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[theSkimm Logo] Daily Skimm WEEKEND [Header Image]( [Together with]( [buick]( Skimmâd with [less stress behind the wheel]( [Update location]( or [View forecast]( âChili oilâ â [What groundskeepers]( applied to an Arizona golf course, after a herd of javelinas tore up its greens. Spicy. theSkimm With Professional Pumpkin Carver (Yes, Itâs a Thing) Marc Evan Think your jack-oâ-lantern is a work of art? Think again. Since 2008, [Maniac Pumpkin Carvers]( has created thousands of incredibly detailed designs â from Vincent van Goghâs âThe Starry Nightâ and Leonardo da Vinciâs âMona Lisaâ to portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and Harry Styles â for clients like the Museum of Modern Art, the New York Yankees, and individuals willing to spend hundreds or thousands on Halloween decor. To get the scoop, we spoke with the companyâs co-founder, Marc Evan... Q: First, why pumpkins? And did you ever think that 15 years later, youâd still be doing this? Honestly, it was a natural intersection. [My co-founder Chris Soria] and I have always loved all things Halloween, and weâre both lifelong artists ⦠We always knew we were going to have careers in the arts â though we didnât necessarily think the art weâd become most well known for would be our pumpkin carvings ... We were fresh out of college when we started this company, so I donât know that we ever thought [weâd still be doing this] 15 years down the road ⦠But thereâs definitely no stopping now. Itâs something weâre very proud of ... Weâve worked really hard on elevating [pumpkin carving] into an art form and taking it to the next level. Q: What does your pumpkin carving process look like? Much of the work we do is commissioned ... so it starts with a lot of meetings, sketches, mocks, and a ton of other work prior to carving. Once we get the approval, the first [step] is picking the perfect pumpkin. We source them from local farms, and we look for fresh, physically beautiful pumpkins â meaning, the skin has an even tone and there arenât bruises or blemishes. Preferably, thereâs also a long stem. Then we draw the image on the pumpkin and scoop it out. We open our pumpkins from the back rather than the top, because it makes for a more beautiful aesthetic and it helps the pumpkin hold its shape better. We carve [with] a variety of tools, including wood carving knives and chisels, craft knives, and clay sculpting loops ... Each pumpkin takes between two and 12 hours to make ⦠so we donât really sleep in [October] because weâre working around the clock. When we first started, our season was the week or two before Halloween ... Now, our season is August to Thanksgiving. During that, [we have a team of] up to 15 people carving hundreds of pumpkins. Q: Since pumpkins are perishable, you canât really work ahead, right? Itâs definitely considered an ephemeral art, so itâs meant to be enjoyed in the moment ... And unfortunately, as soon as you start cutting into a pumpkin, it begins to degrade ... So we try to carve as close to delivery as possible. We donât let them sit around in our studio. That said, there have been times when weâve spent a couple hours carving a pumpkin, realized itâs actually rotten on the inside, and had to start over. Thatâs really unfortunate when youâre on tight deadlines. Q: What have been some of the most memorable pumpkins? Getting to carve our favorite characters for companies like Marvel, Disney, and Nickelodeon have always been highlights. But weâve also gotten the attention of incredible art institutions, like the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Some of our favorite pumpkins are part of what we call our Artist Series, where we recreate masterpieces for museums ... Translating a famous work of art into another medium, like pumpkin, has its own set of challenges, but as artists, itâs an extraordinary experience to learn ... You develop a deeper relationship with a piece when you stare at it for 12 hours straight, and you get a different appreciation for the artist and their work ... That pushes us to increase our level of detail and what we produce. Q: Are those also the most difficult? The famous works of art are incredibly challenging ... but every year, we carve a giant pumpkin for Luna Park at Coney Island ... Itâs typically between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds, so itâs truly massive and the design is always super challenging and complex. It normally takes two or three artists working for 12 to 15 hours straight to complete it ... So those are the most physically and mentally demanding pieces to work on. Plus, when youâre on site, youâre exposed to the elements, and itâs part performance art. Itâs in public, so people ask questions and react to what youâre doing, which is part of the fun. But at the same time, youâre not