Groveland Twp.- Ortonville resident Pat Harrison is an artist with unusual media.
Harrison, 42, a graphic designer has been carving pumpkins for about 10 years and for the past five years has offered his creations for public display. ‘It’s just a hobby for me,? said Harrison. ‘I do the carving in a creative way, it’s like doodling.? Using an X-Acto knife and other tools Harrison says he tries to keep his creations whimsical such as animals or cartoon faces. He avoids carving celebrity faces although he admits a recent carving resembled Vice President Richard Cheney. ‘I didn’t intend that to end up looking like Cheney, but I carved it during the vice presidential debate,? he said.
Harrison seeks odd-shaped pumpkins including a 110-pound pumpkin resulting in a gorilla face. He even carves watermelon when pumpkins are not available.
For the past two years Harrison has taken his carvings to Genesys Regional Medical Center’Health Park in Grand Blanc pediatrics floor. ‘It really lights the kids in the hospital’s face up when they see these carvings.?