If you have a pumpkin you want to carve and you don't quite know what image to make, a great immediate solution is to look at your hands. There's a good chance that within each knuckle, you will find a little face. I had students in my drawing class spend the day drawing their knuckles and when through, they carved their pumpkins from one of their drawings. It's a bit ridiculous, but I wanted to share the project with you. Happy Halloween!
Peanut People
Elyse Allen, artist and designer extraordinaire, taught me how to make both rope and peanut people. She is a remarkable woman. I know of very few artists who can make stunningly gorgeous things while actively pursuing the art of play. Once we collaborated on a whole troupe of peanut people circus performers. They were incredible. Elyse is a favorite of mine and I do believe a good peanut people making session is in high order. But be careful if you make them, because once I had a large family of peanut people in a cold non-winterized sun room that I avoided until warmer weather, and upon returning to it in the Spring, I found a slaughter - all of my little friends had been gnawed away by mice!