SMASHING PUMPKINS
ILOVE pumpkin season, with so many different colours, shapes and sizes piled up in the shops. If I could, I’d buy them all. As a squash aficionado, I am a big fan of the work of sculptor Ray Villafane, who has been described as the Picasso of pumpkin-carving.
Former teacher Ray holds the Guinness World Record for the largest pumpkin sculpture – a zombie apocalypse carved from two giant pumpkins weighing 824.86kg (129st) and 767.9kg (120st) in
New York, USA, in October 2011.
Halloween is one of the busiest times of the year for Ray and his team at Villafane Studios, Arizona, so we were delighted when he took time out from carving to give us some tips.
What is the best type of pumpkin to carve? Is there a good shape or size?
PUMPKINS should be heavy for their size so that the pumpkin “meat” is thick enough to carve into without breaking through.
My favourites are called Wolf pumpkins. Thick stems usually indicate the pumpkin will be heavier with the thicker rind.
How do I design a good face for my pumpkin?
FOLLOWING your imagination to decide! Whatever inspires you will make the process more fun.
What do you use to make the pumpkins’ teeth?
I MOSTLY use potatoes for the
teeth but sometimes I have used wood or just the pumpkin itself.
It just depends on the look you are going for and how creative you would like to get!
Do you grow pumpkins yourself?
THROUGH the years I have often driven to California to stock up on pumpkins but recently found a pumpkin patch that carries my favourite type in Arizona where I live so I don’t have to drive as far.
Did you carve pumpkins when you were a kid?
I CARVED a few pumpkins when I was wa a kid but I don’t remember the th first one. I thought the process was kind of boring at the time because triangle eyes didn’t seem very exciting. I love triangle eyes now that I I’ve added my own style to th them!
Have Hav you won prizes for your pumpkins?
YES, I have. I have won two Outrageous Pumpkin Challenges that were featured on Food Network back in 2007 and 2009.
I also have a Guinness World Record, have been featured in Ripley’s Believe it or Not! and have a Unique Artist Guild Award out of New York City.
Do you like eating pumpkins as well as carving them?
FUNNILY enough, I don’t like the taste of pumpkin. I even have a slight allergy to pumpkin that makes me itch sometimes. It’s a small price to pay to have fun doing what I do!
■ For more about Ray and his work, see villafanestudios.com