Creative pumpkin painting ideas rich in Halloween and fall spirit.

Carving pumpkins is a centuries-old tradition, but this year, painting pumpkin ideas can open you up to new possibilities that are fun to make and just as fun to share.

Scary painting pumpkin ideas give off that Halloween feel, and cute pumpkin painting ideas are perfect for autumn décor. From spooky to unique, this list is overflowing with ideas for everyone.

Painted pumpkins infuse the season’s spirit into your home — you just have to pick the ideas you like the best.

Get your brushes ready and your camera, too, because you’ll soon be so inspired that you’ll want to paint a whole pumpkin patch.

Scary pumpkin painting ideas for Halloween.

From spooky silhouettes to skull pumpkin painting ideas, painting a scary pumpkin is a staple of Halloween. Sitting on porches and windowsills, ghostly gourds seem to grimace from every house. Are you ready for yours to stand out this year?

These scary pumpkin painting ideas are easy to make, and just as easy to personalize. See if one idea feels perfect as-is, or if it inspires some chilling personalizations. Once you’ve painted your first pumpkin, snap a picture and use it in your Halloween party flyers and announcements to set a spooky tone.

Cracked skull.

Skull pumpkin painting ideas can be as simple as a cracked skull. Paint the outline in white, fill it in, then paint black cracks running through it.

Bloody pumpkins.

This painted pumpkin is even creepier if you paint the pumpkin white. Then, drip red paint down the sides from the top. Let it dry however it drips.

Ghostly screams.

Don’t just paint a ghost — paint a tormented ghost face screaming in terror. If that’s too Van Gogh for you, paint multiple screaming ghosts floating all over the pumpkin.

Dracula pumpkin.

Paint the characteristic black triangle down the “forehead” of your Dracula pumpkin, then creepy eyes below heavy brows, and nice, sharp teeth.

Haunted house silhouette.

Paint a spooky house silhouette in black with an enormous, glowing moon behind it.

Ombre message pumpkin.

Use a sponge to blend two or three shades (like red, orange, and yellow), from the top to the bottom of your pumpkin, one over the next. Then, write a message on the pumpkin in thick, black letters, like “boo” or “trick or treat.”

Fingerprint eyeball pumpkins.

Start by painting a creepy face with big, almond-shaped eyes and thick, spikey eyelashes. Hold off on filling them in. Then, dab a finger in red paint and press it in the center of the eyes to make bloody irises.

Frankenstein’s monster pumpkin.

Turn your pumpkin into the face of Frankenstein’s monster using loads of green and painting thick black hair and stitches.

Bloody handprints.

Paint a pumpkin white, then wet both hands with red paint. Pick the pumpkin up and manhandle it a little so that messy handprints can be seen grasping the pumpkin.

Spider web pumpkins.

Spider webs can be painted to stretch all the way around your pumpkin, making this a great option for pumpkins sitting out in the open.

Black and white striped pumpkin.

Paint black and white stripes down your pumpkin, guiding your brush by the ridges. This simple design is a Halloween-worthy complement to other pumpkin ideas if you’re setting up a bigger scene.

Skeleton pumpkin.

Don’t just paint a skull on one pumpkin — paint a skeleton’s ribs on the next, then set a skull pumpkin on top.

Cute pumpkin painting ideas both kids and adults will love.

Most autumn decorations fall into three categories: spooky, pumpkin-spice-chic, or cute. Mini pumpkin painting ideas and other cute pumpkin decorations have their own designation because of the smiles they bring to faces. As outdoor decorations and indoor décor, these ideas are fun to make and even more fun to share in flyers, on social media, and more.

A bonus of these cute pumpkin painting ideas is that they’re not just for Halloween — they can be kept out all autumn. Maybe a whole collection of them will be the backdrop in your family holiday cards this year.

Painted message pumpkins.

As simple as it is cute, paint messages like “eek” and “boo” in big, bubbly letters on your pumpkins and set several out together.

Smiling ghosts.

Paint a ghost hovering on your pumpkin with a smiley face and rosy cheeks.

Harlequin pumpkin.

You know the pattern — that clown-inspired series of triangles, sometimes with a bead or sequin at each point. Choose the color combination you think is cutest.

Glitter pumpkin.

You can paint your whole pumpkin in a fun color then dust it with glitter, or cover just the stem in glitter ink.

Happy sunflower.

Paint a big, bright sunflower in the middle of your pumpkin. Add a smiling face in the center for even greater cuteness.

