Beth Kane, A Gourd Master, when using the Simple Taper Burr, will show you how to master this critical carving bit in a video. And I will add some tips and tool resources along the way.
Beth Kane, a gourd artist, is known for her exquisite work in carving and pyrography. Her designs, which often feature flowing patterns and natural images, evoke a sense of movement and beauty that is truly captivating.
Beth Kane lives in New Jersey with her husband and rescued animals, where she derives inspiration from the dynamic river and countryside just outside her home studio.
Falling for the Allure of the Gourd
Initially interested in both ceramics and surface design, Beth continually found gourd art appearing on her social media feed, so she undertook the challenge of teaching herself to master this fascinating art form. She now exhibits her work both locally and nationally, inspiring ecological conservation and human creativity.
Find the Right Gourd
When Beth first picks up a gourd, she sees it as a canvas for her creativity. Where on the gourd will she remove the surface to encourage light to pour into and through it in a way that helps us to see it differently? The same way a sculptor might look at clay or stone.
Her “chisel” is a high-speed rotary tool with variable speed and multiple accessories and attachments. There are many brands in the Micro Carver category. They are specifically designed for power carving at various angles in tight spaces. Gourd artists like to use this tool or a Dremel. There are many bits and burrs for each, plus other tools like files, sandpapers, and a wood-burning pen that are used to create designs.
Gourd Carving Can be Dangerous to your Health.
The dust produced during gourd carving can be toxic if inhaled, leading to respiratory issues. It’s essential to take safety precautions to protect your health.
When caring for a gourd, safety is a top priority due to the toxic dust. Therefore, it’s crucial to invest in a respiratory mask, a fan for venting when working inside, and perhaps fingerless gloves to help control the movement of the carver. These precautions ensure your health and well-being while you indulge in your artistic passion.
The key is finding the thick gourds.
Choosing the right gourd is a crucial step. The thickness of the gourd is not just a matter of preference, but a necessity. You need a substantial amount of gourd wood to carve out different depths. You may need to experiment with several gourds before finding the perfect one.
” I always let the gourd’s unique shape and contours guide my design, keeping the work organic and natural. The design elements I use are not just for aesthetic appeal, but also to create a sense of movement, inspired by natural elements such as sunshine, water, and growth. These elements, along with rich textures and the harmony of entwined masculine and feminine elements, are intended to bring the gourd to life.”
“I want my gourds to become sculptural vessels for light, whether sunlight or lamplight. The final form will be a gourd whose natural beauty is not obliterated or buried by embellishment but enhanced and celebrated, evolved into treasure. “
Beth’s Goals for her Gourds
Starting with something that nature has already borne, I find immense thrill in the challenge and privilege of transforming it into something truly spectacular.
“It’s a thrill to be part of the lineage of ancient gourd crafters, who decorated their gourd bowls and canteens with techniques similar to mine, dating back as far as 15,000 years ago.”
Her Major Focus
“My focus is on creating a sense of movement, shaping the gourd to harness light and imitate water, always following the gourd’s unique shape and contours. My bold techniques, such as carving, pyrography, and inlay, bring vigor to the gourd. In contrast, delicate filigree work that resembles lace calls gracefully to light. The combination creates a palpable harmony, evoking the tranquility and excitement of entwined masculine and feminine elements in perfect balance.”
“My gourd carving process is a rich tapestry of techniques, including relief carving, filigree, pyrography, inlay, inking, and more. Each method adds a unique dimension to the final piece.”
“Creating a medium-sized gourd is a labor of love that spans about a week, but the journey begins long before the first cut. Most of the gourds I work with are grown, ripened, dried, and cleaned on a farm in Pennsylvania, a testament to the time and effort invested in each piece. “
My Intensions
Now, I’ll guide you through Beth’s straightforward style and process, which is characterized by her minimal use of tools. This approach allows you to tackle new carving techniques with confidence. I’ll share some insights and tips to prepare you for her instructional video. If you’re already familiar with carving, pay attention to the flow of abstract designs and the patterns of her filigree. If you’re a beginner, focus on mastering the tools.
