Gourd PyrographyGourd pyrography is a fancy phrase for the folk art of using heat to carve and scorch gourds. These beautiful objects are found in Nigeria, Kenya, Mali, Ghana, Senegal, China, Peru, Mexico, New Guinea, and the South Pacific. Early methods, involving fire and burning coals, have been superseded by modern tools and solid-state wood-burning systems. Here, four artists walk us through several projects using basic techniques, applying butterfly, floral, and geometric designs to pear-shaped gourds. Another project features a frog among blades of grass, surrounded by a salamander border. With pyrography pen charts, a list of supply sources, and a stunning gallery of works by 50 artists, this work-the author's third on gourd craft-is recommended for large art instruction and craft collection. |
