Senior Thesis
Illustration
Winthrop University
Fall 2024-Spring 2025
This senior thesis explores the halloween practice of pumpkin carving through the lens of children’s literature and the naivety and beauty of the childhood genre. It achieves this by examining the traditional practices of pumpkin carving, and how it has evolved in the cultural context of North America. From the Irish festival of Samhain, and the practices of Irish settlers in North America this practice has been augmented and enhanced over the years to its present level of prominence. The Haunted History Mystery Club; The Origins of Pumpkin Carving story focuses on a group of children that are dedicated to uncovering the origins and stories of Halloween traditions. Key themes included are those of whimsy, warmth, and wonder that are in juxtaposition with spooky elements and characters. These themes allow for an intuitive imaginative, engaging educational experience, inviting young readers to have fun while learning. The creative process throughout was an emerging realization of the author’s intersectionality as both a graphic designer and illustrator, and how both of these can be reconciled to coexist within the professional context of this research. The result of this is the production of a 32 page children’s book for ages 4-9. The book will be professionally manufactured and submitted for publication.