Although I have never described myself as an artist, I have been painting “still life” with
oils for over 30 years. While my husband and I transferred numerous times with our jobs,
I always took art classes in the various towns in which we lived. My plan was to devote
the rest of my life to creating beautiful oil paintings on canvas. Instead, I discovered
the world of gourd artistry in 2001 after moving to Zionsville, Indiana. I was captivated
by the creative versatility that the hard shell gourd offers as a canvas for the artist.
Since I am a Master Gardener, I enjoy growing a different hard shell gourd variety each
year from seed. I delight in turning this ancient product of nature into a work of art. I
use many different techniques and I am constantly experimenting with different art
media. I use oils, acrylics, leather dyes, pen and ink, wood burning (pyrography),
carving, and inlay.
It takes a full year from the time I plant the fledgling gourd plant in my garden, to the
time the gourd fruit can be harvested in the fall and left to cure and dry.
My rule of thumb is "this year's harvest is next year's art".
oils for over 30 years. While my husband and I transferred numerous times with our jobs,
I always took art classes in the various towns in which we lived. My plan was to devote
the rest of my life to creating beautiful oil paintings on canvas. Instead, I discovered
the world of gourd artistry in 2001 after moving to Zionsville, Indiana. I was captivated
by the creative versatility that the hard shell gourd offers as a canvas for the artist.
Since I am a Master Gardener, I enjoy growing a different hard shell gourd variety each
year from seed. I delight in turning this ancient product of nature into a work of art. I
use many different techniques and I am constantly experimenting with different art
media. I use oils, acrylics, leather dyes, pen and ink, wood burning (pyrography),
carving, and inlay.
It takes a full year from the time I plant the fledgling gourd plant in my garden, to the
time the gourd fruit can be harvested in the fall and left to cure and dry.
My rule of thumb is "this year's harvest is next year's art".
Pat Buedel
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