Rocklin-based artist Carin Brooks has been creating gourd art since 2007. “All my life I’ve worked with different forms of art, including painting, stained glass, and, briefly, silver jewelry. I saw a gourd class advertised at the local art store and decided to give it a try. I was hooked.”
Each of her designs is as unique as the gourds they’re created on—from spring flowers and fall leaves, to hummingbirds, horses, and themed gourds for Halloween and Christmas. She was even commissioned to create a music-themed gourd, which features a piano, a guitar, and music notes. Brooks’ gourds are available at For the Love of Art Gallery in Auburn, which opened in March and is “an absolute blessing to be a part of,” Brooks says.

 

What do you enjoy about creating gourd art?
It’s meditative to work on a gourd and watch it become a piece of art. Oftentimes, the result is totally different from what I first started out creating.

Where do you find your inspiration?
It can be a picture, something in nature, or a piece of fabric; sometimes it just comes to me while working on a gourd.

What tools do you use?
For carving, a Dremel (rotary tool) and a variety of special bits—a mini jigsaw for cutting, a burn tool for pyrography, a heat gun to set the inks, and a drill for holes, among other things.

Tell me about your process.
First, I draw on the gourd with a pencil. Then I outline the drawing with a burning tool, clean the gourd, and apply the ink and varnish. After, I do the carving and the cutting. Finally, I varnish everything again.

 

Where do you get your gourds?
For the last few years, I’ve been ordering them from Southern California. Bottle- and pear-shaped gourds are my favorite. When I lived in Nevada City, I grew my own. You have to leave them on the vine until the vine dies, so the gourds dry properly. It can take six months for them to dry from the inside out.

How long does it take you to complete a piece?
It varies greatly, depending on size, carving, cutting, pyrography, and design, but anywhere from eight to 50 hours. I usually work on four pieces at a time, all in different phases of development, so as not to rush any part of the process.

What are some of the challenges in creating gourd art?
It’s a lot of work to clean out the inside of a gourd. I used to scrape it by hand, but it can take hours. Now I use special bits on my drill to loosen everything up or order pre-cleaned gourds; they cost more, but it’s worth it. Also, the shell is very hard and can be three-quarters of an inch thick, but I prefer that for carving, because it gives me a lot more to work with. I love to do the carving and with a thick shell, I can layer a deep carving. When cutting and carving shapes, I have to keep the integrity of the gourd in mind so it doesn’t break. I do all my carving outside because it’s messy, which is challenging in hot weather. Creating gourd art is a lot of work. You have to really enjoy it.

 

Are your gourds ever intended to hold things or serve a purpose other than decoration?
You can’t put liquids in them; some people try to seal them, but I don’t recommend it. The gourd is porous and could absorb the liquid, which would ruin it. I’ve made many bowls to hold dry items as well as breadbaskets. I’ve also created several thunder gourds (drums made of gourds with a spring attached to the drumhead). When you shake it, it sounds just like thunder.
 
What is the best compliment you can get about your art?
When someone asks me to create a special gourd for them and they’re excited about the result. Many customers have ordered additional pieces on commission.

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