This shows a step by step progression of one of my gourds.
Step 1: After cleaning the gourd thoughly, I like to color the inside of my gourds using spraypaint. Any cutouts such as the arrows shown above are done before painting the inside. I use a mini sized jigsaw and it has made cutting out complicated areas a breeze! I usually spray paint the inside of my gourd with black enamel.
Step 3: I finish the gourd by painting with acrylics (I do a lot of sponge painting) and spraying the completed gourd with a clear enamel spray.
The Finished Gourd - "Rain Spirits"
The gourd has been painted and sealed. Spray paint was used to get the airbrushed effect on the top rim. Sponge painting was used for the background. Acrylic paints were used for the design.
Awards for this gourd:
1st place in the 2nd annual "WWW Gourd Show" sponsored by the Gourd Artist's Guild Category: Advanced Mixed Media
1st place in the 2002 California Gourd Society Competition! Category: Advanced Mixed Media
It is also featured in the book:
"The Complete Book of Gourd Carving" by Jim Widess and Ginger Summit