For me, Halloween has always been one of the best times of the year. I’m not really one for family gatherings and stereotypical events, but something simply fascinates me about the dark and grotesque. I’ve gotten into carving pumpkins the past few years, experimenting with stencils and shading to create some pretty cool pieces. But judging from the following pictures, I definitely need a bit more practice!
Andy Manoloff, a veterinarian from Indiana, is a Halloween-lover with a passion for carving intricate jack-o’-lanterns.
On the Bored Panda website, he writes, “Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, and pumpkin carving was something I especially looked forward to as it was a great way to channel my artistic skill and interest into the holiday.
“I started off using pre-made patterns you would find in those books by Pumpkin Masters. However, I soon grew bored with those patterns and decided I would try my hand at my own patterns. Each year I would challenge myself to do something different and more difficult.”
And this year, not only did Manoloff up his pumpkin game, he also incorporated something else: his love for his Pomeranian, Sophie.
This year, Manoloff went all out, carving a custom “dog-o’-lantern” showcasing his adorable pup— an activity he says can take anywhere from 8 to 20 hours, not including the time spent drawing the pattern and transferring it onto the gourd. A time-lapse video (included below) details the process.
On the Bored Panda website, Manoloff explains, “I only carve REAL pumpkins. Though it is disappointing that they do not last, they offer a unique final appearance that is not matched by the synthetic foam pumpkins.”
To create the adorable Pomeranian pumpkin, Manoloff sketches Sophie onto it, planning out the details while using a photo as reference.
Manoloff then uses an X-ACTO knife to peel the skin of the pumpkin, slowly chiseling the design.
He digs deeper to create the bright areas while leaving flesh for the portions that will be shaded darker. He uses a CFL bulb to light the pumpkin while he carves, allowing him to see how deep he is chiseling his design.
In regards to carving, Manoloff says he uses an X-ACTO knife almost exclusively, noting: “It’s amazing what such a small little knife can accomplish”.
After hours of work, Manoloff’s jack-o’-lantern is complete— and calling it a masterpiece definitely seems appropriate.
The dog-o’-lantern’s resemblance to Sophie is uncanny!
And if that’s not art, then I don’t know what is!
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