Smiling Golden Retriever Painted Pumpkin Face

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick and clean your pumpkin

   Choose a smooth, round pumpkin with a flat-ish front so the dog's face reads clearly. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth and let it dry fully so paint sticks well. A pumpkin with a wide face gives you room for both floppy ears. Set it on a towel to keep it from rolling while you work.

2. 2

   Sketch the face in pencil

   Lightly draw the outline of the head, two floppy ears, the eyes, nose, muzzle, and open smiling mouth. Keep everything centered and symmetrical by marking a faint vertical line down the middle first. Pencil wipes off with a damp finger if you want to adjust. Keep shapes simple and rounded, since flat cartoon shapes are what make this design work.

3. 3

   Block in the lightest tan

   Fill the entire face and ears with your palest tan acrylic as a base coat. Let it dry, then add a second coat if the orange still shows through. This flat base is the foundation for all the shading that follows. Use a medium flat brush for large areas and a smaller round brush near the edges.

4. 4

   Layer the darker tones

   Mix a slightly darker tan and paint the ears, the shadow under the chin, and the soft creases around the muzzle. Add a medium brown around the nose and mouth for depth. Keep the shapes flat and let each layer dry before adding the next so colors stay crisp. Build shadows gradually rather than going too dark all at once.

5. 5

   Add the nose, tongue, and details

   Paint the nose and the outline of the smiling mouth glossy black, then fill the open mouth with a warm pink tongue. Paint the eyes dark brown or black with a thin black liner for the lids. Let everything dry, then dot a small bit of white in each eye and a highlight on the nose to make them look wet and alive. A fine liner brush or a toothpick works well for these tiny marks.

6. 6

   Seal and stage your photo

   Once fully dry, brush on a thin coat of clear acrylic sealer to protect the paint from smudges and moisture. Set the pumpkin on a windowsill or counter with soft daylight for the best photo. Because it is painted, no light goes inside, so natural light shows off the warm tans best. Snap your picture and share it with the community.