Gourd Artists' Guild Tutorial

Gourd Preparation for Acrylic Painting
by Jeanie Dixon

	Supply List
	Stainless Steel Scouring Pad Rubber gloves (optional) Tooth brush with firm bristles Liquid Dish Soap Bleach Towels (paper, shop or cloth) Wood Putty Sand Paper Hand drill 3/16 drill bit	Hole saw bit Wood dowel Wood Glue Q-tips Brown paper bag Gesso 1" sponge brush or a 1" brush made for acrylic paint Interior/Exterior Clear Acrylic Spray Sealer Camera

Wash: Soak the gourd in slightly warm soapy water. The warmth is for your comfort and the heat does not hurt the gourd. The longer the gourd soaks, the easier it will be to clean. On one occasion, I left gourds soaking for three hours. They were the easiest gourds I've ever cleaned. A good quality gourd can withstand a good soaking. If cracks or holes are found, I toss them out or use them as parts for other projects.
Stainless Steel Scrubber:This can be purchased in any household section of a grocery store. Scrub and remove all traces of mold and shiny skin from the gourd. If traces of skin are seen on the gourd after it has dried, dampen the SS scrubber, remove the skin that was missed, and wipe the residue off with a damp towel. If the skin is left on the gourd, it may cause lifting of your paint. The least it will do is make the final finish appear flawed even though the outside finish is intact.
Stems: Don't forget to remove the mold and grime from the stem and the stem area of the gourd. An old stiff toothbrush is excellent for getting into the small areas of the stem. A small pointed steak knife is also excellent for removing the really hard to clean areas.
Rinse: Make a 10% bleach rinse water bath for the gourds. The bleach helps to kill the mold spores on the gourd. I sometimes apply an additional small amount of bleach on the stem area of the gourd. This insures the mold hiding in the tiny crevices of the stem is killed. I used to soak and scrub gourds in a soap and bleach solution. The smell of the bleach would stay in my nose and mouth for hours after the cleaning. I now use a bleach rinse after the gourds are thoroughly washed.
Drying: Towel-dry the gourds and set them near a floor register for further drying. Wait at least 24 hours before painting on freshly washed gourds.
Dowel holes: Choose a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the dowel. The hole can be enlarged, if necessary, with a round file. Keep the hole as snug as possible for the dowel. Drill a hole, on each side about one inch down from the top of the gourd. Use a Q-tip to apply wood glue to the holes prior to inserting the dowel. You may apply additional wood glue around the dowel to ensure a good seal between the dowel and the gourd.
Drainage holes: Using a hand drill and a 3/16ths drill bit (or size of your choice), drill holes in the bottom of your birdhouse. Three or four holes, should provide adequate drainage, to keep the occupants dry on a rainy day.
Entry holes: Placement of the hole should be such that the baby birds cannot fall out of the nest. A hand drill, using a hole saw bit, is an excellent tool for cutting a nice round entry hole. If necessary, smooth the cut hole with sandpaper.
Smoothing the gourd surface:During the washing, you've removed most of the small bumps and scales on gourds with the stainless steel pad. You may now want to use sandpaper to smooth the gourd's surface even further. Insect holes or indentations on the gourd can be filled with wood putty, which is available in either powder or ready-mixed form. I prefer the ready-mixed; it saves time and I don't have to guess what consistency is needed for the putty. Use a damp paper towel to wipe off excess putty. Try to apply just a minimal amount of putty. You don't want to spend hours sanding off what you've put on the gourd!
Gesso: Gesso is a white matte primer used on surfaces where acrylic or oil colors will be applied. Gesso will not yellow or crack and is waterproof when dry. It provides a white painting surface which is nice when using pastel color paints or oils. Note: I have not always used gesso nor have I noticed any problems with not using gesso on my gourds. Apply gesso with a disposable sponge brush or a 1" brush made for acrylics. Apply thin even coats. Gesso can be thinned with a little water for easier application. To speed up the process of drying, use a hair dryer. Hold the hair dryer about 6 inches from the gourd surface. I select the high speed setting on the dryer. Dry the gourd until the damp shine disappears on the gesso. Take a piece of brown paper bag and lightly sand the gourd between each coat of gesso. I like the paper bag because it does not dig into the gesso. It provides a nice smooth base for your paint. Apply as many coats of gesso as needed to obtain a nice even white layer on the gourd.
Acrylic Paints:Which brand you use is personal preference. I have used Americana, Apple Barrel, Delta and Jo Sonja brand paints. I have also used acrylic spray paints as a base. It all depends on your project and your preference in paint's texture.
When painting your design, apply the paint in thin layers. This prevents the rubbery look that acrylics develop when applied too heavily. It may take longer to create your art piece but the look is nicer in appearance.
Sign: Don't forget to sign and date each piece of your work!
Sealing: Set the gourd aside for 24 hours before sealing your gourd. Use an interior/exterior, clear acrylic spray. The clear finish comes in a matte or gloss finish. Flowchart Americana and Krylon are two sealers that I have used. If you have applied ink lining on your gourd creation, use a couple of light coats of matte acrylic spray prior to applying a gloss spray finish. Gloss acrylic sprays cause ink to run and smear. Again, several light coats will give a nicer finish than a few heavy coats. Heavy coats of an acrylic sealer may form runs or drips on your hours of hard work.
Camera: Take pictures of all your work. You will be amazed at the nice portfolio you have developed over a short period of time! Happy Creating!