Zen Vibes

How to Draw a Pumpkin

  • 8 steps
  • Ages 5 and up
  • About 10 minutes
  • easy

This pumpkin drawing is a good choice for children who want a simple autumn picture. It helps to sketch the dotted guide shapes lightly first, then add the darker lines step by step. You will draw the round pumpkin, the curved sections, a curly vine, a stem, and a leaf. At the end, go over the lines you want to keep and rub out the dotted guides. Take your time with the long curves. They do not need to match perfectly to look good.

What you need: a pencil, an eraser, black pen or marker, some paper.

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  1. A large round pumpkin body is outlined in black, with pale dotted guides inside for the sections, stem, vine, and leaf.

    Draw the pumpkin shape

    Draw one big, wide, rounded shape for the pumpkin body. Make the top a little flatter and the bottom gently curved.

  2. The pumpkin body is already drawn, and one black curved line has been added on the left side to make a section.

    Add the left section

    Draw a long curved line down the left side of the pumpkin. Start near the top and curve it down to the bottom.

  3. The pumpkin has two side section lines now, with the new black curved line added on the right side.

    Add the right section

    Draw a matching long curved line on the right side. It runs from the top edge down to the bottom edge of the pumpkin.

  4. A black straight line has been added down the center of the pumpkin between the two curved section lines.

    Draw the middle line

    Draw a straight line down the middle of the pumpkin. Start at the top dip and bring it down to the bottom.

  5. A black curly vine has been added near the top center of the pumpkin, looping and curling downward.

    Draw the curly vine

    At the top middle, draw a curly vine that loops once and then curls down and out. Keep the line smooth and rounded.

  6. A black stem has been drawn on top of the pumpkin, with an oval top and inner curved detail lines.

    Add the stem

    Draw the stem on top of the pumpkin. Make it a tall shape with an oval opening at the top and a few short curved lines inside.

  7. A black leaf has been added to the top right of the stem, with a jagged outline and simple vein lines.

    Draw the leaf

    Draw a leaf on the top right side of the stem. Give it pointed bumps around the edge and draw the leaf veins inside.

  8. The finished pumpkin drawing has dark clean outlines, a center vine, a stem, and a leaf, with the dotted guides removed.

    Finish and clean up

    Go over the pumpkin outline and the section lines you are keeping. Then rub out the pale dotted guides to finish your drawing.

Tips for this one

  • Use light pressure for the guide shapes so they are easy to rub out.
  • Long curved lines look best when you draw them slowly.
  • If the two sides are a bit different, your pumpkin will still look natural.

Now try this

  • Draw a jack-o'-lantern face on the pumpkin.
  • Add a patch of grass or fallen leaves around it.
  • Draw two smaller pumpkins beside the big one.

Questions

What if my pumpkin is not even on both sides
That is fine. Real pumpkins are often a little uneven. The different curves can make it look more real.
Do I have to draw the middle line straight
It can be mostly straight, like in this picture. If it bends a tiny bit, that is fine too. Pumpkins are round and soft, not perfect shapes.
Should I color the pumpkin when I finish
Yes, if you want to. Orange is the usual choice for the pumpkin, with a green stem and leaf. You can also try yellow, brown, or even a funny made-up color.

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