How to Inlay Cactus Fiber on a Gourd provides a picture guide that helps you get through this process using prickly pear fiber.
One of the most exciting embellishments used on gourds with a southwest theme is called “cactus lace.” We are talking about the layered fiber found as the structure of a prickly pear petal.
My friend, Karen Friend, offered to write an article about her process and shared tips on making it look perfect. I will try to enlighten you about this unusual desert material in this post.
The environment influences an artist’s perspective and opens their eye to using what is around them in their artwork. Upon arriving in Arizona from the Midwest, I remember a patch meeting where I sat stunned as the group talked about collecting feathers, dead snakes, and cactus wood. They discussed how they cleaned these things and stored them in an old freezer in their garages. Cholla, prickly pear wood, and fibers are collected for stands and decorations.
Arizona gourd artists use these treasures on spirit dolls. They used the snake skins for garments, and the snake backbones were cleaned and wired with beads to make necklaces for the figure.
In this post we will focus on “cactus lace”.
Preparing the fiber for gourd art
The prickly pear cactus dies, and the skin turns hard and begins to crack off. With leather gloves, a bucket, and boots, the collector walks the desert looking for the best petals with the cleanest surface and then deposits them in the bucket.
Once home, you clean off the skin until the thick fiber layer is revealed. Next, you will need to separate these layers. Submerge them in water overnight to soften the fiber layers. The water also helps remove the hidden dirt and debris.
Then carefully, with a tweezer, you peel away the layers like an onion. For gourd art you will need the thinnest layers that naturally lay flat. It may take you several days to separate all the fiber you collected.
All this effort is why your next question should be, where do you buy it?
Finding this fiber is not easy. Some botanical sellers carry it. Sometimes gourd farms have it. Blue Whale Arts have had it, and so has Arizona Gourds. Otherwise, you can look at three Etsy stores.
Instructions to Inlay Cactus Fiber on a Gourd
Supplies for this process
Gourd or one large gourd shard
Acrylic black or dark brown paint for the background
Acrylic paint in a desired contrasting color for the surface of the fiber
Paint brushes: several small detail brushes and ½ to ¼ “brushes to lay down the background paint in the channel with the fiber. An old paintbrush or stencil brush is perfect to scrumble or scrub the background color.
Pencil
Scissors
Alcohol or alcohol wipes
Wipes or damp paper towels
Long, flat container to dampen the cactus fiber with hot water
Old newspapers
3M 77-10.75 10.75 oz Scotch Super 77 Multipurpose Adhesive Spray (Amazon-$15)
Prickly Pear Cactus fiber
Gourd selection: When selecting a gourd or shard for this project, find one that does not have much curvature in the inlay area, thereby reducing the manipulation of the cactus fiber.
Gourd preparation:
Clean the gourd surface and carve the spaces for the inlay. Create a channel cut under the outside edge, allowing room for the fiber inlay. The area should be carved out and sanded smooth at a minimum depth of 1/8″.
This carved-out area needs to be enclosed to protect the fiber’s cut edges from damage. Any carved shape will work, but the site should not be too large or small, as it will be easier to fill with uninterrupted fiber strips.
If you cover a large continuous area with fiber, do your best to match the fiber pattern of lines with “like” fiber thicknesses and flow of the design. You want to fill the channel, leaving no gaps in the inlay.
Cactus Fiber Inlay:
Take the cactus fiber and determine the design for the inlay areas using the natural pattern of the lines. Many of my inlays utilize the cactus fiber pattern lines radiating from a center point from my cluster of carved channels.
Cut the fiber to fit the carved-out channel of the gourd (you can use a pencil to mark or eyeball the outline), trimming just a bit smaller than the carved area. Cut and fit all the pieces before attaching them!
Preparing Fiber for Gluing:
Submerge the cut piece of cactus fiber in the container filled with hot water to soften it for a few minute
Remove from the hot water and place the “upside” face down on the newspaper, blotting excess moisture with a paper towel.
Tips for using the Glue
Some artists also spray the carved areas after masking off the perimeter area around the carved channel for a stronger bond. Then they insert the cactus fiber, allowing for a two-surface adhesive bond.
I do not and have never had a problem with the adhesive failing to work. Using the damp paper towel allows better manipulation of the fiber than bare fingers, as the glue will stick more readily to the skin than to a wet paper towel.
Spray the adhesive onto the “backside” of the fiber to be inlaid, then carefully lay it into the carved channel. Hold and secure the piece using a damp paper towel to position it for 30 seconds while the adhesive sets up.
Clean up:
After completing your inlay areas, carefully clean up any spray adhesive on the surrounding gourd skin with alcohol wipes. Sometimes a light scrape with a craft knife might do the trick with a stubborn area. Caution: any adhesive residue will not take inks, dyes, or acrylic paints correctly, so it’s essential to look closely and remove any traces.
Background color:
After the glue has set up and been allowed to dry, it’s time to paint your inlay area. I cover the entire carved inlay area with good black acrylic paint, but I use an old brush to get inside the small spaces.
Be mindful of nooks and crannies seen from different angles. I’m looking for a good contrast between the cactus fiber and the background area, so I usually use black and sometimes dark brown paint. I also suggest using an angled brush near the border to keep the color within the carved area. The background paint provides an extra bonding layer to secure the fiber. Let dry overnight.
Surface color:
Using a small detailed brush and a paint color that will contrast with the background, begin painting the fiber
using small strokes that skim over the top of the fiber.
I sometimes use a palette knife for this part. Only paint the top surface of the fiber, being careful not to get any paint on the background. This part takes some time and patience, but not being in a hurry is the key. These are the moment the magic happens! You will see the colors pop! Work in small areas and touch up any areas that need attention. Let dry.
When you finish the inlay areas, complete the other areas of your gourd.
Be careful not to get inks, dyes, or paints on your inlay. When your gourd is complete, you may use a Workable Fixatif to guard against any runs. Then finish as you would with finishing sprays or varnishes.
Here are other examples of Karen’s Cactus lace work.
I want to thank Karen for sharing her process with us and I hope this will encourage you to try this natural product. If you have a process you enjoy and are willing to share, just send me your text and your images and I can do the rest.
Share your thoughts here in the comment box or share it with all the gourd artists in our Facebook Group Page.
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