by Jo Barnes | photos by Leah Gray –
For most of us, a big spoon and a kitchen knife are all we’ve ever used to unleash our artistic side when we create our annual Halloween Jack-o’-lanterns. But one local artist’s tools of choice in gourd art include a jigsaw, drill and wood burner!
The pumpkin and gourd may come from the same family of fruits, but while the pumpkin can be readily carved with an ordinary kitchen knife, the type of gourds Raven Wyntre-Clarkson uses to create art require more sophisticated tools and techniques to shape their tough woody surface. “There is a lot of work and preparation involved in gourd art,” shares Raven. “To begin with, I cut it using a crafting jigsaw which you can hold in your hand. The gourd is a good one or two inches in thickness, and it can be tough to cut through this.”
Since stumbling upon this unusual art medium 20 years ago, Raven has been exploring and enjoying this creative activity. “I met this woman who had gone to a gourd workshop in Arizona and wanted to teach classes in it. She was looking for people to take her class and give her feedback. That’s how I got involved,” relates Raven.
Initial work with the gourd brought new discoveries about the variety of artistic options possible. “I took a course and ordered some small gourds,” says Raven. “I found out that what you can do with wood, you can do with gourds. You can carve, wood burn and paint them. It’s endless.”
The gourds are sourced from Welburn Gourd Farm, in Fallbrook California, the largest organic grower in the world and also the foremost source for gourd tools and supplies. Gourds come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colours and markings; each has its own unique appearance. As its hard exterior shell dries out, the moisture inside the gourd slowly escapes through the shell and the stem. Eventually, the insides become completely dry and the outer shell in turn hardens. Nature itself can lend a hand in contributing to the artistic appearance of a gourd with the introduction of something as common as the mould that appears on the outside. “The mould on the gourd comes from the liquid that seeps out on the skin as it dehydrates on the vine,” comments Raven. “The mould will be a unique pattern on the gourd.”
The gourds are unopened when they arrive, so the first steps involve cleaning and preparing them. Raven describes some of this process: “Cleaning gourds is a lot of work; it is very time consuming. I use a drill that has a round ball shape to help me get a smooth surface inside the gourd. I wear a mask because of the fine particles of dust that all this generates.”
The next step is deciding what direction to go with the project in terms of techniques and the final look of the piece. “I think a lot about what I can do with each gourd,” shares Raven. “Do I want to keep the lid on or off? What kind of patterns do I want? Do I want to carve, wood burn, or just paint the gourd?”
Sometimes it’s a combination of all these techniques. Raven’s Christmas gourd angels are a great example. “The angels are all wood burned,” explains Raven. “I bore holes and attach wire for their wings, use tiny brushes to paint them, apply a heat tool to set the paint, and finally spray them at the end.”
The work is challenging, requiring attention to precision and safety. “I use the Razertip wood burning tool,” says Raven. “It gets very hot, so you need to be very careful.”
Over the years, Raven has created a variety of items including bowls, earrings, figurines, lamps and luminaries which are bowls in which you put LED lights. Raven participated in the Coast Collective exhibits as part of the Arts and Culture Colwood Society, and over the last few years, the annual First Chance Christmas Show and Last Chance Christmas Show at Mary Winspear Centre. The positive feedback from others has been both motivating and gratifying. “I like to create something that brings people joy,” shares Raven. “One woman was so moved and said that the gourds reminded her of her homeland.”
It takes time and tenacity, but the result is rewarding both artistically and personally. “Each gourd piece represents me, my work, and also the gourd itself,” remarks Raven. “It is nature’s creation for which I have great respect.”
While we might enjoy Jack-o’-lanterns for a few days each Halloween before they make their way into our compost bins, the works of gourd art that Raven creates offer the joy of nature’s creation for many years to come.
For more information, visit www.gourdeouscreations.com.
