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Just in case you are not familiar with gourds, let me explain to you a little bit about them.
Gourds are in the squash/pumpkin family. There are over 1,000 species including the loofa which produces the scrubbing material. Most common is the hardshell gourd which produces a smooth, creamy white to tan color outer shell. You also will see the ornamentals, which are usually seen during the autumn of the year with colors ranging from pale white to brilliant orange, yellow and golds. There are many different shapes of gourd which can be used for many, many objects - from decorative to functional.
When harvested, they are moldy and dirty and have to be washed and scraped to produce the beautiful outside shell. Some gourd artists will leave the mold marks on letting the gourd tell them how to decorate them.
The insides are full of pulp and seeds and have to be extracted then scraped and sanded. It is advisable for the artist to use a mask when working with gourds.
Gourds have been on earth for centuries and are used in many countries as food utensils, water carriers, lamps, baskets, etc. There are numerous ways a gourd can be used.
I prefer to use them as nature's canvas. If you will go to my galleries it will show you my creations.
I hope you enjoy your trip and my work.
