olive over a warty pumpkin so the bumps stay darker; gold eyes on top, one wide mouth line.
  • Turkey with the stem as the beak Brown, red, orange, yellow. On its side, stem forward as the beak; red wattle below it, a feather fan round the back.
  • Watermelon with groove stripes Dark green, light green. Dark base; run a wavy light stripe down every groove from stem to base. Round brush.

Scary 23

  • Anglerfish with the stem as the lure Black, white, yellow. On its side, stem forward: paint the stem yellow as the lure, needle teeth below, one tiny eye.
  • Bats circling the pumpkin Black on bare orange. Small bats near the stem, larger ones lower down, all flying the same way round.
  • Cracked porcelain doll Black, rose on a white pumpkin. Hairline cracks down from the stem, round rose cheeks, lashes on one eye only.
  • Eyes in the dark Matte black, yellow. Black all over; six pairs of yellow eyes at different heights, all looking the same way.
  • Graveyard ring Grey, black, moss green. One headstone per rib round the widest part, grass tufts at the base, RIP in paint pen.
  • Grin with too many teeth Black, white. No eyes at all. One grin wraps halfway round the pumpkin, packed with small even teeth. Paint pen.
  • Haunted house against the moon Yellow, black, purple. Large yellow moon on the front, black house and bare tree over it, purple sky round the back.
  • Hooded reaper with pinprick eyes Matte black, grey, white. Black all over; a grey hood opening on the front with two white dots deep inside it.
  • Mini eyeballs with stem pupils Red, green or blue on white minis. Paint the iris round the stem so the stem is the pupil; veins down the grooves.
  • Minimal black cat Black, yellow, pink. Black all over; yellow almond eyes low and wide apart, pink nose, whiskers in white pen.
  • Mummy wrap with peering eyes Off-white, grey, black. Bands across the ribs, a grey edge on each, a dark gap a third of the way down for two eyes.
  • Patchwork monster with stitches Three greens, black. One green per group of ribs, black stitches along every join, mismatched button eyes.
  • Red handprints sliding down Dark red on white. Brush-paint two handprints high up, then drag each finger into a long trail down a groove.
  • Skull on a white pumpkin Black on white. Two big sockets, an upside-down heart for the nose, teeth as short lines where the ribs reach the base.
  • Slime running down from the stem Acid green over black. Thin the paint, pour it at the foot of the stem and let the grooves carry each run down.
  • Snake coiled from base to stem Green, yellow, black. The body spirals up across the ribs; the head rests by the stem, forked tongue out.
  • Spider hanging from the stem Black, white. One thread drops from the stem down a groove; a fat spider at the end with eight bent legs.
  • Spider web from the stem White over black, or black on bare orange. Spokes run down the grooves from the stem; join them with sagging arcs.
  • Stitched sack face Tan, brown, black. Cross-hatch the base like sacking; button eyes, a stitched slit mouth pulled up at one end.
  • Three ghosts on black Matte black, white. Black base; three white ghosts rise up three neighbouring ribs, oval eyes, no mouths.
  • Vampire with a widow's peak Pale grey, black, red. Black hair point between the brows, two fangs over the lower lip, one red drip from a corner.
  • Witch with a wart nose Green, black, purple. Pick a warty pumpkin and make the biggest wart the nose; paint the stem black as the hat tip.
  • Zombie with a stitched mouth Grey-green, black, dark red. Sponge the base; stitch a crooked mouth across five ribs, one eye bigger than the other.

