“Tis the season for corn mazes, pumpkin spice everything, and – best of all – fall art projects! That’s where today’s woven pumpkin paintings come into the picture.
Never experimented with woven paper projects? The general idea is to create two versions of the same drawing or painting. After that, you cut the prepared pages into strips (one page in vertical strips and one in horizontal strips). Finally, you weave them together, securing the strips with glue in the process.
When it’s finished, you’ll be able to enjoy a fun twist on a traditional painting. And that’s exactly why we’re using this method to create our woven pumpkin paintings.
Make a Woven Pumpkin Painting with Us!
Ready to get started on your woven pumpkin painting? Here are the supplies you need to make it happen.
Woven Pumpkin Supply List
*Some links in this post are referral links for recommended items; this means I could receive compensation if you take action through one of these links.
- Watercolor paper or mixed media paper (2 sheets)
- Watercolors
- Paintbrush
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Pumpkin template
- Sharpie
- Clipboard (optional)
Step 1 – Sketch it out.
Start by tracing the pumpkin onto a sheet of watercolor paper. To do this, shade the back of the template page with your pencil. Then, turn it over, place it on top of the watercolor paper, and use your pencil to draw on top of the sketch lines. This will transfer the pumpkin onto the page.
Repeat the transfer process on the second piece of watercolor paper. Keep in mind that you’ll want to create a nearly identical sketch of the first pumpkin, so be mindful of the paper’s position as you begin the second copy.
TIP: A clipboard can help you line up the template the same way on both pages.
Step 2 – Paint the pumpkins.
Next, consider the colors you want to use on the pumpkin sketches.
Using contrasting colors will give your woven pumpkin painting a pop art feel when it’s finished. A bright pink pumpkin with a blue background on the first page and a yellow pumpkin with a purple background for the second page would produce this sort of look.
Similar colors will create a calmer, more subdued final project. To achieve this look, use the same basic color scheme for each page, like blue and bright orange for one page and teal with light orange for the second page.
Once you choose the color scheme, paint the pumpkins and backgrounds. Then set them aside to dry.
Tip: If the watercolor paper warps after drying, place a heavy book on top of each page to flatten them before moving onto the next step.
Step 3 – Prepare the strips.
You’ll want the ruler, scissors and pencil nearby for this step.
When each page is dry and flattened, use the pencil and ruler to trace evenly-spaced horizontal lines onto the back of one sheet. Do this again for the second sheet, but create vertical lines instead.
Lastly, use scissors to cut out strips using the lines you just created for guides.
Step 4 – Weave the paper strips.
Now it’s time to weave the two paintings together. To do this, arrange the vertical strips next to each other. This will help you maintain a working visual of the final project as you position the horizontal strips.
Beginning at the bottom and working your way up, attach the bottom strip from the horizontal cutouts to the bottom of the left vertical strip using the glue stick. This will form an “L” with the strips.
Then, line up the next vertical strip so that the pumpkin picture continues, tucking the horizontal strip *behind* the vertical strip. Secure it with a dab from the glue stick.
Continue alternating the placement of the horizontal strip in front and behind the vertical strip as you finish the bottom row. Repeat the process with the next horizontal strip, but instead use the opposite placement from the bottom row.
As you continue weaving the strips together, be sure to secure all of the edges with the glue stick. You may also want to add glue to some of the interior spots for reinforcement as you work your way up the painting.
Step 5 – Trim and outline.
When all the strips are woven and secured with glue, use scissors to clean up any uneven edges.
Next, use a Sharpie or marker to enhance the pencil marks from the original pumpkin sketches.
When you finish the outlines, your woven pumpkin painting will be ready to display and enjoy.
As always, we would LOVE to see your finished project.! Use #masterpiecesociety in your caption or tag us on Instagram so we can celebrate your work. We would also love to see it in the Masterpiece Society Facebook Group.
Looking for more fall-themed art ideas? We’ve got you covered with easy mixed media paintings, fun and friendly monster art, and full courses like our Art of Fall Mixed Media Workshop and Watercolor Whimsies Autumn Edition.