Monogram pumpkins.

One of the simplest painting pumpkin ideas is to put one big letter on each pumpkin, spelling out your monogram. On mini pumpkins, this is especially cute. Monogram pumpkins are perfect to photograph, too, to make a fall banner with the initials of everyone in your home.

Painted pumpkin unicorns.

Using soft pastels, paint a prancing unicorn with a glittery horn. A silhouette is easy if you have an image to reference while you paint.

Doughnut pumpkins.

Different than pumpkin doughnuts (which are also great), a doughnut pumpkin requires painting the “icing” on the top half of the pumpkin, then painting colorful sprinkles on top of that.

Baby owls.

An owl face is easy to paint with big, wide eyes and a small, pointy beak. Use feathery tones for an even more autumn look.

Spider pumpkin.

Glue black pipe cleaners to the sides of your pumpkin and bend them into legs, then paint on eight googly eyes to turn it into a cute spider pumpkin

Flower crown.

Start by painting a sweet, smiling face on your pumpkin. Then, glue flowers (real or faux) around the top of the pumpkin like a crown. Favor seasonal flowers for an autumn look.

Cute monster.

Monsters can be cute, too. Paint a fuzzy and friendly monster in bright colors with a big grin.

Easy pumpkin painting ideas to keep it quick and simple.

Minimize the brush strokes needed, and you’ll ensure that everyone feels satisfied with their painted pumpkins. These easy pumpkin painting ideas don’t sacrifice creativity for simplicity, they’re just simple to do.

Pumpkin painting ideas for kids, in particular, use popular references that they know and can paint from memory. This list of painting pumpkin ideas are handy for adults with limited time, too, or those who aren’t as confident of their painting abilities.

For any occasion where pumpkin painting includes children, be sure to get the camera out and share a photo collage of the best moments with friends and family later. Pumpkin painting might happen every year, but each occasion — and final pumpkin — is unique.

Jack-o-lantern face.

Paint the classic triangle eyes and toothy grin for a quick and easy painted pumpkin.

Plaid or checkered pumpkin.

Paint a plaid or checker pattern with earthy brown and red for a fall feel.

Spray-painted pumpkin.

Head outside, lay some newspaper down, and spray paint as many pumpkins as you’d like. The color lands evenly, and once it dries, the finish is extra shiny.

Candy corn.

Paint your pumpkin in three sections, top to bottom: white, yellow, and orange.

Chevron stripes.

Pick your two or three favorite colors and use them to paint zig-zag Chevron stripes all the way around your pumpkin.

Rainbow hearts pumpkin.

Paint little rainbows all over your pumpkin or go one step further and paint rainbow hearts.

Individual mini rainbow pumpkins.

If you’re looking for cool pumpkin painting ideas for multiple pumpkins, paint several mini pumpkins each one color of the rainbow. Put them out together, and you’ll have an Instagram-story-worthy display.

Two-tone pumpkin.

Paint one thick line around the center of a pumpkin in your favorite color, then paint the top half that color and the bottom half a contrasting shade.

Splatter paint pumpkin.

This is another pumpkin painting idea that’s best to do outside. Splatter a variety of paint colors over your pumpkin by flicking brushes at it, and you’ll achieve this fun splatter effect.

Black cat silhouette.

If it’s Halloween and someone says, “black cat,” you’re almost sure to paint a silhouette of a cat arching its back. This is fun and easy to do — you can even add a big moon behind it.

Solid color with glitter.

If you like the idea of painting your pumpkin one solid color, why not make it a glittery version of that color? Find a glitter paint or shake glitter over the pumpkin while the paint is wet.

Polka dot pumpkin.

Paint your pumpkin a solid color, let that layer dry, then add polka dots on top in a contrasting hue.

Cool pumpkin painting ideas for something truly unique.

If you’ve ever participated in a Jack-o-lantern contest at school or work, you know what it’s like to be outshined by someone else’s creativity. Right when you think it’s the year you’ll make the coolest pumpkin, unique ideas are hard to come by.

These unique pumpkin painting ideas range from glamorous to unexpected. You’ll even find abstract pumpkin painting ideas for adults. Scroll through and imagine which poster-perfect idea could win you the next contest, then try your hand at that fun, new design.

Glitter drip pumpkin.

Find (or make) a glittery paint and pour enough over the top of your pumpkin that just a little drips down the sides. Let it dry, and you have a dramatic, glamorous, glitter-drip painted pumpkin.

