Every year it can be exciting, picking out the pumpkin (or few) that you will use to decorate, carve or paint for harvest or Halloween.
Pumpkin painting offers a more colorful, safer, and cleaner alternative to carving a pumpkin with sharp instruments.
Most seniors will find holding and working with the sharp carving tools and knives, very difficult and awkward.
This is why pumpkin painting is the perfect solution for nursing homes.
It's fun to paint scary faces or even silly and goofy ones.
Most people can't paint just one.
They begin to have so much fun once they begin to get creative that they want to try out new inspirations on more pumpkins! Seniors have a great time creating their own designs.
Its art therapy that opens them up to self expression and some playfulness.
The easiest design to paint on a pumpkin is a traditional jack-o-lantern face.
But there are so many other ideas for festive designs too.

• silly or goofy faces
• favorite cartoon characters
• fall leaves
• scarecrow
• witch
• princess
• turkey
• spider
• ghosts
• cats
• goblin
• bats
• signs that say something

Painting pumpkins is very economical and you already have most supplies on hand if you do any other types of crafts.
All you need is:

• washable markers
• acrylic craft paints and brushes
• newspaper
• spray sealer
• accessories for embellishment such as raffia, jewellery, hats, etc.
  

You can use some really fun props to bring your pumpkins to life too.
Try hats and wigs to make different characters.
Before you begin, decide which design you are going to paint and trace that design onto a clean pumpkin.
You can freehand the design or select one of the many designs in the ultimate e-guide for pumpkin painting, Easy Pumpkin Painting.
Once you have painted your first pumpkin, you will already have ideas for painting an entire pumpkin family! Use them everywhere for decorations too.
These can be great items to show off during a party where you've invited outside guests.