Pumpkin Drawing Step by Step

This week, I wish you Happy Halloween with this pumpkin drawing tutorial. Draw one pumpkin or many, make a simple drawing or an atmospheric illustration – these easy ideas have many possibilities!

My drawing is about 29 x 29 cm (11,5 x 11,5 inches) but you can use these ideas for any size. Start with one pumpkin and then decide if you want more. I started from one on the left bottom corner.

Even if the pumpkin looks very decorative and detailed, it’s fun to color with colored pencils. But first, we make a simple sketch.

Step #1 – Sketch a Pumpkin

Pick a pencil and sketch a pumpkin. Start from a circle and then divide it into sections.

I also added one vertical and one diagonal line to mark the perspective. But as you can see in the image below, my guiding lines for the perspective are short ones. They only define a very small section of the background.

After coloring the first pumpkin, we will add more guidelines to the background.

Step #2 – Decorate a Pumpkin

For each section, color a column of simple circles.

Use zigzag strokes and have fun with colors.

Step #3 – Color the Rest of the Pumpkin

Add a background color for each section.

Leave some white around every circle to get more decoration. You can now decorate the stem too.

Pick a yellow pencil and color over the pumpkin. Yellow adds wamth and makes the colors shine.

Step #4 – Add Shadows and Finish the Pumpkin

Add some shadows around the pumpkin and in the centre.

You can now adjust the decorations and make sure that you have colored the pumpkin carefully. The coloring should cover the paper.

Step #5 – Start the Background Patterning

No matter how big your drawing will be, I suggest that you first focus on the surroundings of the first pumpkin. This is “the seed pumpkin” or “the mother pumpkin.” Draw a safe place for her first before drawing more.

By following the guides from the first step, color checkered patterns.

Use a neutral color. You can later add more color on them.

Step #6 – Draw More Pumpkins

Imagine the magic – so, pumpkins flying freely in the space! With a pencil, draw pumpkins in different sizes.

Make sure that some of the pumpkins are only partly visible and that they are oriented in different directions.

First draw a circle and mark the orientation with the stem. Then divide each pumpkin into sections.

Step #7 Color More Pumpkins and Expand the Background Patterning

Now you can let go with the stiff idea of a perspective and make your own. Color the checkered patterns so that they flow in different directions. Again, use neutral colors for them. You can leave a small part of the background without patterning.

At the same time, you can start coloring the pumpkins as well. Change the orientation of the paper while coloring so that your little squares and circles don’t get distorted.

If you were a little careless when sketching (like I was), the pumpkins may look less like pumpkins and more like decorated circles. Add little bumps to the sections between the ribs to correct this.

Step #8 – Color the Background and Finish Your Pumpkin Drawing

The idea of background patterning is to get a sketch for “the air” – so for the 3-dimensional space where the pumpkins are flying. You can now color over the neutral grid and add new checkered patterns with colors as well.

Get creative and let all kinds of fun stuff appear in the background!

To get the festive feel, spend some extra time with the drawing to make sure your colors are strong, your darks are dark, and the paper doesn’t peek through. What started as a simple pumpkin can now become pumpkin art!

Happy Halloween!

P.S. If you liked this tutorial, check the course Fun Botanicum!