Turlock resident Paulo Machado says he always liked art and creative projects, but until last Halloween he never really explored his potential.
Last Halloween Machado began exploring online about how to preserve pumpkins for his own family and discovered videos about pumpkin carving — then something just clicked.
Recently he decided to make a video of himself carving his pumpkin and he posted it on YouTube Sept. 24. The video, titled “Having fun with 3-D Pumpkin Carving – Halloween 2014” (shown below) has nearly 10,000 views as of Oct. 21.
At 38 years old, Machado works for Cemex, the world’s third largest cement company, and he just discovered a talent he didn’t know he had.
“I really didn’t know I had it in me,” he said. “At my work, as the economy slows down I work less. Last year around this time, the economy slowed down and I was kind of stressed out. Then I started carving pumpkins and it’s the most relaxing thing I could do. I really feel comfortable doing it and I kind of lose myself in it.”
Machado says he approaches his pumpkin carving prowess unplanned and the size and shape of pumpkin directs his imagination and his hands do the rest with a clay carving tool and a knife.
As father of four kids, ages 2, 4, 6, and 15, he will undoubtedly have many, many pumpkins to carve in the coming years. Of course his kids' pumpkins will be done first, ahead of the massive number of orders he will probably receive.
“My kids are my biggest fans, they love it,” he said.
This Halloween Machado is essentially booked with orders. He hopes to start classes for other aspiring pumpkin carvers.
Video Courtesy of Paulo Machado
