First place goes to...

Thank you carvers! Thank you judges! Even thank you to the judge that wrote me this to the friendly reminder that his votes were due..."I had planned to make the votes during my summer holiday 2023 (I did expect that would leave plenty of time before the official announcement of the result)". I guess we deserve that.

Perhaps the real magic of this year is that the results are posted by the middle of November. I for one don't have Christmas decorations out yet!

It was a tight race this year for the podium. The judges had 3 clear favourites.


First - with 42 points goes to Pumpkin G/ House Elf by Melanie Taylor

Second - with 36 points goes to Pumpkin J/ Hocus Pocus Boookkkk by Mark Taylor


Third - with 32 points goes to Pumpkin K/ Rub me the right way by Leanne


 

Congrats on the 1, 2 sweep to the Taylor family!! Can anyone help me with where the trophy has ended up?? Once I have located it I will try to get it to you :) 

Now I will hand the word over to our judges who had a lot of clever and complimentary comments this year!

Lots of magical pumpkins. Carvers, be proud of yourself no matter if you carved Harry potter as a pumpkin, carved a wand or carved one of the other beautiful pumpkins.

Pumpkin A 

  • A delightful blend of adorable and terrifying 
  • needs a label, I see teeth, a crown, and a bat cape....am I right?
  •  the bat, carved so well was a perfect start to the magical carvings

Pumpkin B/ Magical Forest 

  • Amazing technique, beautiful scene. Love how the light shines through at different intensities. 
  • everyone loves wood!
  • the magical forest grabbed me! Elegant…

Pumpkin C/ Silly Simon 

  • I want to be smoking what you’re smoking. Incredible cubism inspiration! 
  • Simon's smoking a mushroom, cool dude.
  • Silly Simon has the perfect name! Haha
  • Apparently more than one carvers mindset was directed against toward mushrooms.
  • I don't know if it is magical or I hallucinate, but I can see both Van Gogh, Jutland smoking an exploding mushroom. NO I was not under influence of magic mushrooms  

Pumpkin D 

  • A+ on design and execution (and staging of photograph)! Simple yet elegant with attention to fine detail.
  • I also like hobbit mages 
  • impressive little critter with a magic wand

Pumpkin E/ Abracadabra 

  • On point with the theme. Love the magic dust effect. Also it is clear that no bunnies were harmed in the making of this jack o lantern. 
  • cute bunny

Pumpkin F 

  • Mind blown (imagine appropriate emoji here).Points for detailing both top and underside of mushroom cap. Good use of different intensities of light shining through. 
  • magic mushrooms, clever
  • magical mushrooms

Pumpkin G/ House Elf 

  • So expressive. Incredible portraiture skills! 
  • mad skills!
  • The carver produced a faithful of Dobby’s favourite cousin, Dibby. Fantastic. 
  • No words. Just incredible carving and photo.

Pumpkin H/ Magical gnome 

  • Good use of suspended pumpkin bits. Floating crosses are spooky. 
  • gnomey mcgnome a lot

Pumpkin I/ Ship eater 

  • Most original design. Tiny ship is essential in comprehending scale of gaping mouth creature. 
  • I'll take your word for it

Pumpkin J/ Hocus Pocus 

  • Wow!! Points for fantastic representation of the actual book, and the creepy eyeball in the centre. On point with theme – magical movie, magical design, spooky title. Love how its glowing. 
  • Adding it to my reading list
  • Reminds me of the Necronomicon from Army of Darkness. Don’t open it!!!!

Pumpkin K/ Rub me the right way 

  • Christina Aguilera would be proud. Good artistry, clean lines, Nice detail on the lamp. 
  • oh baby
  • It just rubbed me the right way. 
  • hilarious! Rub me the wrong way…
  • What is more magic than Aladdin's lamp? Definitely deserve a vote.

Pumpkin L 

  • The quintessential jack-o-lantern. Fresh take on a classic and enduring design aesthetic. 
  • scar face
  • starry, starry eyes… they pop out of the pumpkin, well done!

Pumpkin M 

  • Effectively cute and creepy 
  • meow
  • who doesn’t love a heart shaped nose? so many features on this one

Pumpkin N/ Magical Wand 

  • Good use of space, lines, effective composition. I want to know what happens where the magic dust is settling. 
  • indeed

Pumpkin O 

  • Phew, very reassuring. Stunning resemblance to Daniel Radcliffe. Effective representation of the British smile. 
  • you win for longest caption

Pumpkin P

  • Wayback playback to fantasia! Good interpretation of theme. 
  • Mickey is that you?



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