able to fully dial in and just focus on the work. Q: Whatâs the biggest mistake that people make when carving pumpkins at home? Picking pumpkins that arenât fresh. People often get them from grocery, hardware, or big box stores, but those pumpkins have been sitting around for a long time, and theyâve been beaten up [while traveling] on trucks. Youâre much better off going to a farm stand or pumpkin patch. The other mistake is people donât plan [their designs]. Even if itâs just a classic jack-oâ-lantern, you should always draw those shapes on paper, sketch it onto the pumpkin, and then start carving ... [Another] thing I see people doing too often is using a kitchen knife to carve their pumpkins. Sure, it gives that Halloween movie vibe when you have the big knife out, but youâll get better results with a smaller, more detail-oriented tool, like even those cheap carving kits [with] the plastic handle saws. And itâs much safer. Q: What do your own Halloween decorations look like? I wish I had the time to carve pumpkins for my house and family, but [at this point], I barely leave the studio unless Iâm going to an event and doing demos. My house gets a little bit neglected this time of year. Psst, this interview has been edited for length and clarity. [Facebook]([Twitter]([Email](mailto:?body=Professional pumpkin carver Marc Evan on his mind-blowing designs #theSkimm%0A3Ftype%3Demailurl%26r%3DSKIMM%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare%23custom) What's Happening â¾ï¸ In sports wins⦠The â[most improbable World Series ever](â started last night, with the Texas Rangers [clinching a W]( over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Thatâs after the LGBTQIA+ community netted a victory earlier this week â when the NHL reversed its [Pride Tape ban](. And NBA referee [Che Flores]( became the first openly transgender and nonbinary ref in US pro sports. --------------------------------------------------------------- ð§ââï¸ In wellness⦠While [star bathing]( may have some stellar benefits, [buzzy full-body MRIs]( still have people scanning for answers. Plus, if a good nightâs sleep is just a dream, consider adding [cognitive shuffling]( and [moon breathing]( to your bedtime routine. --------------------------------------------------------------- ð¡ In home⦠Wavy mirrors, checkerboard rugs, disco balls â bingo, youâre in a [Gen Z apartment](. Meanwhile, [yellow pillows]( have people showing their true colors. Same with [glasses]( that practically guarantee good cheer. Forward this to a friend. [Click here](mailto:?&subject=Check out this Daily Skimm Weekend newsletter&body=Check it out . Skimm Reads â[Remember Love](â by Cleo Wade...Cleo Wade, will you be our best friend? The poet, whoâs been deemed âMillennial Oprah,â is back with a third book, this time about how to love yourself in times when you feel lost. The chapters are short, and the balance of prose and poetry feel like heartwarming affirmations. We read this in one sitting, but itâs also perfect for reading slowly â and if you read a chapter or two every morning, itâll feel like starting your day with a literary hug. Skimm Picks Here are todayâs recs to help you live a smarter life⦠1. Insights that can help you money smarter. From wealth building to estate planning, [New York Life]( has over 175 years of experience helping people secure their financial futures. And their guides make it easy to understand what itâll actually take to reach your long-term goals.* [Read up](
--------------------------------------------------------------- 2. A cloud-like slipper to pad around in this season. These [fluffy sherpa slippers]( from Bombas are made for lazy Sunday mornings. Plus, they'd make a great gift. [Buy them](
--------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Amazon's annual Holiday Beauty Haul Sale is here. Through November 5, get discounts on a [cleanser]( that smells like sherbert and [lip gloss]( that would make a cute stocking stuffer. Find more makeup, skincare, and body-care deals [here](. [Shop the sale]( Psstâ¦love our recs? Follow [@skimmshopping]( on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag). On Our Radar A new program from [CVS Health®]( thatâs helping address period poverty. For every CVS Health® brand period product purchased in October, theyâre donating two to communities in need. Learn more [here](.* Skimm'd by: Macy Alcido, Rasheeda Campbell, Melissa Goldberg, and Clem Robineau --------------------------------------------------------------- Photos courtesy of Maniac Pumpkin Carvers, Scribner Design by theSkimm --------------------------------------------------------------- *PS: This is a sponsored post. Want to wake up with us every morning? [Subscribe to the Daily Skimm](. ---------------------------------------------------------------
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