Learn how to create a Gourd Gnome to grace your Christmas Holiday. What fun you will have creating these cute ornaments! Here is an excellent project for beginners wanting to learn how to use clay on gourds.
Gourd artists who master the use of air-dried clay are at an advantage because so many options are open to you when you can add arms, legs, hair, and feathers to the surface of your gourds. Gourd artists like to use standard clay tools and even things from the kitchen! In this post, I will share some tips and a unique gathering of gourd artists from Georgia.
Your First challenge:
Go to your gourd stash and look for a gnome. He will be there incognito. You will only see his shape, not the features! And don’t be tricked by your preconceived idea of his size. You will find several gourds that could be a gnome. Now, set your selections in front of you and determine which may need feet to stay upright! Get out a sketchbook and look at the examples in this post to help you explore how you might create a character with just the right look for each gourd.
Help from a Gourd Patch
Last year, the Atlanta Gourd Patch in Norcross, Georgia, held a workshop where the members made gnome ornaments. They share pictures and a video on their Facebook page. I thought I would pass this on and review some important points they made. Thank you, ladies!
Supplies They Used to Create a Gourd Gnome
Gourd artists prefer two air-dried clays. Apoxie Sculpt and Quikwood. For this project, you can use either one. The Georgia ladies are using Quikwood. Follow the product instructions to prepare it for use.
I saw someone using a hand lotion to keep the clay from sticking on their fingers. And also, you can use a gel super glue to get small pieces to stick to the gourd. sBye the way you can use ome prefer to use plastic gloves to keep your fingers clean if you like.
The best tools for this clay project are the regular clay tools. But toothpicks and plastic utensils are also helpful when creating your gourd gnome.
Notice how bottle caps hold the ornaments while drying. ven an egg carton could help in this project.
I even saw a clever use of the placemat one artist was using. Great texture here.
Parts of a Gnome
Most have a beard, mustache, nose, and a hat. You can add eyes, feet, and hands. Make sure your gourd is clean and sanded. If you are going to make an ornament, be sure to insert an eye screw before you begin. Some ladies gave the outside a coat of paint. Use a light coat because someone said the clay did not stick well to the thick paint. Here are some Christmas gnome as drawn on paper.
Creating the Beard
Put a pencil outline where the beard will cover the front, and add a “pancake” of Quikwood clay to this area. Now, you build your beard from here. Someone was quick to say a garlic press was not the answer here. Instead, use your clay tools to cut and lift the clay to create the hair.
Begin to cut the clay into sections with this tool.
Push each section apart and lift it upwards.
Finally, lift the bottom and side edges to give it depth.
Look at these clay gnomes for ideas to get a more stylistic look.
Here are images of how our ladies did on this part. Leave the beard partially dry before you go to the nose.
The Nose and Mustache for your gourd gnome
Most of the ladies created a clay ball and glued it into place.
Then, they created the shape. On either side, they added the mustache
The Hat Options for your gourd gnome
Some just put a clay rim over the nose and around the back.
Others added clay decorations like leaves made from a plastic mold.
Others made fancy clay hats. Notice the feet on these gnomes.
Notice the clever way she created the arms and hands.
Going Beyond the Need
You can also add eyes, hands, and feet.
Some of our Atlanta friends got carried away!
I love the cardboard hat!
It would be fine to add eyes,
You could create dangling legs so he sits on a shelf in the kitchen somewhere!
Painting your Gourd Gnome
Here is where the fun starts! Use acrylics for best results, and enjoy the process. Here are some of the finished pieces from the Atlanta group.
Here are other examples from the Internet.
Not all gnomes need to be ornament-sized. Think of a large one as a centerpiece or sitting by the fireplace. I hope you are inspired by how easy the process is. This project is a great way to experiment if you are new to using clay. You are not wasting clay or gourds.
I hope you are now inspired to start sketching your own design ideas! Use this project to challenge new skills or show off your expertise.
These gnomes are great fun and many buyers are eager to add one to their home decor.
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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Such a good tutorial. Great ideas