About Art on Gourds

I was introduced to working with gourds while living in Southern California, close to the Welburn Gourd Farm, one of the major suppliers of quality gourds for crafting purposes.

From the beginning I was intrigued and fascinated by gourds. They are one of the earliest plant species domesticated by man and to this date are used in a variety of settings from simple containers to complex musical instruments and as masks or sculptures with ceremonial significance. Gourds are one of the earliest canvasses used by humans to express their creativity.

Gourds are smooth to the touch an light, but at the same time strong and durable. They come in all shapes and sizes, slightly asymmetrical, but always prefect in nature’s way. The smoothness and the naturally occurring blemishes on the surface lend themselves to be enhanced by embellishments that let the gourd shine through with out completely covering it up.

I use a wood burner or carving tool to outline my designs. Oil paints are applied and then rubbed off until I achieve the desired transparency. Smaller color accents are done with acrylic paints. I finish my gourds with a coat of varnich, however, they are not water tight.

I find modern abstract art as inspiring as the quilts of Gee's Bend, the expressive tribal art of Africa, American pottery of the Southwest or Australian Aboriginal art. The possibilities are as endless as the shapes of gourds and I delight in bringing them together.