Saturday, October 13, 2012

How To Create Your Own Gourd Art Designs

By Carmella Rolls


The making of gourd artwork is an immensely rewarding and potentially lucrative craft. It is possible to make a wide range of gourd art designs for many different uses, both functional and aesthetic. But, in order to become a successful artist, there are a few things you need to do to get started. Here are some crafting tips.

A well-made piece is reliant, of course, on a top quality gourd. Look for items that are symmetrical, with smooth outer surfaces and thick skins. Avoid those with too many imperfections.

It is possible to order your item from the internet. Specialized gourd farms tend to have websites from which you can place orders. You can also order over the phone. However, it is much more economical to go to the farm in person and select your material first-hand.

Start your project with a good clean. Gourds should be soaked in water for 10 to 20 minutes, and then scoured. Ensure that the piece stays submerged in the water by weighing it down. Experts recommend the use of a heavily soaked towel or cloth. Note that thinner pieces, or ones with cracks and damages, tend to break in the water and therefore should sit for too long.

Remove it from the water, and then give it a thorough scrub. The best tool to use for this procedure is a wire scourer or mesh. This will adequately remove all flakes of loose plant tissue and impacted dirt, without any damage.

Then, it's time to cut. Choosing the right cutting instrument is a tricky process. Some artists have had success with small saw blade attachments on multi-purpose knives. Others prefer more specialized equipment, like professional sculpting mini-saws. Before cutting, take care to cover the mouth and nose so as to avoid any irritation from dust and dirt. For more accurate cutting, trace the desire design onto the item with a pencil and template.

Once you have opened it, clean out all dried seeds and tissue. This can be done with a hand-scraping device, or simple sandpaper. Polish the piece with good-quality shoe polish, leather dye or wood finishing.

For colouring, many professionals use specialized ink for wood. This has proven to be more durable than other colorings, and is also very quick to dry. However, acrylic paints can also work well. If you wish to create woodburn designs on the piece, use a professional woodburner. This equipment goes for about 25 dollars.

If you follow these insider tips, you will be able to create effortless gourd art designs in no time. The make for gorgeous gifts as jewelery containers and bread boxes. They can also function as beautiful artworks on their own.




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