Pink and pastel 18

  • Big painted bow Pink, white. Bow knot on the front near the shoulder, tails following two grooves down; tiny dots everywhere else.
  • Cherry blossom branch up one groove Pale pink, white, brown. The branch climbs one groove from the base; five-petal blossoms dabbed with a round brush.
  • Flamingo with a groove for a neck Pink, white, black. Body on the front; the S of the neck follows one groove up toward the stem. Black tip on the bill.
  • Hot air balloon with rib panels Four pastels. Each rib is one balloon panel: repeat the colours round, with a scallop band at the widest part.
  • Lilac checkerboard by rib Lilac, white. Treat each rib as a column and alternate squares down it; the squares shrink toward stem and base.
  • Macaron stack of three minis Pink, mint, lilac, cream. Paint three squat minis one colour each; a cream band round each middle is the filling.
  • Mermaid scales in three pastels Teal, lilac, pink, gold. Rows of U scales from the base up, each row offset by half a scale; gold stem.
  • Monogram in a laurel ring Pink, green, white. One initial on the smoothest face inside a leafy ring; pink and green stripes round the base.
  • Pastel rainbow with sponge clouds Five pastels, white. Arcs over the smoothest face, one brush width each; sponge a white cloud at each foot.
  • Pastel terrazzo chips Cream, blush, sage, mustard, grey. Cream base; irregular chips in four colours, none touching. Small flat brush.
  • Pink gingham Pink, white. Stripe alternate ribs, then add bands across in thinned pink so the crossings go a shade darker.
  • Pink leopard spots Blush, hot pink, black. Hot pink blobs with broken black C shapes round each; spots shrink toward the stem.
  • Pink ombre with a gold stem Magenta, pink, white, gold. Sponge darkest at the base, fading to white at the shoulder; gild the stem last.
  • Pink polka dots on white Two pinks over white. Dots run down each rib, largest at the middle, smaller toward stem and base. Foam pouncer.
  • Pink ribbon for October Pink over white. One looped ribbon on the front, tails down two grooves. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
  • Strawberry with seed rows Pink-red, white, green. White teardrop seeds staggered rib by rib; green sepals fan out from the foot of the stem.
  • Unicorn with a gold stem horn White, pink, lilac, gold. The stem is the horn: gold with a spiral line; shut lashes, pastel mane down one side.
  • White daisies on bubblegum pink Pink, white, yellow. Scatter daisies, yellow centres first and petals after; let a few wrap over the shoulder.

Easy 26

  • Beach ball, one colour per rib Red, yellow, blue, white. One colour per rib, repeating round; the grooves keep small hands inside the lines.
  • Boo in white on matte black Matte black, white. Black all over; letter 'boo' across three ribs in white paint pen, one letter per rib.
  • Candy corn bands Yellow, white. Yellow round the base, the middle left bare orange, white over the shoulder and the stem.
  • Christmas bauble with a gold cap One glossy colour, gold, white. The stem is the ornament cap: paint it gold; add a band of stars and one white shine.
  • Cotton-bud dot rings Three colours. A ring of dots round the stem, then wider rings, one colour per ring. A fresh cotton bud per colour.
  • Dipped bottom third One colour. Stretch a rubber band round the pumpkin as a level guide and paint everything below it.
  • Dot-dab mini for toddlers Three colours in a tray. Foam pouncers or cotton wool on pegs, dots anywhere; a mini pumpkin fits small hands.
  • Every other rib striped One colour on bare orange. Paint alternate ribs from stem to base; the grooves are your guide lines. Flat brush.
  • Fox on bare orange White, black on bare orange. White cheek patches low on both sides, black nose between, ear triangles by the stem.
  • Galaxy sponged over black Black, blue, purple, magenta, white. Sponge drifts of colour over black; flick white stars from a toothbrush.
  • Gold drip from a gold stem Gold over white. Gild the stem, then pour thinned gold at its foot and let the grooves carry it down.
  • Gold stars on navy Navy, gold. Navy base; hold a card stencil flat to the curve and dab gold through with a nearly dry sponge.
  • House number for the porch Black or white. Chalk large numerals on the smoothest face, then fill with a flat brush. Step back to check spacing.
  • Ladybird with a groove for the wing split Red, black, white. Red all over; one groove painted black splits the wings, black head at the front, big spots.
  • Mini pumpkin place cards White or metallic pen on minis. One guest's name across the front of each; gild the stems to match.
  • One flat colour with a gilded stem Sage, navy or terracotta, plus gold. Two coats on the body, stopping at the shoulder; gold on the stem only.
  • Painted jack-o'-lantern that looks lit Black, yellow on bare orange. Triangle eyes and a toothy grin in black; a thin yellow edge inside each shape glows.
  • Real leaf prints Red, gold, brown over white. Brush paint on a leaf's veined side and roll it onto the curve from stalk to tip.
  • Santa suit with a belt Red, black, white, gold. Red all over, black belt round the widest part, gold buckle in front, white trim by the stem.
  • Splatter on black White, gold, copper over black. Flick from a loaded brush outdoors; turn the pumpkin a quarter between rounds.
  • Split in two down a groove Black, white. One groove at the front and its opposite at the back make the dividing line; no tape needed.
  • Sponge-print stars Three brights over white. Cut a kitchen sponge into a star, dip lightly and dab prints all over. A peg makes a handle.
  • Sunflower round the stem Yellow, brown, green. Paint the stem brown as the flower centre; one long petal runs down each rib.
  • Teal pumpkin for the doorstep Teal all over. On a doorstep a teal pumpkin signals non-food treats for trick-or-treaters with food allergies.
  • Thankful in script for the table Brown over cream. Letter 'thankful' in lower-case script across the front; a wheat sprig underlines it. Round brush.
  • Two-oval ghost face Black on a white pumpkin. Two tall oval eyes and a taller oval mouth, nothing else. Wide round brush.

