Taking pumpkin carving to the extreme

SANDUSKY — The possibilities with pumpkins are numerous. For Paul Koerner, he carves pumpkins a little differently than others. He has a background in woodcarving. While studying accounting during college, Koerner was looking for a different hobby. Carving was something that always interested him, so picked up the hobby and kept practicing. "I never thought I'd be doing this for 30 years," he said. Koerner said he's been the woodcarver at Cedar Point for 24 years and he's also been a volunteer carver at the Merry-Go-Round Museum for 23 years. Even though Koerner lives in Sheffield Lake, he doesn't mind commuting to Sandusky during the summer months because the weather is nice. He also enjoys the area. He visited Cedar Point throughout his childhood. During Cedar Point's HalloWeekends about 13 years ago, Koerner said he wanted to try something new so he started experimenting with carving pumpkins. At the time, he had no idea there were people who carved pumpkins professionally. "I went home and started researching it at the library and I was like, 'Wow, look at all this stuff,'" he said. Pumpkins are fun to carve and they're quick, Koerner said. Depending on a pumpkin's size and design, it can take him 15 minutes to an hour to carve one. "You can do something quick and easy or you can do the lengthy projects," he said. "It depends on how much time you want to put into it. That's the beauty of them." Koerner has led pumpkin carving programs at several libraries over the years. Not only is it entertaining for children, but adults also love it. He shows the simple designs so people realize they can try the technique on their own. "If you can peel an apple, you can carve a pumpkin," Koerner said. "In fact, you can carve apples, I've done it." Koerner said people have returned to his programs year after year. They would show him pictures of the pumpkins they carved after learning techniques from him. The way Koerner carves pumpkins is done with basic tools: a carving knife or kitchen paring knife, and a couple of flat chisels. The most important tool, however, is a pencil because otherwise, you're guessing, he said. A sketch of the design on the pumpkin helps provide a guide. Carving pumpkins without hollowing it out has its benefits. More can be done with the pumpkins because they can have a design on one side and a different one on the other side. The pumpkins also last longer because less of the squash is exposed to air and it doesn't dry out as fast. Koerner said he's had pumpkins last several weeks if the weather is cool enough. Mixing pumpkin carving techniques can work too. If Koerner hollowed out one of his carved pumpkins and put a bright light inside, the light would shine through the different thicknesses of the pumpkin. For those who want to try carving pumpkins like Koerner, he has some tips: don't start with something complicated, keep your fingers away from the sharp blade of the knife and have plenty of towels because water will come out of the pumpkin. It's OK to make a mistake, he said — it's a pumpkin. If worst comes to worst, turn the pumpkin around and try on the other side. You're only limited by your imagination and your skills, Koerner added. The more your skills improve, the more your imagination can run wild. "Don't be afraid to modify designs. Pumpkin carving doesn't take a lot of skill. It does take patience and a willingness to try new things," he said.