Explore Two Approaches to Wood Burning a Gourd
Do you burn the subject or the background?
Each Approach to wood-burning a gourd depends on the correct tip
Your wood-burning tool is equipped with two different kinds of tips. One is for cutting lines into the gourd surface and is called the outline approach; the other allows you to burn the gourd skin’s surface.
For cutting, you should have tips with a point. These are called a spear or skews.
The Background Approache will require a Shading tip
You will need a tip with a round edge and a bent tip for shading. These are called bent shaders, ball tips, and writing tips.
Some come in different sizes, and I tend to buy the medium and small versions because I don’t do many large gourds.
Clean Tips Mean Clean Lines
Both approaches I will discuss in this post need a clean tip to perform well. Both of our demonstration artists have their methods of cleaning the tips. I like to use a small tea strainer, and our other gourd artist, Jenn Avery, uses a leather strop.
Our first gourd artist, Blythe Pelham, uses a metal sponge to dip her tip in a glass container.
Autour Note:
If carbon buildup is a problem, I can recommend three solutions. First, sand your gourd with a grit higher than 400 before burning. Second, cover it with a gourd condition before you burn it. Or third, don’t burn at a high temperature. If the tip is glowing or smoking, then turn it down!
The Outline Approach to Wood-burning a Gourd
Most gourd artists start out learning to use paint and dyes on gourds. The problem is the gourd surface is round, and there is no way to keep the liquid in a confined space. At this point, consider our first approach of outlining the subject.
The cut line will naturally flatten the images. Still, hopefully, your painting technique will add shading to make your subject more natural looking. Or maybe you are after a simple flat graphic look to your subject. Many beginners start with this approach. Simple images or geometric design work well. If drawing is not your skill, choose this for your first gourds and strive to get the lines burned with a consistent depth. Here are some examples to consider.
Our first video shares the process of Blythe Pelham. She has a fascinating line style,
It is simple, but the irregular lines give her work movement and interest. The line patterns cover the entire gourd from top to bottom, which helps to give a sense of importance. I would suggest she turn the heat down if she were my student. By doing that, she can change the width of her lines to help give the image more contrast.
Another point I want to make is how both artists use their little fingers to stabilize their tip as it burns the line. And don’t choke that handle! Relax and glide on and off the gourd with your tip.
This is a short video of Blythe’s burning style.
Mastering the Shading Approach to wood-burning a gourd
Another way to approach burning is using the negative approach. You don’t burn around the subject but shade in the background! This approach of shading the background creates a more natural-looking subject. You are missing white, so consider the gourd color white. Practicing is essential here. The mind needs to quickly change the pressure on the tip, which takes focus and repetition. But when you get a feel for it, it becomes very relaxing and rewarding.
Try this value shadingexercise with the bent shaders and the ball and writing tips to see which one you like the best and how the results look different.
Tips for Shading
Your shading tips can create different values depending on the temperature and how you move the tip. By changing the value, the subject looks more natural. This burning approach is a longer process because it is done in layers starting with light strokes and then adding other layers to achieve the darkest area. Most artists use a circle or figure eight stroke to lay the layers of value. Try both when you practic
Sometimes, you will use the flat side of the tip, and other times to get into small areas, you can use the end of the tip with a low temperature. Resist the urge to burn everything; those lightest areas are needed to stay that way.
You do start with a pencil drawing, but you are going around the pencil line. The line of the subject is not burned but stays the color of the gourd. Beginners may need to start with a dark pencil line to see it clearly. Remember, you can’t erase a burn.
Taking the Pencil Line Off
To remove the pencil line, you have several options. Blyth uses a soft eraser. I like to find one with a pointy edge that doesn’t give much residue. Jenn uses a Mr. Clean pad which I also like to have handy. But the last thing I do is wipe the entire gourd with a spray 99% alcohol to get rid of all the lines and carbon.
Jenn is one of my favorite wood-burning video creators. It is rather long but very informative. Please pay attention to her circle technique and how she changes temperatures. Watch her demonstration of a jellyfish using a negative burning technique.
Wood-burning Technique are Difficult but Are Rewarding
Choosing which approach or where to use each on different parts of a large gourd takes practice and knowledge of your tips and their advantages. Most master wood burners constantly use just a few tips. Our artists also reflect the preference for different wood burners. But it is not the tool that makes the difference. It is the artist’s skill. So dedicated practice is what will improve your skill. Jenn Avery has other videos that might be helpful. See her work and offering on her website.
Blythe also has her work online. Take time to look at her work.
Be sure to check it out.
I hope these videos will encourage you to learn these techniques. They will increase your sales and gain you respect among other gourd artists.
Please share your thoughts about when you like each approach and what handle tips are your favorite with us here in the comment box, or share them with all the gourd artists on our Facebook Group Page.
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Enjoyed reading this blog and was shocked when I saw a pic of my very first gourd! What a privilege to be included.
I enjoyed the videos and different techniques. Unfortunately I could spend HOURS watching thus I
don’t get anything else done! Great.