This Michigan Artists Makes Jaw-Dropping Pumpkin Carvings

I love the process of carving pumpkins. The process. I hate the end result because I'm not gifted in the ways of hand art. I do however appreciate a good artists' work when I see it, and none may be better in the field of pumpkins than Michigan native Ray Villafane. Villafane, who was born in Queens, NY, was an Art Teacher for grades K- 12 in Bellaire, Michigan from 1993 until 2006.

While teaching, he began doing pumpkin carvings as projects in class which led to getting requests from students and parents alike. That's when he discovered he had a knack for creating amazing pieces of art with pumpkins. Take a look as some of the amazing carvings he's done from his website, and maybe it'll inspire you to try and recreate one.

For his amazing work, Ray was asked to be on the Food Network’s Challenge Show, Outrageous Pumpkins. Ray was on the show as one of four professional pumpkin sculptors, and swept all three rounds and was awarded the Grand Prize. He also won the Grand Prize again in 2010.

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