By Kate Bartlett
Olean native Eric Jones is a nationally recognized sculpting artist and most-booked caricature artist in upstate New York. He is a Food Network Champion for his pumpkin carving skills on Halloween Wars and Outrageous Pumpkins, and has sculpted various snow and sand artwork for the Buffalo Bills, his non-profit Sculpting for Smiles LLC, and many businesses in the WNY region and beyond.
Eric is collaborating with Pumpkinville again this year to provide live pumpkin carving demonstrations every Sunday from 1pm-close starting September 28 until Halloween. This experience is included with admission, and offers the incredible opportunity to watch a live, professional carving demonstration. Eric loves getting the crowd involved, and will be allowing guests to carve along with him, offering guidance and tips along the way. “I especially love getting the kids involved,” says Eric. “I love helping them, teaching them skills and creating a unique piece of pumpkin art.” (Best for ages 9+ or with adult assistance).
Eric will also be offering a more intimate pumpkin carving class at Ellicottville Brewing Company Little Valley on Thursday, October 23 at 6:30pm. Guests will be guided through pumpkin carving, all materials provided, food and drink available for purchase at the venue. Tickets for this event are $40 and available on Eventbrite.
Eric enjoys engaging with the public, keeping his classes fun and interesting. “People love the experience; watching a pumpkin turn into an intricate 3D work of art before their eyes,” explains Eric. “It’s much different than on television, to watch it evolve from a pumpkin to a sculpture. I love watching their reactions.”
As an artist, Eric has always thrived by challenging himself, so he began to explore different mediums and creative outlets. He began carving faces in pumpkins, and his friend encouraged him to enter the Food Networks Halloween Wars. In 2020, Eric won Halloween Wars with his unique pumpkin carving creations, and he went on to compete on the Food Networks’ Outrageous Pumpkins in 2022, which he also won first place. Eric was also featured on the All-Stars Halloween Wars on the Food Network last season.
Eric enjoys creating from materials that were never intended to be an art form. While exploring different mediums, he began creating snow sculptures and became well-known for his Buffalo Bills creations. His giant sculpture of Stefan Digs and Josh Allen went viral in 2022, and he has created many others since. “We have an abundance of snow in this area, so I’m rarely at a loss for material during the winter months,” laughs Eric. During the summer, he began creating sand sculptures, his most difficult material to work with. “I enjoy challenging myself; the sand can be difficult to work with but it pushes me as an artist.” In 2023, Eric became the Guinness World Record holder for carving the world’s largest jack o’ lantern. He currently has a 1,000-pound pumpkin to create with, plans to be announced.
Eric prefers that his creations are not permanent; they’re temporary. The snow melts, pumpkins rot and sand falls away, leaving only the memory of his art. “I prefer my art to be impermanent. I’m mostly interested in the process, not the product. It’s also a driving factor for my fundraising efforts; there’s a sense of urgency for my creations for various causes.”
Wanting to give back to the community, Eric founded Sculpting for Smiles, a 503cB non-profit that helps children and their families affected by serious medical conditions. Eric meets with these families and listens to what passions the children have, finds out what they love, then carves a unique sculpture in hopes of bringing a smile. “It’s a small gesture, but it’s something I can do for these kids and their families. I love involving the kids and families in the process. We plan what and where (home, school, hospital, etc.) the sculpture will be together. The kids and family come out at watch its creation, take pictures, then destroy it if they want to. Whatever they want- it’s for them!”
Eric has also increased awareness of certain medial conditions by posting these creations on his social media platforms, inspiring other agencies to donate. He has also collaborated with Hope Rise Pink Pumpkin Project and others to raise funds in the community. He frequently works in the community at charity events raising awareness and providing entertainment at various functions.
While Eric has been approached to travel and create art in various cities, he has no plans to leave the area. “Western New York is my home, and I plan to stay here as long as I’m welcome! This is my town, my team, and these are my people. I love it here and my roots are firmly planted in WNY. Plus, we get lots of snow, so I’m never at a loss for sculpting material.”
For more information visit https://www.ericjonesstudios.com/, follow on social media or email info@ericjonesstudios.com. Visit Pumpkinville any Sunday from September 28 through Halloween, experience included with admission at https://pumpkinville.com/. Tickets for EBC Little Valley available on Eventbrite.