For kids 12

  • Book character from one prop Two or three colours. For school book projects: paint the character's one famous prop or hairstyle and a simple face.
  • Bumblebee with three bands Yellow, black, white. Yellow base, three black bands round the pumpkin, smiling face in front, white wings on top.
  • Family portraits on minis Hair and skin colours on minis. One mini per family member: hair, glasses, freckles. Pets get the smallest ones.
  • Hatching dinosaur egg Cream, green, brown. Cream base, toothbrush speckle; a zig-zag crack across the front with one claw poking out.
  • Mini toadstools Red, white on white minis. Red from the shoulder up with white spots; the lower half stays white as the stalk.
  • Noughts and crosses on ten minis Black on five white and five orange minis. X on the white ones, O on the orange; chalk the grid on the step.
  • Owl with rib feathers Brown, cream, yellow, black. Rows of U strokes down each rib for feathers; big yellow eye discs, beak between them.
  • Penguin on a bottle gourd Black, white, orange. The gourd's narrow neck is the head: white belly oval, black back and wings, orange beak.
  • Planet Earth Blue, green, white. Blue all over a round pumpkin, loose green continents, white sponge swirls for cloud.
  • Robot with panel seams Silver, red, blue, black. Square eyes, grille mouth, dials and rivets; outline the grooves as panel seams.
  • Scarecrow with a patched cheek Tan, brown, red, black. Triangle nose, stitched smile across four ribs, a checked patch on one cheek.
  • Spider with eight painted legs Black, white. Black all over, two big white eyes in front; four bent legs painted down each side.

White and mini 8

  • Birch bark Black, grey on white. Short horizontal dashes and eye-shaped knots in uneven clusters; keep the grooves clean.
  • Blue-and-white porcelain pattern Cobalt on a white pumpkin. Leafy scrolls in one blue, a medallion on the front, dashes round the shoulder.
  • Gold crack veining Gold paint pen on white. Cracks branch down from the stem, thicker at each fork; leave large calm areas.
  • Line-drawn leaves up every groove Black paint pen on white. One leafy stem climbs each groove, leaves alternating sides; line only, no fill.
  • Moon phases across five white minis Black on five white minis. Paint the shadow side of each phase, thin crescent to full; line them up in order.
  • Snowman stack of three Black, orange on three white pumpkins. Coal smile and carrot nose on the smallest, buttons on the middle one.
  • Spooky rhyme in a spiral Black pen on white. Write one short rhyme in a single line spiralling from the stem down to the base.
  • Wildflower meadow round the base Greens, five flower colours on white. Grass strokes up from the base all round, flower heads at mixed heights.

How it works

A pumpkin already has features: ribs from stem to base, a stem like a nose and one smooth face. These 120 pumpkin painting ideas use them without carving: 33 funny, 23 scary, 22 pink or pastel and 53 easy.

Read the full guide

Where the joke comes from

The 33 funny designs get their laugh from the pumpkin itself. Ten dress it as food: Cheeseburger in layers stacks bun, lettuce, patty and cheese in bands round a squat pumpkin. Four lay it on its side so the stem becomes a nose, a beak or a snout. A few are written gags, such as Pie chart of pumpkin pie.

Paint, drying time and handling

Acrylic turns water-resistant once dry, and one or two coats usually dry in 10 to 20 minutes, so wipe mistakes while wet. Carry the pumpkin from underneath: University of Illinois Extension says the stem is not a handle, and a broken stem means earlier spoiling. Stored cool and dark, a whole pumpkin keeps three to six months.

  • Take something away to make a face scary: Grin with too many teeth has no eyes. Scary pumpkin painting ideas for adults rely on that.
  • Pink pumpkin painting ideas start easier on white: Illinois Extension lists Casper, Lumina and Snowball as white pumpkins for painting.
  • Let the grooves guide a pen: 14 designs, the pumpkin drawing ideas of the list, use a paint pen instead of a brush.

Questions and answers

What paint should I use on a pumpkin?

These designs assume craft acrylic, which washes off brushes and hands while wet. We do not test paints, so whether yours suits rain, small children or the compost heap is for the maker's label. Treat a painted pumpkin as decoration, not food.

Do these designs work on a gourd or a foam pumpkin?

Three are written as gourd painting ideas: Goose on a long-necked gourd, Penguin on a bottle gourd and Gherkin with a worried face. Placement notes carry over to foam and ceramic pumpkins, provided your paint's label names that surface.

Which designs suit a contest, a party or a child's first try?

For a contest, pick one that reads across a room, such as Basketball on bare orange. Fun pumpkin painting ideas for a party are the 53 in Easy. Kids pumpkin painting ideas start with one colour per rib, as in Every other rib striped.

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