Sweet Pug Puppy Etched Pumpkin Portrait

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a smooth pumpkin and plan the light

   Choose a pumpkin with a broad, even front face and as few deep ribs as possible, since flat skin peels more evenly. Wipe the surface clean and dry it well. Decide where the face will sit so the pug looks centered above the bench or table. Since this is a surface etch, you will light it from inside later, so keep the front wall a normal thickness.

2. 2

   Transfer the pug with a printout

   Print the pug stencil to fit your pumpkin, then tape it flat, snipping darts around the edges so it hugs the curve. Trace hard over every line with a ballpoint pen, pressing enough to leave a faint dent in the skin. Pay special attention to the outlines of the ears, muzzle, eyes, and paws, since those borders define the two tones. Peel the paper back and go over any faint marks with a washable pen.

3. 3

   Score the borders first

   Before removing any skin, lightly trace all the outlines with a small detail knife or a poke tool, cutting only about a millimeter deep. This gives your peeling a clean edge to stop against so the tan areas do not bleed into the dark ones. Keep the tip shallow and let an adult handle this step. Do not cut all the way through the wall.

4. 4

   Peel the tan areas with a zester or loop

   Using a lemon zester or a clay ribbon loop, shave away the outer skin inside the face, cheeks, and paws to reveal the lighter flesh underneath. Work in even, shallow passes and aim for a consistent depth so the glow is uniform. Leave the ears, the nose, the wrinkle folds, and the eye rims as untouched skin so they read as dark markings. Step back often to check the contrast between shaved and unshaved zones.

5. 5

   Deepen key shadows for dimension

   For a little more depth, shave a touch farther in the brightest spots like the top of the muzzle and the paw fronts, while keeping the deep wrinkle lines dark and crisp. Clean up any ragged edges along the ears and eyes with the tip of your detail tool. Blot the surface with a paper towel as you go so you can see the true color. Resist the urge to cut through anywhere, the charm here is the smooth two-tone effect.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph in daylight

   Drop a battery LED puck or tealight inside to make the shaved areas glow warm against the dark markings, no open flame needed. This design also looks lovely simply lit by daylight on a garden bench, so shoot it outdoors in soft morning light. Rub the cut edges with a little petroleum jelly to slow drying and keep the contrast fresh. Store it somewhere cool between showings.