Ray Villafane's Pumpkins

by Ray Villafane

Overview

“The Michelangelo of pumpkin carving.” —Martha Stewart

If Ray Villafane’s pumpkins look familiar, you may have seen them on the Food Network’s Pumpkin Challenge, CBS News, or the Martha Stewart Show. Acclaimed by the Wall Street Journal as the Picasso of pumpkin carving, Ray Villafane’s Pumpkins celebrates some of his most “ghoulish” creations. From carving for the president at the White House to Bermuda’s Sousa’s Gardens, the exposure of Ray’s style, talent and creativity has amassed an all-new appreciation for pumping “carving.” As you admire the pumpkins within these pages, you’ll be inspired to pick up your own tools and follow Ray’s advice and tips on creating a one-of-a-kind Halloween accoutrements. For more info, visit villafanestudios.com, “home of the most ‘gourdgeous’ pumpkins on the planet.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781423624264
Publisher:	Smith, Gibbs Publisher
Publication date:	08/01/2012
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

Ray Villafane is most well known for being a world famous “Pumpkin Artist.” He is the two-time champion of Food Network’s Challenge Show, “Outrageous Pumpkins,” as well as a contestant on season one of the Food Network’s Halloween Wars. A sculptor by day, he has been featured at comics shows around for sculpting collectibles and action figures for DC Comics, Marvel, World of Warcraft, and more. An incredibly diverse former art teacherturned professional artist, Ray has also sand-sculpted around the world. With his many years of teaching experience, Ray knows how to captivate audiences of any age with his wit and humor that accompany his dazzling displays. He lives near Phoenix, Arizona.

Read an Excerpt

Here is an abbreviated tutorial on how to block in a simple pumpkin face using strictly loop tools.

The majority of my carvings are done without the use of any sharp tools, such as a knife. I typically use a knife only to tighten up details and creases at the end. Utilizing loop tools allows you to execute various contours that would otherwise be very difficult to achieve.

When carving a pumpkin in a 3-D manner, be sure to choose a pumpkin that is heavy for its size. This higher relative weight indicates that it is likely thicker than other pumpkins of similar size. The thickness will allow you to dig in deep without breaking through the rind, which is important because the deeper you push, the more the nose and other features seem to pop out!