By Kate Bartlett
Local artist and nationally awarded sculptor scheduled to give classes at Pumpkinville just outside of Ellicottville throughout this season.
Olean native Eric Jones is a nationally recognized sculpting artist and most-booked caricature artist in upstate New York. In his 21 years as a professional, he has drawn over 300,000 people at live events, and more than 100,000 digitally from photos. He is the 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 local businesses.
Eric has been an artist for as long as he can remember. “I have memories of sculpting and sketching from as young as 3 or 4 years old,” recalls Eric. “I just thought it was something everybody did. It wasn’t until I grew older that I realized I was any good at it.” Eric studied art at Alfred University and then began a career as a caricature artist for many years. “I’ve attended so many festivals and live drawing events and I’ve loved every minute of it,” says Eric. “I love the improv and making people smile with my art.”
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. “It was the most exhilarating experience in my professional career,” recalls Eric. “Absolutely nothing compares to the opportunity to compete alongside some of the best in the business. I work best under pressure, so I thrive in this type of environment. It pushed my limits and made me become a better artist. The adrenaline and energy were incredible.” Eric is currently featured on the All-Stars Halloween Wars, which airs on Sunday evenings on the Food Network.
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.
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.” Eric has also increased awareness of certain medical 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.
This season, Eric will be offering pumpkin carving classes and demonstrations at Pumpkinville in Great Valley, just outside of Ellicottville. Guided by Eric, guests will work at their own pace to create their own pumpkin sculpture during these fun, engaging classes. “These classes are going to be a blast,” Eric says. “I love teaching kids and adults, helping them create something unique. It’s also a lot of fun. I love interacting with everyone and sharing my awesome Dad jokes.” He’ll also be offering pumpkin carving demonstrations on certain dates, when guests are invited to watch as he creates unique intricate pumpkin creations live on site.
Eric is inspired by his inability to be complacent with his work. “I’m driven to constantly be better. I’m always looking for the next step to improve. I get bored when I’m not challenged so I’m always looking to push the limits and evolve as an artist. I’m always studying those who are better than me for inspiration and ways to improve.”
Looking towards the next season, Eric is planning to increase the scale of his snow sculptures, making them even bigger and better than last year. He is continuing to offer various sculpting classes and working with the community to fundraise and support those in need.
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.”
For more information visit https://www.ericjonesstudios.com/, follow on social media or email info@ericjonesstudios.com. Pumpkinville classes are still available at https://pumpkinville.com/.