Looking back at the story of my artistic journeys (which I have written about on my website), I can see where I have always been experimenting. What would happen if I did this? Or that? Polymer clay is the perfect medium for experimenting, and I fell in love with its brilliant colors. I covered almost everything in my house with it.
Then gourds came into my life.I just purchased a couple - intending to cover them with polymer clay, but my friend pointed out that they signaled a whole new phase in my art.
Here is the source of our mystery cover image. Click on the picture to see which section was actually used on our cover
I had a seen an image that really spoke to me - a perfect marriage of color and texture - and I wanted to do that on a gourd. For five months I searched the internet and art stores for something I could use, but kept coming up empty. I happened on the Cre8it website and saw references to Silk Colors. For some reason, though gourds are surely nothing like silk, I thought I might have found my answer. I called Jessica and explained to her what I was searching for. And in her sweet wonderful way, she said “what you need is - - -, and this will do it”. And so I say again and many times over, “Thank you for being kind, taking time with me, encouraging me - and all the time I was a complete stranger”. (And Cre8it doesn’t even sell anything used in this project!)
This article is the result of that phone call. I am just beginning this exploration, and I am sure some parts of this wheel have been invented before, but the process got me where I wanted to go - to find that perfect marriage of color and texture.
Cleaning Supplies:
Soap, water and a scrubbie to wash and get mold off the gourd.
Safety Equipment:
Dust mask or respirator, safety glasses, gloves (gourd dust should not be inhaled)
Cutting and Designing:
Exacto knife, small saw, and scrapers like a grapefruit spoon or seashell for removing the pulp.
Lining or Sealing the Inside (Optional):
Handmade paper and glue (my gourd was lined with mulberry paper and Sobo glue)
You could choose to paint or seal the inside with acrylic mediums.
Painting and Finishing:
Acrylic Gesso – any brand that gives good coverage
Absorbent Ground by Golden (available at fine art supply stores)
Silk Colors by Jacquard (all silk materials available online at www.dharmatrading.com)
Silk Salt by Jacquard
Silk Dye Preservative by Jacquard
Matte Varnish by Americana
Polyurethane Clear Satin Finish by Minwax
Salt, various types: table, sea, etc.
