Pumpkin Etching by Artist Ryan Lisson
Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, 1-5 p.m.
$130 member/$150 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies, including professional carving tools.
Registration coming soon.
Program location: Farm at the Arb - McVay Learning Lab (in the Bee Center)
Adult 18+
Intermediate (drawing or woodworking skills are helpful, but not a prerequisite)
Celebrate the fleeting beauty of autumn by transforming standard field pumpkins into custom creations! In this hands-on, four-hour workshop designed specifically for adults, professional pumpkin artist Ryan Lisson will guide you through the artistic techniques of surface etching. Using high-quality clay sculpting tools and cutters, you will learn how to shave away layers of the pumpkin's skin at varying depths to create stunning, shaded botanical designs, fall leaves, pets and wildlife silhouettes. Students can create their own designs, bring pictures of pets or peruse our preprinted designs to transfer onto the pumpkin.
Ryan will show you how to hollow and light a pumpkin from the inside and teach techniques for preserving it as long as possible. Perfect for a creative and festive seasonal outing or a unique autumn date night, you'll leave with a beautiful centerpiece, pumpkin carving tools and the skills to elevate your porch display for years to come.
In this class, you will learn:
- The Art of Surface Etching: Discover the secrets of surface carving — shaving away the outer rind without breaking through the inner wall — to control how much light passes through the flesh.
- Pattern Transfer Techniques: Learn how to cleanly transfer detailed botanical, leaf and nature-inspired patterns onto a pumpkin surface for a flawless final carve.
- Master Professional Tools: Learn how to safely and effectively handle professional pumpkin etching tools to achieve crisp lines, fine details and varied textures on a pumpkin's surface.
- Dimension and Shading: Explore how adjusting the depth of your cuts or adding paint/markers creates beautiful gradients, shadows and multi-toned dimensional highlights when lit from within.
- Take-Home Masterpiece & Gear: Leave the workshop with your own display-ready pumpkin, alongside a professional tool kit to continue your carving journey at home.
Supplies: All supplies, including professional carving tools, included to take-home.
Instructor Bio:
Local artist Ryan Lisson is a professional pumpkin artist and the founder of Pumpkin King Creations (www.pumpkinkingcreations.com). He is a Twin Cities-based artist specializing in pumpkin art and live carving entertainment. With 18 years of experience turning ordinary pumpkins into intricate, illuminated pieces, Ryan focuses on teaching adults how to elevate a classic autumn tradition into an expressive art form. His detailed relief-carving and sculpting techniques have drawn large crowds across the metro area.
We recommend that you enter the Arboretum via the back gate on 82nd St, not the main entrance on Hwy 5. This is the most direct route to access the Farm at the Arb, and avoids potential delays when driving through the Arboretum.
Address: Farm at the Arb Entrance Gate
If you do wish to enter through the main Arboretum gate on Hwy 5, you can take 3-Mile Drive through the Arboretum and turn right on Peter Moe Drive to get to the Myers Education Center (this route may take an additional 15-20 minutes, so please plan accordingly).
Main Entry instructions:
You will receive a bar-code ticket for entry to the Arboretum in your email purchase confirmation. Your ticket is valid for entry on the day of your class. Present your ticket to the gate attendant as you enter the Arboretum. You may stay at the Arboretum after class as long as you want during our operating hours.