Learn how to draw Kusama Inspired Dot Pumpkins and create vibrant pumpkin art with our easy to follow step-by-step drawing tutorial. Complete with pumpkin printable templates!
Inspired by the legendary contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama and her iconic dot-filled, vibrant style, we have created a tutorial for Arty Crafty Kids to learn how to draw pumpkin’s just like Kusama!
Kusama’s use of simple patterns and vibrant color schemes, not only appeals to adults but is an exciting source of inspiration for young artists.
This makes it an ideal theme for our engaging and educational pumpkin art activity—perfect for celebrating the festive vibes of Autumn, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.
Who is Yayoi Kusama?
- Born on March 22, 1929, in Matsumoto, Japan, Yayoi Kusama is a renowned contemporary Japanese artist.
- Her artistic journey began in Japan, and she later moved to the United States in the late 1950s. During this time, she became associated with the avant-garde art movements of the era, notably Pop Art and Minimalism.
- Kusama is best known for her sculptures and installations, along with her distinctive artistic style characterized by vibrant colors, repetitive patterns and polka dots.
- Kasuma’s art explores themes of infinity, the universe, and the interconnectedness of all things.
What is Yayoi Kusama’s Artistic Style?
Yayoi Kusama’s artistic style features an explosion of dots and patterns that are showcased through a vibrant color palette and sharp contrasts.
The consistent use of polka dots is a defining characteristic of her creations, complemented by a playful use of negative and positive color schemes, resulting in an immersive, striking effect.
By David Bond/Wirestock Creators – Adobe Stock Image
What’s the story behind Yayoi Kusama’s art?
Yayoi Kusama has mentioned that the iconic polka dots seen in her art stem from childhood hallucinations.
Recalling a specific hallucination from her past, she described finding herself in a field of flowers where the flowers communicated with her, their heads resembling polka dots.
The entire field seemed to be teeming with these dots, an experience that influenced her artistic direction.
The hallucinations Kusama experienced during her childhood may have been indicative of anxiety and panic, during which her perception shifted, and her surroundings manifested as polka dots.
Through her art, she endeavors to recreate this perceptual sensation for her audience, most notably in her ‘Infinity Mirror Rooms.’
These rooms are crafted to be experienced by one person at a time, limited to a brief viewing of up to 60 seconds.
How to Draw Kusama Inspired Pumpkins
This tutorial features a step-by-step drawing tutorial and offers 3 pre-drawn (in the style of Kusama) pumpkin templates; making it accessible to children of all ages and ability.
Why does Kusama Love Pumpkins?
Before we begin the drawing tutorial, let’s explore the theme of pumpkins.
“I love pumpkins,” the artist explained in a 2015 interview, “because of their humorous form, warm feeling, and a human-like quality and form. My desire to create works of pumpkins still continues. I have enthusiasm as if I were still a child.”
The Phaidon
In Japanese culture, pumpkins symbolize luck, abundance, and good fortune. For Kusama, pumpkins establish a link to her cultural heritage and early experiences.
From an artistic perspective, Kusama appreciates the color, structure, and appearance of pumpkins. Their visual appeal aligns with her fascination for polka dots, drawing from the seeded patterns and reinforcing her fascination with the concept of infinity.
Materials you will need:
- Colored Cardstock
- Black Marker Pen
- Metallic Marker Pens
- Black and White Paint
- Fine Tipped Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Glue Stick
- How to Draw Printable & Printable Pumpkin Templates
Watch the Step-by-Step Pumpkin Art Tutorial
Step 1: Draw the stem onto brightly colored cardstock or paper.
Arty Crafty Kids can draw an outline with a pencil first or dive in with a black marker pen.
Step 2: Draw the central pumpkin segment.
Kusama’s pumpkin’s often take a playful form characterized by a lack of symmetry and wobbly lines.
With this in mind, Arty Crafty Kids can let their pencils/pens flow and form the shapes that feel good to them.
Step 3: Begin to build the pumpkin with additional segments (known as ribs).
Try to mirror the shape of the central rib.
Continue to expand the pumpkin.
Until the pumpkin shape feels right.
For a sense of perspective, draw a couple of “bumps” on either side of the pumpkin stork.
Step 4: Begin to draw or paint polka dots.
For the purpose of this tutorial, our dots are painted black and white. This is to add contrast against the brightly colored background.
However, a base layer of black dots can be painted for the purpose of contrast with other colors intermixing.
Expand the dots within the pumpkin, allowing them to cascade down like they are overflowing.
Within each rib, vary the size of the dots – this will add interest and complexity to the finished art project.
To recreate the sense of contrast featured in this tutorial, fill the central rib with black dots and then every other rib.
Also, paint the most of the stork black, leaving the circular top.
Next, fill the remaining ribs with white dots and cover the black stork with a collection of small white dots.
Step 5: Create a patterned background.
Select a contrasting piece of colored cardstock and use a good marker pen or a metallic acrylic marker pen.
Arty Crafty Kids can draw a background full of dots, their favorite pattern or have a go at creating this free form geometric background.
Start by drawing a collection of interconnected straight lines – almost resembling lightening strikes – that stretch across the page.
From this line, draw more interconnected lines and join them together to form triangles.
The triangles can differ in size and shape – some might not be triangular at all!
Whatever the pattern or shape, repetition is key.
Step 6: Cut out the completed Kasuma Inspired Pumpkin Art.
Once the background is complete and the pumpkin is dry, carefully cut it out.
Step 7: Complete the art project by glueing the pumpkin to the patterned background.
The Kusama inspired pumpkin art is complete and ready for a display board! These will look spectacular as a collection; featuring pumpkins of different shapes, colors and patterns.
More Famous Artist Inspired Art Project for Kids:
We adore art projects inspired by the greats of both old and new, from Monet to Picasso, Kandinsky and Mondrian – we have projects featuring many well known artists that have been tried and tested by Arty Crafty Kids all over the world.
