Tutorial #1 -Artwork Steps for a Pyroengraved Gourd
Second step - initial burn is darkened adding details and clarity.
Third step - burned drawing is further detailed with stippling, shading, contouring, textures.
Fourth step - light base colors are added.
Fifth step - colors are enhanced in layers adding depth and detail.
Finally - the finishing work. Spray wood fixative or polyurethane is used, then lacing is added.
First step after the cleaning is complete. The initial drawing is done in pencil. and then lightly burned. Pencil lines are erased.
Whether burning the design or planning on painting a gourd, each starts with careful cleaning. The epidermis or skin is soaked and scraped off. The gourd's natural shape determines where it will be sawed open, and then the inside is cleaned out. Removing the dry membrane and seeds is followed by wire brushing and sanding the inside. Cleaning both the outer and inner surfaces is messy and labor intensive taking hours per gourd, depending its shape and size. The gourd is shaped or carved with handle for baskets, or cut-out sections. All my gourds have a couple of coats of dark paint added to the interior to seal the surface. If the gourd is to have lacing or weaving, the drilling is done before proceeding to the artwork.
Tutorials
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