10 Creative Ways to Design Floral-Inspired Pumpkins

By Jill Brooke

 

Meet Katie Herman, whose floral-inspired art, is bringing smiles to many. With a background in fine arts, she now creates feminine fun home decor.

We just love how she has painted pumpkins in such inventive ways turning fall into a garden delight. What a happy way to celebrate the season and also create at-home projects with the kids.  In the pastel colors so popular with Florida residents, she paints birds and daffodils basking in the sun with a pale pink base or Monet influenced peonies and roses with an Azur-blue stem reminiscent of Provence decor as well as Dutch porcelain.

But in her talented hands, the design is elevated, bringing both sophisticated whimsy and a cheerfulness people so crave.

They are literally pieces of art and can be lined up on any dinner table or even a kitchen counter.

Of course, she does much more than pumpkins.  “These just have flown out the door,” says Herman, who resides in Tequesta, Florida.  But she is also finding a market for baby blankets, monogrammed pillows and fabrics.

“I think floral decor is more popular than ever because we are all spending more time at home, and florals naturally spark joy,” she says. “Personally, I love having fresh flowers in my kitchen as much as I love having home decor with floral patterns. It’s like bringing the beauty of the garden into your home.”

Here are Katie’s Tips to Carve and Paint Pumpkins 

1) Use a paint primer on your pumpkin – the paint will stick on better.

2) Buy acrylic paint. It has been the easiest to apply for this artist.

3) Get several brushes. Katie recommends a brush with skinny bristles and then a wider brush. Gives you optionality.

4) Buy a white pumpkin since it’s an easier canvas to start.

5) Be Prepared. Have all your supplies nearby.

6) Explore Your Creativity.  Look at paintings, nature, your home for patterns that appeal to you for creativity.

7) Choose between a matte or gloss finish and seal your pumpkin with varnish.

8) Can’t paint? Use pretty floral pattern napkins and mod podge

9) Don’t forget the stem! Choose a metallic paint for best results. Katie always uses gold. It gives a finished and polished look.

10) Have Fun.

After all, the reason her work is so coveted is the designs are happy.  And she will always have a soft spot for her pumpkins. These designs launched her career to a larger audience. While also delighting anyone who looked at them or even better – got to experience them at home.

Jill Brooke is a former CNN correspondent, Post columnist and editor-in-chief of Avenue and Travel Savvy magazine. She is an author and the editorial director of FPD.