Harvest pumpkin watercolor art project

I’m in love with how this project turned out, but it is not how I imagined it at all. It turned out even better than I thought it would!

This pumpkin watercolor art started out as a simple pumpkin salt painting. Click on the link to see the jack o’ lantern salt painting we also made.

I knew the green would run into the orange a little, but since this was the first time that my daughter had ever tried salt painting with pipettes, she had a VERY heavy hand.

She LOVED using the pipettes and watching the colors run but she was mad that the pumpkin wasn’t completely orange once she was finished.

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Did I mention that my daughter is obsessed with pumpkins? She loves everything about them including going to the pumpkin patch. Well… apparently they MUST be orange.

I told her that it made the pumpkin look more like a gourd, but that didn’t stop her complaining.

Then I had an idea… I placed a paint brush and watercolors in front of my daughter and invited her to paint the pumpkin. I think it turned out absolutely gorgeous! What a beautiful Opps we created together!

Beautiful Oops! is a kids book that shows young readers how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. This watercolor art project gave my daughter the opportunity to experience her own beautiful oops. It was lovely to witness.

Fall Harvest Pumpkin Watercolor Art Project

Fall Harvest Pumpkin Watercolor Art Project: Materials

You can complete this fall harvest pumpkin watercolor art project using liquid watercolors with pipettes and paint brushes, or you can use a solid watercolor pallet with a cup of water and a paint brush. Both techniques provide fine motor practice and help develop hand-eye coordination.

Please note: We used liquid watercolors, pipettes for salt painting part of this project. I do not know if the beautiful oops that we experienced would be the same if a watercolor pallet is used. Let me know what happens in the comments below if you try it!

• Watercolor paper
• Pencil
• White glue
• Salt
• Liquid watercolors or solid watercolor pallet
• Paint brush or pipette

 

We like to work on our DIY outdoor art table and mud kitchen. Click on the link to learn how to make your own! 

Fall Harvest Pumpkin Watercolor Art Project: Tutorial

Younger children will need assistance creating their pumpkin art, while older children will be able to complete this project from start to finish on their own.

1. Draw a pumpkin on watercolor paper using a pencil. You can do this for your child like I did or have them give it a go on their own. Don’t worry I thought I couldn’t do it either, and mine turned out okay. It doesn’t need to be perfect. You will be covering the lines with white glue next.

2. Trace the outline of the pumpkin with white glue and then cover with salt. Your child may need help with this. (For more photos showing how to salt paint see Halloween pumpkin salt painting, Saint Patrick’s Day Salt Paint Shamrock, and Rainbow Salt Paint Shamrock.)

3. Shake off the excess salt and use a pipette or brush to apply orange watercolor paint (or color of choice) to the lines of salt and glue. Keep the different colored salt and glue lines separated if you do not want the colors to run. The photo below shows salt and glue lines that are not touching.

If you are using liquid watercolor you can use a pipette like my daughter is using in the photos above and below or a paint brush. If you are using a watercolor pallet you will need to apply the paint with a paint brush. Don’t forget that you will need a cup of water if you choose this option.

Fall Harvest Pumpkin Watercolor Art Project: Directions Continued

4. Cover the outlines of the leaves and stem with white glue. Sprinkle salt on top and shake off the excess. Add green (or color of choice) to the leaves and stem of the harvest pumpkin with a pipette.

Enjoy the transformation of your art as the green runs into the orange. Again, keep the different colored salt and glue lines separated if you do not want the colors to run.

You can see the green beginning to bleeding into the orange lines as my daughter applies green in the photos above and below.

5. Use a brush to paint the pumpkin orange and the leaves green to fill out this beautiful harvest pumpkin art.

Alternatively, you can outline the entire pumpkin with glue and sprinkle with salt in one go instead of working in the stages described above. Let me know how it turns out in the comments below if you try this option.

This harvest pumpkin watercolor art project is an easy painting idea for kids and adults. Kids from preschool age and up will enjoy the salt painting technique used to create this raised watercolor fall decoration.

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