Pretty Pumpkin came to me in a nap dream one September afternoon. Apparently, even when I’m asleep, I’m still thinking about what to paint.

I woke up wanting to paint a pumpkin with blues, and this colorful little fellow emerged. Traditional autumn oranges mingle with unexpected blues and purples, while gentle highlights bring out the pumpkin’s curves and texture.

There’s something wonderfully satisfying about taking a familiar subject and seeing how far color can push it while still letting it remain unmistakably a pumpkin. Pretty Pumpkin is warm, vibrant, and just a little dreamy—which seems appropriate, considering where it began.

Original watercolor on paper, approximately 8 × 10.5 inches.Framed size: 9.5 × 12 inches in a simple white frame, without a mat. Ready to hang.