New gourd burnings

Pyrographer · #1 06-05-2008, 09:49 AM

I haven't posted anything in some time partially due to my fractured wrist but I've been asked to post some of my gourds which is all I've been able to do right now. I will be working on a burl next but probably not until after my last class before summer. There's only one view of each but it will give you an idea of what I did.

The gourd egg has a kitten on the back and the ribbon winds around it. It was burned and decorated with heavy-weight acrylic paint. It was both fun and a challenge working with such a small round object. I have a bunch of them so I'm going to be doing a lot of experimenting on them.

The petroglyph gourd was a bottle gourd that I cut the top off. It was burned with no color added. I drilled holes and wrapped deerskin around it and laced it with suede lace and then added pony beads which are the beads most commonly used by native americans. The design was inspired by recent visits to El Morro and the Petroglyph National Monuments using some of the symbols found there with some "personal" touches. My neighbor gave me the leather and beads to experiment with and it was fun working with it. I had some leather lacing left from my leather tooling days so

The southwest gourd says it was done in 2006 but my brain was in overload and put a 6 instead of an 8. It was my first gourd since moving back to New Mexico. It was a small bottle gourd cut open and it was a challenge to carve the steps on such a small gourd but I'm pleased with the results. Again this was an experiment. I used some mimbres designs and my favorite thing....feathers. It was burned and colored with the heavy-weight acrylic paints.

As you can see I love being back in New Mexico. I'm even growing my own gourds so hopefully I'll be burning a lot more gourds next year.

Nedra

Ron T · #2 06-10-2008, 12:39 AM

Hello Nedra,

Your work is as varied as they are beautiful. I've seen many of your pieces in books and magazines and have always appreciated seeing them.

I'm primarily a stick carver but I've recently got a burner and have started practicing by adding burning to my sticks. I just posted a stick topper in the "sticks and canes" forum that has some burning on it. Not much.

Thanks for sharing.

chpster90bu · #3 06-15-2008, 10:20 PM

Nedra.... this is the first I saw this post....I have to agree with Ron, you have a variety of talents and these gourds are beautifully done....quite an impact on the eye. I always enjoy seeing anything and everything you do. How IS the wrist these days?? Bonnie

Pyrographer · #4 06-16-2008, 09:44 AM

Hi Bonnie, thanks, I've been doing more gourds lately and just finished another one and finishing up one. One has no burning on it and the other mostly just to outline so the paint won't bleed.

I'm really enjoying gourds and I'm now growing them so I am excited about all the possibilities...assuming I get some gourds from my plants.

For now I'm buying them and thank god we have many local growers but I will have to buy some thick ones from Welburn because I want to do some carving on them.

I have worked on gourds off and on for many years but just never had the time to really get into it other than burning and painting. Now that I'm retired and finishing up my LAST book I'm having a bit more time so I'm doing a lot of experimentation and spending lots of money on supplies

. Woodburning is certainly a lot cheaper than working on gourds. So many accessories, paints, dies, beads, etc that you need working on gourds but it certainly does give you lots of opportunities to be creative and experiment. Maybe I'll finally get to use my power carver that I bought years ago and when the wrist is up to it I might do some chip carving on them.

The wrist IS doing better. Cast and splint are gone but it's still tender. Turns out I fractured both bones which explains why I am having some pain when I turn my wrist or try to lift anything too heavy (like my shelties). Oh well, as my mother used to say....this too shall pass.

It gets better every day.

Nedra

Kenny_S · #5 06-16-2008, 10:44 AM

Let me say that pictures do not do Nedra's burnings justice. They are beautiful in deed but in person, viewing Nedra's work, they are Beeeeeeeautiful.

Nedra, The little bride has made all of the Tagua nut slices she got from you at the Wichita Carving show in to necklesses and has used scrapbooking ink to dye the the slices and I drilled little holes in the tops for them to hang. Will post pictures later. Thanks for keeping her out of my hair.LOL, Well, what's left of it.

Pyrographer · #6 06-16-2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny_S

Let me say that pictures do not do Nedra's burnings justice. They are beautiful in deed but in person, viewing Nedra's work, they are Beeeeeeeautiful.

Nedra, The little bride has made all of the Tagua nut slices she got from you at the Wichita Carving show in to necklesses and has used scrapbooking ink to dye the the slices and I drilled little holes in the tops for them to hang. Will post pictures later. Thanks for keeping her out of my hair.LOL, Well, what's left of it.

Hi Kenny, I'm so glad that both of you are enjoying her new hobby. I would love to see what she is doing with them.

Nedra

Fred Zavadil · #7 06-16-2008, 02:31 PM

Nedra,
These are just beautiful.
Fred

MelNM · #8 06-16-2008, 07:33 PM

Welcome back to New Mexico, no one can stay away from the Land of Enchantment forever.

Really like the gourds do, they are nicely done.
Mel

Pyrographer · #9 06-18-2008, 08:43 AM

Thanks Mel, I just love it here. I fell in love when I lived here before. It just gets in your blood. I'm really finding that it is influencing my art but I guess that's one of the reasons I'm back here.

Last week we went to Blue Water Lake state park and went to Chaco Canyon to see the ruins, etc and then to El Malpais. What a wonderful experience. We continue to plan trips to explore this great state and it's culture and each trip gives me new ideas.

Nedra

Lindy · #10 06-21-2008, 01:18 AM

Hi Nedra,

Very nice - I have to admit that gourds are very interesting and once we're settled in BC (3 more weeks to go) I want to try some. I'm hoping to be able to grow some there since we're a zone 8 for gardening.

I hope your wrist continues to heal - I so understand what you're going through although fortunately I don't need my foot to burn

Lindy