The Taper Burr
You will be using only one burr, a tapper. They come in two shapes
They often come in sets, and the choice of metal is yours. Here are some found on Amazon.
Wood burning tips used
The other tool she uses is a woodburning pen with a knife blade or a spear tip.
Sandpaper
Start with 240 grit and move up to 500 or 600 grit. An electric sander would be helpful in this situation. If you are new to this burr, then find some gourd scrapes and practice for several hours, learning the feel of this tip and the speed it requires.
You want to see a smooth, even surface. By the way, my favorite brand is Abranet. Use it wet or dry.
Steps of the Carving Process
Think through your design first
Working with abstract designs requires a different thought process. Beth draws out her ideas for lines and object placement and experiments with color ideas before she starts, which is how most experienced gourd artists’ work. Once the design is penciled in to your liking, then carving can begin
2. Carving the outline
After the lines of your shapes are drawn, it is a good idea to go back and label areas with an “X” where the skin will be removed. Then, begin the carving by holding the tip at a 45-degree angle and pulling towards you. Gently move the bit over the outline of the shape.
3. Removing the Interior skin
When the outline is finished, gently flatten the angle of the burr and begin to clean out the interior of your shape. Go slowly. Keep your speed at #2 or #3. If the vibration is too much for you, try fingerless gloves. Also, let your little finger support the gourd to maintain stability.
Next, you find Beth working in fast motion, sanding the area you just removed. It must be very smooth to allow the following technique to create a filigree pattern, which adds intricate detail and beauty to your gourd. This might take several hours, but it will be worth it.
4. Creating a Filigree Pattern
Now, it’s time to master the art of piercing holes through the scraped areas. You will create hole patterns to add intricate details to your gourd. This skill is essential to mastering carving and is worth taking the time to practice.
Notice that Beth has drawn the pattern outline in pencil to guide her.
You’ll soon notice that there are several different shapes within these abstract shapes, adding depth and complexity to your work.
5. Create a rock Pattern
Here is another technique of creating rock shapes within an abstract space with the burr and later painting the rocks.
6. Wood-burning leaves
Next, Beth used a natural element by woodburning plants around the abstract shapes. Then she drew lines around a few of the abstract shapes.
7. Creating complementary Design cuts
This is an unusual cut that enhances your design by introducing an interesting negative space. Instead of a gourd saw, Beth uses her taper burr to cut through the gourd, slowly repeating the cutting motion several times until the shape is released. Notice how many she creates and their effect.
7. Adding color
The surface is colored using gourd dyes.
Now enjoy Beth’s video of her creating “Resonance”
Beth has been so gracious to create videos to help other gourd artists. You can find her most current work at Red Tulip Gallery in New Hope, PA and through their online store as well. You can also see a collection of her videos
You can visit her website and also her Youtube channel.
Depending on the size, complexity, and the original state of the gourd when I begin, it can take anywhere from 10 hours to 60 hours to make a typical gourd art sculpture.
Most of her lighted gourd art sculptures are priced between $125 and $800, but there are exceptions on both ends of the spectrum. She doesn’t grow gourds but buy them from a gourd farmer in Kinzers, Pennsylvania.
What type of light does she use?
Her smaller gourd lights are sold solely as luminaries and do not plug in to an outlet. Most of them are attached to the base by magnet. The light is turned on either by holding both sides of the light and twisting to the right or by moving the switch on the underside of the LED candle. The batteries on these lights are not rechargeable but they are replaceable.
LED candles are absolutely stunning with them! Just be sure to NEVER use a flame candle with your gourd art sculpture. Do not even use an incandescent light. After all, some people make paper from gourds – they are as flammable as dry wood.
Do you have any suggestion or tip for our beginners on using this burr?
Please, share your thoughts here in the comment box or share them with all the gourd artists on our Facebook Group Page.
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