“Make sure all the dirt is off the pumpkin,” Gina Malsky said, starting with the most basic tips for her audience of 2- to 4-year-olds at Work of Art Preschool in Exeter.
She had a hefty plump pumpkin on hand, suitable for the traditional carving that was planned, and her second tip was “Put something underneath it, something you’ll be able to fold up and carry away.”
That piece of plastic or newspaper would be used to carry away the insides of the pumpkin, after they’re scooped out, perhaps with a spoon.
The actual carving would be done with a knife, visiting art instructor Kelly Gibbons said, and that should be left to a grown-up.
At 25, visiting artist April Cross from the Verve Vertu Studio in the Back Mountain, certainly qualified as a grown-up.
She had designed a cat face, with eyes and mouth, nose, ears and narrow whiskers — sketching it in advance on a piece of paper, which she taped to the pumpkin to use as a stencil.
For larger features such as the big round eyes, the artist used a big knife. For more delicate features, such as the whiskers, she used a smaller one.
Every step of the way was a teaching moment for the children, as they identified shapes and speculated about what had been inside the pumpkin — seeds.
They’ll be good for roasting and eating, Malsky said, with a little butter and salt.
And perhaps, she added, some of the raw seeds will be planted outside, to see what might grow.
