MaryHegarty Designs Gourd Art

I am a decorative painter; all of my pieces are designed and painted by me. I enjoy working with natural materials and since discovering gourds many years ago, have chosen them as my primary medium. Hard shell Gourds are from the same family as pumpkin and squash, but are grown and dried primarily for their utilitarian and ornamental use. Gourds are the oldest crop to be domesticated by humans; they have been grown for more than 10,000 years. They can be carved and cut, very much like wood, and share many of it’s  other properties of durability. When cared for properly, they will last forever. The gourds that I use are dried and cleaned and primed with a shellac prior to painting. I use acrylic paint, and protect each piece with a non toxic durable acrylic varnish. They should not be used for food storage or consumption.