How to Paint a Person on a Gourd

Gourds come in all shapes and sizes and provide useful sculptures on which to depict paintings of people.

Gourds come from the same family as the squash and pumpkin. A dried gourd provides crafters and painters an opportunity to work with uncommon media. There are three main types of gourds: cucurbita, lagenaria and luffas, and the lagenaria, or hardshell, gourd is most often used for crafting, according to the American Gourd Society. Painting people, scenery and animals increases the aesthetic look of gourd decorative crafts.

Things You'll Need

• Dried Lagenaria or Hardshell gourd
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Water
• Sealant
• Transfer paper
• Towels
• Steel wool
• Old magazines
• Pencil
• Palate

Instructions

1. Prepare the craft surface. Pick a large area to work and place newsprint or plastic sheeting down to protect the surface area. Set up a shallow bowl with water to rinse brushes. Copy a template of a person from a magazine or hand draw one on transfer paper.

2. Select a gourd. A gourd with a smooth skin works the best for painting and decorating. Avoid gourds with knobs and bumps. The shape of the gourd should mimic a human figure. Try to choose one with a head and body features. Wash the gourd with a wash cloth and scrub with steel wool to remove dirt and excess skin. Dry gourd thoroughly.

3. Transfer image on the gourd and paint it all over in a solid color. Artist Melynda Lotven, in her book "Beyond the Basics: Gourd Art," starts her craft with a chef character. She begins by painting the entire gourd white. The color of the chef's clothing is white, making it convenient to add details. Choose a color that will predominate in the character's clothing, or a light color that is easy to paint over and add details to.

4. Add features to the painted character. Paint hair eyes, buttons, shoes and other defining features to complete the person. Allow paint to dry between layers. Mix acrylic paints in a shallow dish or paint palate before applying to the gourd. Let paint dry.

5. Apply a sealant to the gourd. Find a sealant that will block out UV rays, which protects the paint from aging. Spray in a well-ventilated area and let dry. A couple of coats of sealant works the best to thoroughly cover the gourd.

Tips & Warnings

• Use spray paint as another medium when decorating gourds.

• Wear a painter's smock or old clothing when working with liquid mediums to protect the skin.

References

• American Gourd Society: How to Paint on a Gourd: Aurelia Conway
• Make Play Doug: Homemade Recipes for Fun: How to Paint Gourds
• American Gourd Society: What Are Gourds?
• "Beyond the Basics: Gourd Art": David Macfarlane: 2008