How to Paint Over Varnished Gourds

Gourds can be carved, decorated and painted in a variety of ways.

Gourd painting has become a popular American folk art form, turning one of our natural resources into a canvas to display one's creative and artistic skills. Once dried, the gourds will last indefinitely as decorative art pieces. If you have a gourd that has already been varnished, the surface is not suitable for paint adhesion. Fortunately, with some preparation, you can make the gourd surface suitable for painting.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Dry towel
• Latex primer
• Paintbrush
• Latex paint

Instructions

1. Sand the entire varnished surface of the gourd with fine-grit sandpaper. This will scuff the surface. Sand until the shiny finish becomes matte in appearance.

2. Wipe away the dusty bits of varnish that came off of the gourd with a dry towel.

3. Use a paintbrush to apply two layers of latex primer to the gourd. Allow each coat to dry for one hour.

4. Apply a layer of latex paint in the color you want to use as a base. Allow it to dry for one hour.

5. Paint decorative designs or images on your gourd using different colors of latex paint. Allow the paint to dry for one hour before handling the gourd.