Abstract faces painted pumpkins.

Whether you’re a Pablo Picasso or Francis Bacon fan, abstract faces use funky colors and shapes, have displaced facial features, and offer a wildly different take on the classic Jack-o-lantern composition.

Shimmery paint-spill pumpkins.

Paint your pumpkin one solid, metallic color as a base, like bronze or silver. Then, drip a little paint in a contrasting color over the top. Let it dry, roll it onto its side, and drip another contrasting color over that side. Repeat once more, and you have one cool pumpkin.

Confetti-dipped pumpkin.

Paint your pumpkin with one solid color (or in stripes of varying colors), then sprinkle it with shiny confetti.

Mosaic tiles.

Decide what general image you want to paint (like a Jack-o-lantern face or a toothy monster), then paint it using small, geometric shapes to make each feature up, creating a mosaic tile effect.

Popcorn bucket pumpkin.

You probably never associated pumpkins with popcorn buckets, but this idea is pretty cute. Paint the stripes of your pumpkin in alternating pink and white, then add a white circle on the front with the words POP CORN. Glue lots of popcorn on the “open” part of the “bucket” on the top.

Gold leaf painted pumpkin.

Unless you have real gold leaf laying around, choose a gold-like paint that resembles it. Paint your pumpkin this solid color, stem and all, and it will look like your pumpkin is made of gold.

Feather pumpkin.

Wet some feathers and stick them around the sides of your pumpkin. Paint a mix of colors over and around the feathers, then pull the feathers off. You’ll have the bright pumpkin skin color showing through in detailed feather designs.

Caramel apple pumpkin.

Pumpkins are pretty round, as are caramel apples. More importantly, they’re both staples of fall. To make this one, paint your pumpkin green, then drip a brown caramel color over the top. Paint the pumpkin’s stem white, and it’s just like you have a massive, caramel-covered apple.

Glow-in-the-dark skeleton.

Skeletons painted on pumpkins are already cool, but you’ll offer an even cooler effect if you paint one using glow-in-the-dark paint.

Flower sash pumpkin.

Collect some seasonal flowers and clip off the stems. Glue them around your pumpkin in a diagonal sash.

Pipe cleaner pumpkin.

Painted pumpkins already offer countless possible designs, but if you add pipe cleaners, too, your painted pumpkins can become 3D masterpieces. Imagine making your Jack-o-lantern’s eyebrows with black fuzzy pipe cleaners, for example.

Funny pumpkin painting ideas for added smiles.

Autumn already has its enthusiasts. The smell of cinnamon spice or the first Jack-o-lantern sighting is enough to make them smile. To keep those smiles going all season, consider these fun pumpkin painting ideas that hit every note from from cute to spooky.

Trick or treat has a tradition of tricksters and jokes, anyway, so why not add a funny painted pumpkin to your decorations this year?

Silly emoji pumpkin face.

Paint your pumpkin yellow, then give it whatever funny emoji face you like best.

Hamburger pumpkin.

Paint the top and bottom thirds of your pumpkin hamburger bun brown, then add a thick layer of ground beef brown in the middle with yellow, green, and red rings on top for cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Use the same yellow to add some sesame seeds to the bun, too, and you’re done.

Spa pumpkin.

Draw one big, teal circle on the face of your pumpkin, then glue two thick slices of cucumber over where the eyes would go. Wrap a towel around the pumpkin’s head, and paint on a dainty nose and mouth.

Pumpkin with goofy glasses.

Paint a simple smiley face with small, squinty eyes, then paint some funny glasses around them.

Pumpkin with hair rollers.

Paint a tired-looking pumpkin face, then glue mini hair rollers around the “head.”

Bundt pumpkin.

For a funny but sweet idea, try painting your pumpkin cakey brown, then “icing” the top with a cream color that looks like frosting.

Mustache pumpkins.

Whatever face you paint on your pumpkin, add a funny mustache for good measure. You could go long and curly, 1970s-style, or imitate the mustache of someone you know.

Unibrow pumpkins.

Start with a confused or grumpy-looking face. Then, paint a huge unibrow across the top.

Punny pumpkin.

For a good Jack-o-laugh, paint simple punny words or phrases on your whole patch of pumpkins. Think about “gourd-geous,” “pumpking,” “oh my gourd,” and every silly Halloween poster or banner they could be used on.

Googly eyes pumpkin.

Easy but no less goofy, stick googly eyes all over a pumpkin for a funny yet slightly perturbing look.

