Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aaron Reimschiissel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Aaron, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I never really set out to be a professional artist, especially not a pumpkin carver! For years, I just loved the process of carving for parties and small community gatherings. Then, a conversation at one of those small events changed things. Someone started talking about giant pumpkins, a world I didn’t even know existed. They were with the Utah Giant Pumpkin Growers Association, and offered me an opportunity to carve one of their giant pumpkins.

To be honest, the thought of tackling something so immense was incredibly intimidating, and it took me a year to even consider it. But once I accepted my first giant pumpkin project, it came together. That’s when I realized it wasn’t a hobby anymore; it was a unique path I was now on, creating art professionally with a pumpkins — even giant ones.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For those I haven’t had the pleasure of introducing myself to yet, I’m Aaron Reimschiissel, also known on social media as The Carving Chizel. I’m a professional artist known primarily for my unique pumpkin carving, especially on a large scale. My journey into this unconventional art form is rooted in my childhood; my mom, a versatile artist, fostered my love for creating, and my dad, a hobby blacksmith, taught me how to transform something rigid into something beautiful and useful, a skill that serves me incredibly well today.

My hobby of carving pumpkins evolved into a full-time passion, and today I transform pumpkins weighing hundreds to over 1,500 pounds into ephemeral works of art, providing a unique artistic experience for seasonal events and corporate displays, creating memorable and visual focal points that leave a lasting impression for clients like Built Bar, Pumpkin Nights, Cornbelly’s, Ivory Homes, and Adobe.

In addition to some of these events some highlights for me have been seeing my work featured on Jimmy Fallon, NPR Utah, Studio 5, Disney’s ‘Foodtastic’ (Season 1, Episode 6), and winning on ‘Halloween Wars’ (Season 13). My goal is always to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, and I hope you enjoy what I create!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think one of the biggest things non-creatives often struggle to understand about my journey, particularly with pumpkin carving, is the temporary nature of the art itself. People will ask, ‘Why spend so much time and effort on something that’s just going to rot?’ It’s a fair question, but it misses the point of many impactful experiences in life.

My answer is that it’s a lot like a wonderful vacation. You spend significant time and resources experiencing a trip that only lasts a short time. Yet, no one questions the value of that vacation, because the memories and the photographs last a lifetime.

My pumpkin carvings are similar. While the pumpkin itself doesn’t last long, the impact and the joy it brings people in that moment, along with the photos and videos of it do last. These images get shared, they inspire, and they become part of people’s seasonal traditions. It’s about creating an experience that resonates, leaving behind not just a sculpture, but a feeling and a lasting impact. It’s not important that a pumpkin or a vacation last forever, it’s that we get to have the experience. That’s why I do what I do.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

For me, resilience isn’t just one story; it’s part of every single project I undertake, every giant pumpkin I attempt to conquer with creativity. I often find myself running into challenges staring at a half-finished gourd, feeling tired, seeing that what’s emerging isn’t quite matching the vision in my head and wondering how I can pull it off.

But quitting simply isn’t an option. Before I even start, the growers put countless hours, nurturing and tending to these giants, to reach such immense sizes. When I step up to one of these magnificent pumpkins, often at a live event with hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of people watching, I carry that responsibility. I can’t just walk away. I have to push forward.

That’s where the resilience kicks in. It’s about finding a way to make it work, adapting to the pumpkin’s unique shape and imperfections, and trusting that if I keep going, it will come together, even if it takes an unexpected turn. Each finished pumpkin stands as a testament to that continuous push, that commitment to see the creative vision through.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarvingchizel
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thecarvingchizel