Graceful Gymnast Split Leap Etched Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Prep and transfer the silhouette

   Pick a smooth, tall pumpkin with a flat front panel and scoop it from the bottom so the wall is about one inch thick. Print the gymnast split leap at the size of your panel and tape it firmly in place. Poke closely spaced transfer dots along every outline, including the arms, pointed toes, face profile, and the edge of the leotard. Peel the paper and connect the dots lightly with a washable marker so you can see the full pose.

2. 2

   Score the outlines

   With a small detail knife, trace just the outer edges of the figure about an eighth inch deep. Keep the arms and legs as continuous shapes even where they stretch wide across the pumpkin. Do not cut through the wall anywhere, since this design relies entirely on the skin. Take your time on the reaching arm and pointed toe, where the line is thin and easy to overrun.

3. 3

   Peel the large limbs first

   Use a ribbon or loop tool to shave the skin off the arms, legs, and torso down to the pale flesh underneath. Work from the center of each shape outward so you do not undercut your scored edges. Keep the depth even and shallow here, since these areas should glow the brightest and smoothest. This is the biggest area of the design, so finish it before moving to fine detail.

4. 4

   Shade the leotard and hair bun

   Switch to a micro gouge and cut a little deeper where the costume pattern and the hair bun sit. Deeper flesh reads darker, so short parallel strokes build the swirls and lacework on the leotard. Leave thin ridges of higher flesh between your grooves so the pattern holds together instead of washing out. Keep the bun rounded by cutting a shallow ring around it and leaving the center raised.

5. 5

   Refine the face and edges

   Define the profile with the tip of your detail knife, cutting a slightly deeper line at the nose, lips, and chin so the face stays crisp. Soften the transition between the glowing limbs and the dark background by feathering the skin at the edges. Step back often and view from a few feet away, since etching looks different up close. Fix any spots where the depth jumps unevenly.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph

   Set a battery LED puck inside, never a candle, since the thin etched skin scorches easily. Warm white light makes the peeled flesh glow like stage lighting on the dancer. Shoot in low ambient light at dusk so the shading contrast shows. Rub a little petroleum jelly on the cut edges to slow drying and keep the detail sharp for a few days.