Smiling pumpkin with braces.

Paint a goofy face with a huge smile on your pumpkin, then give that toothy grin braces.

Pumpkin with a wig.

One clever way to make a pumpkin face even funnier is to put a ridiculous wig on top.

Special color pumpkin painting ideas.

Painting pumpkins in specific colors like black, pink, or purple — or using pumpkins that naturally grow in colors like white, green, or blue — adds a twist to fall decoration. There are spooky and elegant directions to go. Start by choosing which color of pumpkin is the one for you.

You’ll find creative pumpkin painting ideas for:

● Black pumpkins

● White pumpkins

● Purple pumpkins

● Green pumpkins

● Pink pumpkins

● Blue pumpkins

Constellation pumpkin.

Black pumpkin painting ideas make use of high contrast with black and yellow or white. One idea is to paint stars on a black pumpkin in a constellation design. You could even add small holes where the stars are, drop a candle inside, and see the effect of the stars glowing.

Black cat pumpkin.

Paint your pumpkin black, then add glowing green cat eyes, a pink nose, and long, white whiskers.

Skeleton face.

Whether it’s a naturally white Casper pumpkin or one you paint white, many white pumpkin painting ideas give you new ways to paint skeletons. For example, a whole white pumpkin can be the skeleton’s skull. All you have to do is paint black sockets for the eyes and nose.

Chinoiserie pumpkin.

Take a white pumpkin and paint a beautiful Chinoiserie design on it with blue paint.

Witch’s brew.

A witch’s cauldron is often depicted in purple, making it perfect for purple pumpkin painting ideas. Add neon green bubbles over the top of the cauldron for a magic potion effect.

Purple monster.

Purple monsters are a Halloween decoration mainstay, and you can use that same idea on your painted pumpkins. First, paint your pumpkin purple. Then add a monster face with big, goofy eyes and sharp, white teeth.

The witch’s pumpkin.

We’ve all seen a wicked witch with green skin, which makes green pumpkin painting ideas such as a witch’s face perfect. Paint a pointy nose, beady eyes, and at least one or two warts. Place a witch’s hat on top of the pumpkin once the paint is dry.

Dragon pumpkin.

Green pumpkins are also easy to turn into painted dragons. Use a shimmery green paint to add scales, then paint fierce eyes, smoking nostrils, and small horns.

Pink piglet pumpkin.

Pink pumpkin painting ideas start with this cute piglet idea. Paint a snout, big eyes, and folded ears for an endearing look.

Breast Cancer Awareness Pumpkin.

October isn’t just for Halloween, it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If this cause is important to you, paint a cancer awareness ribbon on a pink pumpkin. You could use this image on a flyer with information or motivation related to breast cancer survivorship, too.

Underwater pumpkin.

Blue pumpkin painting ideas offer lots of possibilities for underwater themes. Use the blue to represent the ocean, and paint a collection of fish, octopuses, and coral around the pumpkin’s base.

Stormy night.

Blue pumpkins can also represent a stormy sky. Paint on dark clouds, lightning bolts, and droplets of rain to make a dramatic scene.

Digital painted pumpkins are an option, too.

Painted pumpkins aren’t just for decorating your home or workplace. These pumpkin painting ideas can be used for digital pumpkins, too.

Just think: are there Halloween cards, posters, flyers, or banners that could use a painted pumpkin in the design? Of course there are.

For any Halloween or autumn-centric project, start with a standard image of a pumpkin (like a photo, JPG, or vector drawing), then bring these painted pumpkin ideas to life with the necessary elements added on top.

Exercise: What other gourds are there?

Jack-o-lanterns originated in Ireland, initially used to ward off evil spirits. These first Jack-o-lanterns were carved turnips, beets, and potatoes.

When Jack-o-lanterns were popularized in the U.S. by Irish immigrants, pumpkins were used to make the carved faces instead.

Today, there are other gourds to use that each bring their unique shape to your pumpkin painting possibilities. This year, consider painting:

● Butternut squash

● Acorn squash

● Spaghetti Squash

● Turban squash

● Calabash

Adobe Express can help.

Adobe Express has templates and customization tools to put your favorite pumpkin painting ideas to work. If you want to use these pumpkin painting ideas in cards, letters, posters, banners, collages, flyers, or other creative projects, Adobe Express makes it as simple as picking a template and personalizing it, or making your own idea with easy-to-use tools. Whatever message you want to transmit, Adobe Express brings it to life, no experience required.

Design with your idea