Michigan-based sculptor Ray Villafane is known for his wildly creative pumpkin carvings. Here he works on a pumpkin sculpture during an exhibition in the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian hotel-casino in Las Vegas. A former teacher, Villafane now sculpts full-time and takes about eight hours to carve a single, regular-size pumpkin. His day job consists of sculpting action figures. He's also an amazing sand sculptor. This slideshow features works by him and fellow pumpkin-carving masters Scott Cully, Shawn O'Connor and Farmer Mike, just in time for Halloween.
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Zombie pumpkin
A zombie that "lived" inside what was then the world's largest pumpkin on record appears to spawn out of it, according to a video on Ray Villafane's site. The artist started with a sketch of the concept before he began carving.
www.villafanestudios.com
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Steve Jobs pumpkin
The iconic founder of Apple Inc., Steve Jobs, is depicted in this carving by artist Shawn O'Connor. Jobs died in October 2011 after years with pancreatic cancer.
www.shawnoconnor.net
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Shut up pumpkin
When a little pumpkin won't stop talking, a big pumpkin apparently has no choice but to sew its mouth shut, at least in this piece by Ray Villafane.
www.villafanestudios.com
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Vomiting pumpkin
This pumpkin partied a little too hard and suffered the consequences. Next time, slow down on the pumpkin ale.
Navid Baraty/Getty Images
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Smushed pumpkin
In another amazingly detailed piece, Ray Villafane brings a pumpkin to life with a smushed-face design.
www.villafanestudios.com
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Dwight Schrute
Fans of "The Office" might recognize the face of its lead character, played by actor Rainn Wilson, in this piece by Shawn O'Connor.
www.shawnoconnor.net
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Payback pumpkin
This Ray Villafane pumpkin appears to suffer a strong right hook to the jaw — so hard that teeth fly out of its mouth. In a video on his website, Villafane explains he was frustrated with another carving on the opposite side of this one, so he took out some aggression on the pumpkin and got some payback.
www.villafanestudios.com
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Vampire pumpkin
Vampires can see the light, too — in pumpkins, at least. Robert Pattinson as the vampire Edward Cullen in "Twilight" is depicted here.
www.misocraftyknits.com
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Anglerfish pumpkin
Ray Villafane, who has been carving pumpkins since he was a kid, brings the anglerfish, a toothy ocean predator, to life in a pumpkin.
www.villafanestudios.com
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Great pumpkin
Sculptor Scott Cully carves a record-breaking 1,810.5-pound pumpkin at the Bronx Botanical Gardens in New York in 2010. The massive pumpkin was grown by Chris Stevens of Wisconsin.
Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images
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'House' pumpkin
The title character from the TV drama "House," which ended in May 2012, comes to life in a pumpkin by Shawn O'Connor. The series centered on the drug-addicted genius doctor Gregory House, who was played by actor Hugh Laurie.
www.shawnoconnor.net
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Pumpkin-head pumpkin
"Ouch! There's a pumpkin stuck in my head" is what we imagine this pumpkin carved by Ray Villafane might say.
www.villafanestudios.com
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Sick pumpkin
Somebody help this Ray Villafane-carved pumpkin. It's going to be sick!
www.villafanestudios.com
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Zipper skull pumpkin
Ray Villafane's cartoonish creation features a skull with a zippered-skin face.
www.villafanestudios.com
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Brangelina pumpkin
Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are depicted in this creation from 2009 that was on display in New York City as part of the Old Navy Urban Pumpkin Patch.
Henry S. Dziekan III/Getty Images
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Pensive pumpkin
Carved by Ray Villafane, this pumpkin emotes something, but we're not sure what. Could the pumpkin be pensive, bored, angry? Whatever the feeling, the result is the same: This is a cool-looking pumpkin.
www.villafanestudios.com
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Goblin pumpkin
A grotesque creature (is it a goblin?) was carved into this pumpkin by Ray Villafane.
www.villafanestudios.com
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Jimi Hendrix pumpkin
Rock legend Jimi Hendrix is depicted in this work by Shawn O'Connor. The guitar god died in 1970 at age 27 and was known for such hits as "Purple Haze."
www.shawnoconnor.net
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'Predator' pumpkin
Ray Villafane brings to life the famous creature from the 1987 action movie "Predator" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
WENN
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POTUS & FLOTUS pumpkins
These pumpkin carvings of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were on display in New York City in 2009 as part of the Old Navy Urban Pumpkin Patch exhibit.
PNP/WENN.com
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Scary creatures
These pumpkins were carved by Ray Villafane and Andy Bergholtz (who created the middle piece) and were displayed during a pumpkin-carving exhibition in the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian hotel-casino in Las Vegas in 2011.
Steve Marcus/WENN
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Michael Jackson
The late pop icon Michael Jackson is depicted in this pumpkin. Jackson died in June 2009.
www.misocraftyknits.com
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29 Viking pumpkin
A Viking comes to life in this highly realistic pumpkin carving by Ray Villafane. Don't you just want to reach out and tug on his beard?
www.villafanestudios.com
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Torment pumpkin
Ray Villafane strikes again with an intense — and creepy — carving that appears to depict a tormented soul. Looks kind of Freddy Krueger-esque, if you ask us.
www.villafanestudios.com
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Farmer Mike's pumpkin
Mike Vallado, known as Farmer Mike, of San Jose, Calif., uses a buck knife while carving out a face on this 450-pound Atlantic giant pumpkin on the opening day of the State Fair in Dallas in 2003.
Tony Gutierrez/AP
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Bieber pumpkin
Singer Justin Bieber no longer wears long bangs, but this pumpkin reminds us why tweens around the world fell in love with him.
www.mattmcfarlandphoto.com
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Monster pumpkin
Ray Villafane gets really creepy with this Frankenstein-esque carving.