Puddles the Farmhouse Duck

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Wipe down and plan the pose

   Choose a smooth, tall pumpkin with a flat-ish front panel so the duck reads clearly. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth and let it dry fully so paint grips. Decide where the body sits, leaving room below for the two feet and space at the left for the bill. Keep the design centered on the roundest part that faces the room.

2. 2

   Chalk the silhouette

   Draw the duck outline in chalk: a rounded body, a raised tail at the back, a smooth head, and a short neck. Chalk wipes away easily on pumpkin skin, so redraw until the shape feels balanced. Add light marks for the eye, bill, and where the feet will go. Step back and check the proportions before you open any paint.

3. 3

   Build the white body in thin coats

   Fill the body with white acrylic using a soft flat brush, following the chalk edge. Keep the first coat thin and let it dry completely, since white over orange always looks streaky at first. Add a second and often a third coat until the white is solid and even. Patience between layers is what makes the duck look clean.

4. 4

   Add the bill, feet, and eye

   Once the white is fully dry, paint the bill and the two webbed feet in warm orange, keeping edges crisp with a smaller brush. Add a small black dot for the eye and a short line on the bill. Let these dry before touching them, because wet orange smears easily into the white. A steady hand and a nearly dry brush help here.

5. 5

   Layer the soft feather strokes

   Use a thin brush and pale gray to add a few gentle curved lines along the wing and tail. Keep the strokes light and spaced out so the wing looks soft, not busy. Less is more, so add one line at a time and stop when it feels right. Seal the finished paint with a clear matte spray if you want extra durability.

6. 6

   Stage and photograph

   Set the pumpkin on a clean counter or porch with the duck facing your best light. Because it is painted, no candle or LED goes inside, so rely on daytime window light or a nearby lamp for photos. Add a small pumpkin or gourds beside it for a farmhouse grouping. Snap your picture and share it with the community.

Written with AI to match this design