Pumpkin sculptures

Halloween often means the appearances of Jack-o-lanterns and carved pumpkins in every size, shape and design. The sky is the limit when it comes to creating this seasonal ritual. There are those with skilled hands and a very fertile imagination who have elevated carved pumpkins to another level. Nothing compares to these hauntingly realistic three-dimensional pumpkin sculptures that seem to make these innocent fruits come alive.

Here is a gallery of museum-quality pumpkin sculptures, by the Edward Scissorhands of pumpkin sculpting, master carver Ray Villafena of New York.

Be ready to be stunned and awed.

What going under the knife can do

Ray Villafane sculpts pumpkins with a scalpel and a spoon, in addition to various size clay ribbon loop tools to create fluid contours. He can skin, chisel and carve famous celebrities like David Letterman and Barack Obama in record time. He was a two-time winner of the Food Network's Callenge:Outrageous Pumpkins, and deservingly so.

Photo credit: It's just Jack

According to Ray Villafena, the best shapes for carving faces are the tall and oblong-shaped pumpkins rather than the round ones. He prefers the ones that that have been flattened on one side from sitting on the ground for a while. The flattened side creates a ridge all around and this is where the face is sculpted. To create three-dimensional portraits, one need to carve as deep as possible being careful as one nears the center.

Photo credit: It's just Jack

Tip from Villafane: the best pumpkins to carve are the heavier and meatier ones so these can withstand the chiseling, cutting and rigours of sculpting.

Pumpkin meat holds moisture and a dull tool can turn the texture to mush and invite mold. Sharp cuts ensure the longevity of a pumpkin sculpture.

Photo credit: It's just Jack

The round-headed pumpkin on the left seems to say: "You may have a feather in your cap, Chief, but I am a pumpkin unicorn."

The feather on the Native American Indian was added from another pumpkin.

These two pumpkin characters reminded me of a spinster and an elusive bachelor. She appears to be thinking this- "Men are like pumpkins. It seems like all the good ones are either taken or they've had everything scraped out of their heads with a spoon."

Photo credit: It's just Jack

Look at the details on the faces of these two pumpkin characters. Only the skillful hands of a master carver like Ray Villafane can create realistic eyes with the sharp cuts of a scalpel. He does not use add-ons or embellishments that are not made of pumpkin. He is a die-hard master pumpkin sculptor to the core.

Would you rather be in stitches or be zipped up?

Zipperhead on the right was the most complex and intricate sculpture that Ray Villafane did. It took him most of the day to create this outrageously awesome pumpkin portrait as compared to others which took a couple of hours.

Photo credit: It's just Jack

The pumpkin on the left was carved sideways so that its stem appears to be impaled into the character's head. Can you feel the pain of this pumpkinhead? The character on the right looks like it broke out of its pumpkin shell and screaming "I'm out of here."

Photo Credit:It's just jack-----------------Photo credit:gnotalex

These are two of Ray Villafane's jack-o-lanterns inspired by the sci-fi movie Predator. Ray Villafane has sculpted for Marvel, DC Comics, Warner Bros. as well as film collectibles (Terminator, Ghost Rider, X-Men) and the role-playing game World of Warcraft. He also competed in Jesolo, Italy in the annual World Championship of Sand Sculpting. Give Ray anything, pumpkins, gourds, sand, and he will turn these into some magical mastepiece.

Photo credit: It's just Jack

Museum-worthy masterpieces

Ray Villafane has worked as a sculptor for DC and Marvel comics which is apparent in his rendition of the ghastly and horrific pumpkin portraits.

Photo Credit:Easy Street Discount

The Medusa sculpture was created with snakes made from other pumpkins and integrated into this ghoulish creature. The incredible attention to details like the scales and flailing tongues of the serpents can only be achieved by a master carver extraordinaire Ray Villafane.

Photo Credit:It's just Jack

This is a farmer carving a giant pumpkin at a Texas State Fair with a carving knife. No matter how you cut it, a pumpkin can transform from a humble fruit to a comical character. Leave it to the vivid imagination and dexterity of a farmer who grew his own pumpkin.

Photo Credit: Mike McInnis

The outcome is this delightful pumpkin sculpture is one in a million and a ton of fun to create.

Photo Credit:zenmasterdod