When it comes to carving pumpkins, Jon Neill doesn’t just go half-way. A former Universal Studios sculptor, Neill has worked for some major clients before. Now, he’s putting his energy into creating some of the most wicked pumpkins we’ve ever seen. Originally from Kansas City, Neill grew up carving pumpkins, as his family used to grow them. His entry into the professional carving world came when a friend asked him to carve something for the TV show Halloween Wars, as a cake artist. Neill preferred to work with gourds instead of ganache, and the rest was history. See examples of his incredible — and sometimes terrifying — work below.
There’s a 600 pound whimsical pumpkin creature I carved today in front of an audience. I had a great time meeting and catching up with Halloween Wars fans from the Midwest! #fairoaksfarms #Cowtoberfest #jonneill #neillartstudios #gpc #halloween #pumpkincarving #halloweenwars #foodnetwork A video posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 10, 2015 at 8:18pm PDT
One last look at the #zombie pumpkin I carved for Descanso gardens #riseofthejackolanterns #zombiepumpkin #neillartstudios #pumpkincreature #jon_neill #jonneill #pumpkincarving #walkingdead If you would like to see my time lapse pumpkin carving videos, click the link in my profile. A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 13, 2015 at 11:19pm PDT
Meet “Grumpy” at the Montrose Farmers Market! His time will be up soon enough, but can he make it to Halloween? Hard to say! #jon_neill #pumpkincarving #originalfarmersmarket #shopmontrose #neillartstudios #portraitpumpkin #jonneill A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 18, 2015 at 12:20am PDT
Yep, I know that’s what you were thinking- the dreaded pumpkin ork is back! @neillartstudios #jonneill #halloweenwars A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Sep 8, 2014 at 8:52pm PDT
Finally finished him! #monsterpalooza #jonneill #pumpkincarving #halloweenwars #pumpkins #halloween #makeupfx #scarela #therise A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Sep 14, 2014 at 5:59pm PDT
Come see professional pumpkin carver Jon Neill at rise of the Jack O ‘lanterns October 8 and 9th. Http://www.therise.org for discounted tickets! #therise #halloween #haunted #hollywood #halloweenwars #carving #Disney #ellen #event #fall #jonneill #jackolantern #losangeles #monsterpalooza #neillartstudios #october #pumpkin #pumpkincarving #scarela #welovepumpkins #wedding #sonofmonsterpalooza A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Sep 22, 2014 at 8:54am PDT
Grown at McGrath bros Great pumpkin patch in Oxnard California. Carved by Jon Neill at rise of the jack-o’-lanterns at Descanso Gardens. #carving #descansogardens #Disney #ellen #event #fall #glow #haunted #halloween #hollywood #halloweenwars #jackolantern #jonneill #johncalpinphotography #losangeles #monsterpalooza #neillartstudios #october #pumpkincarving #pumpkin #therise #welovepumpkins A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 9, 2014 at 5:26pm PDT
My 850lb pumpkin carving at #fairoaksfarms #Cowtoberfest – I’ll be carving two more giants this weekend. Any requests? #giantpumpkincarving #neillartstudios #jon_neill #foodart #jonneill #pumpkincreature #halloweenwars #halloween A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 9, 2015 at 12:24pm PDT
Catching up with my good friend Brian Kinney at #sonofmonsterpalooza2015 #halloweenwars #pumpkincreature #neillartstudios A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Sep 28, 2015 at 12:41pm PDT
850 lbs of carved pumpkin madness at Fair Oaks Farms Cowtoberfest in Indiana by Jon Neill – 6 hour carve! #albinopumpkin #Cowtoberfest #carving #Disney #ellen #event #fairoaksfarms #giantpumpkin #halloween #haunted #halloweenwars #hollywood #indiana #jackolantern #jonneill #lcad #laguna #monsterpalooza #neillartstudios #october #pumpkincarving #pumpkin #welovepumpkins @fairoaksfarms A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 11, 2014 at 8:24pm PDT
Here’s the finished sculpt at descanso gardens rise of the jack-o’-lanterns #riseofthejackolanterns #jonneill #jon_neill #neillartstudios #pumpkincarving #zombiepumpkin A video posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 4, 2015 at 10:13pm PDT
I had a great time with wonderful people. 1124.5 pounds of arachnoid pumpkin terror. A fun afternoon carve at this years #Cowtoberfest #fairoaksfarms #neillartstudios #jonneill #jon_neill #pumpkincreature #pumpkincarving #halloweenwars A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 11, 2015 at 4:14pm PDT
I carved this pumpkin portrait of Rafi Boghosian for the tv show Good Morning Middle East. We had a great time filming the segment. #pumpkincarving #jon_neill #jonneill #goodmorningmiddleeast A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 12, 2015 at 10:19pm PDT
Meet my latest carving, the Sand Head. If you want to check out some of my time lapse pumpkin carvings, please click the link in my profile and share with your friends and family. It’s very much appreciated and really helps me out, thanks for following! #jonneill #neillartstudios #pumpkincarving #jon_neill #scarypumpkin #shrunkenhead A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 19, 2015 at 2:53pm PDT
Today I visited with and carved for my daughter’s kindergarten class! Much fun was had! #jonneill #trollpumpkin #neillartstudios #pumpkincarving A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 19, 2015 at 3:27pm PDT
You can see this pumpkin dude on #nickhalloween #nickelodeontv Nickelodeon’s ultimate Halloween costume party. #jon_neill #halloween #jonneill #pumpkincarving A photo posted by Jon Neill (@jon_neill) on Oct 17, 2015 at 2:03am PDT