How to Paint a Farmhouse Pumpkin Painting
Looking for a creative, beginner-friendly fall painting activity? This abstract acrylic farmhouse pumpkin painting is the perfect project for autumn! Whether you're painting for fun, decorating your space with seasonal art, or creating with students, this tutorial is a great way to explore colour, texture, and creativity—no drawing skills required. In this post, I’ll walk you through the full process of creating your own farmhouse pumpkin painting step-by-step.
Farmhouse Pumpkin Painting
If you prefer to watch the video tutorial of farmhouse pumpkin painting - you can watch it below. Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to see new tutorials that are released.
Materials You'll Need for the Farmhouse Pumpkin Painting:
Acrylic Paint:
Primary Yellow or Cadmium Yellow
Cadmium Red
Cobalt Blue
Titanium White
Mars Black
Any Orange you have on hand
Brushes:
Round brush (size 6)
Small detail brush
Flat 2-inch brush
Flat 1-inch brush
Other:
Palette knife
8x10 inch canvas
Piece of chalk
Rag or cloth
Container of water
Step 1: Paint the Background
Start by mixing a soft grey using titanium white and a small amount of black. Cover the entire canvas—including the sides—for a more finished look.
Since this is an abstract painting, don’t worry about blending everything perfectly. Use crosshatching (horizontal and vertical brush strokes) to add texture.
To warm up the background, mix in a little yellow with your grey and apply it in random areas. If the colour feels too bright, you can mute it by layering more white over top. You could also add hints of blue or red to customize your background further.
For added texture, use a palette knife to apply some paint thickly in places. This will help give your background a rich, layered feel.
To learn more about different palette knives and how to use them - watch the video below!
Let the canvas dry for 15–20 minutes, longer if the paint is thick.
Step 2: Sketch Your Pumpkin
Once the background is dry, use a piece of chalk to lightly draw the shape of a pumpkin.
Don’t stress about making it perfect—pumpkins are naturally bumpy and irregular, which makes them ideal for beginner sketches. You can draw from a photo or real pumpkin if that helps.
Step 3: Paint the Pumpkin Base Coat
Using a number 6 brush, start painting your pumpkin with orange. If you don’t have orange, mix yellow and red together.
Follow the curved shape of the pumpkin as you paint to help create dimension. Think about how the pumpkin’s ridges curve outward—this will guide your brush direction.
Step 4: Build Up Colour and Texture
After your base layer dries, begin adding highlights and shadows. You can layer in:
Yellow to brighten sections
Red for warmth
White to soften areas or create highlights
Let some of the background peek through for a more abstract effect.
Use your palette knife to add small touches of orange, white, or red, following the same curved strokes as before. This adds texture and visual interest.
Step 5: Add the Stem and Details
Mix a basic green using blue and yellow for the stem and vines. Add:
A small curly vine using a detail brush
The stem with green (darken it with a touch of black for shadow)
Optional leaves, berries, or abstract floral elements at the base of the pumpkin to anchor it visually
To create depth, layer different shades of green by adjusting how much yellow, blue, or black you mix. Varying your colours helps your painting feel more vibrant and dimensional.
Step 6: Final Touches
If you’d like, you can:
Add a bit orange to the background to unify the colours
Use white to lighten parts of the background for balance
Go back over the pumpkin or vines with more layers for emphasis
Use the palette knife one more time for added texture
Remember: this is an abstract painting, so you don’t need to strive for realism. Let go of perfection and have fun with your colours, shapes, and brushstrokes.
Conclusion:
That’s it—your abstract pumpkin painting is complete! This makes a beautiful fall decoration and a great entry point for exploring acrylic painting. You can customize the background colours, add more elements, or keep it simple and bold.
You can download my FREE painting guide to help you improve your acrylic painting skills by clicking on the button below!
Want to Share Your Painting?
If you followed along, I’d love to see your artwork! Share it on social media using the hashtag #jackiepartridgeartclasses so I can see your creations.
Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to catch new art tutorials every other week—and give the video a thumbs up if you enjoyed it.
Happy painting!
Related Articles:
Watch the Farmhouse Pumpkin Painting on my YouTube
Best Palette Knives for Painting