The Lookout
I have had a long time fascination with African wildlife, particularly the big cats. This gourd features two beautiful cheetahs looking out over the landscape. The scene on the opposite side is a herd of zebra resting in the shade of a tree. The two side landscape scenes are of a wildebeest migration, and giraffes at a watering hole.
The entire scene is produced by pyrography (burning) and a light touch of color added with colored pencil. The bottom border of the gourd is done with chip carving, and the top rim finished with long pine needles.
Measures 7 1/2" wide by 6 1/2" high.
This art is made from a real, natural gourd. Be sure to see the photo of a gourd growing in the garden before it is dried for artistic use. Once dried it will last as long as a piece of wood.
Care:
Please display away from direct sunlight. UV protectant sealer is applied to help prevent this, but it should be treated like any piece of valuable art. Not designed to hold water.
My process:
Each gourd is planned, researched, sketched, designed extensively before even beginning the piece.
To prepare, I clean and sand the gourd; the insides are coated with a protective layer of paint.
Then I freehand draw my original designs directly onto the gourd; then I use a woodburning pen to illustrate (pyrography) the image on the gourd.
I use mixed media to color the gourds.
For more information about the process of my art, visit this webpage.