X4!
This is anything BUT a card today. If you can’t tell, this is actually a gourd that I carved, painted & varnished. For the Inspiration Challenge IC1046, we are visiting Lucuma Gallery & their Pinterest Boards. Since they are all about gourds, I had to use this one. It reminded me of so many but THIS one in particular. Â I made several of these & two I still have but I am unable to locate the other one. These were all different & the third one was gifted to a relative. Since it is a round, 3D object, it’s a little trickier to photograph. This is one view showing a pair of cardinals. To make this, I penciled in the scene, then used a Dremmel tool to carve the lines. The lines were accented with black then the insides were painted. Apparently, the paint I used was a little fugitive as they have faded a bit, even with the varnish coating.
Another side showing a single cardinal & a cherry blossom branch. I will mention, carving a round, slightly slick surface is a bit tricky, even with the Dremmel.
Third side with a hummingbird. I also would like to mention that the gourd was thoroughly washed & scrubbed, then allowed to dry before I started.
Top view with wisteria surrounding the stem. After I finished drawing the wisteria, I cut it open & cleaned out the inside. Then the carving, painting & coating took place. Since the top is cut around the wisteria, it only goes back on in the corresponding spot.
This is a view with the top off. I padded the inside a bit & covered it with fabric. Next time, I’ll be sure to use better paint so it won’t fade. The gourd is about 6 inches high & 7 inches across at the widest point.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
What an extraordinary piece. The details are exquisite, and the inside is every bit as beautiful as the outside. You put a lot of time into this, and the result is truly worth it.