Teddy the Curly Goldendoodle

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a pumpkin and transfer the design

   Choose a tall, smooth pumpkin with a broad flat front and few ribs so curls read cleanly. Cut an access hole in the back or bottom rather than the top, then scrape the front wall down to about one inch so light passes evenly. Tape your home-printed stencil in place and use the poke-and-connect method, tapping dots along every major line with a pin or awl. Peel the paper and lightly connect the dots in pencil before you start etching.

2. 2

   Etch the eyes first

   The eyes carry the whole likeness, so start there while your hand is fresh. Use a fine detail loop tool to shave shallow skin around each eye, leaving small islands of darker skin for the pupils so they hold shape. Keep the depth even and stop often to check both eyes match. Getting these right early makes the rest of the face fall into place.

3. 3

   Build the coat in short strokes

   Work outward from the face using a small gouge or loop tool, carving the curls as many short, overlapping strokes at shallow depth. Follow the direction the fur grows, curving strokes around the cheeks and down the chest. Vary how deep you shave so some curls glow brighter than others, which is what makes the coat look soft. Take your time and rotate the pumpkin to keep a comfortable angle.

4. 4

   Shade the muzzle and nose

   Leave the button nose as untouched skin so it stays dark and defined, then shave the bridge and cheeks lightly for a soft mid glow. Give the fur under the chin a slightly deeper peel so it reads as the brightest curly patch. Keep a thin ridge of skin between the nose and mouth so those features do not blur together. Small differences in depth here separate the face from the coat.

5. 5

   Open the highlights last

   Once all the etching is done, go back and cut fully through only a few small spots for the strongest light, such as an open-mouth glow or the deepest coat shadows near the chest. Keeping these cutouts small and saving them for last protects the thin carved walls from tearing. Bridge any long gap with a sliver of skin so a tuft of fur does not sag. Clean up stray edges with the tip of your knife.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph

   Set a battery LED puck or string inside, never a candle, since the thin shaded wall can scorch. Try a warm white light to keep the coat looking golden. Photograph in low light on a porch so the etched curls pop against the dark background. If the face looks flat, add a second small light aimed at the muzzle.

Written with AI to match this design