Try these two gourd dye techniques that will give your gourd an interesting effect.
Here are two gourd dye techniques that will help you save your gourd dye consumption and achieve brighter colors on your gourd by adding paint. One method uses a white acrylic paint and the other uses pigment powder.
With over 30 colors of gourd ink, we all have embraced them with anticipation of bright wonderful colors. But they do pose problems that can be challenging. These dyes soak into the gourd and adopt the color of the gourd, so if you are looking for a pastel pink or sky blue it will not happen with this medium. Colors are not going to layer either, they will just soak into each other and turn to mud and not be pleasing to the eye.
Mary Gehley from Welburn Farms demonstrates these techniques.
Layer Color On Gourds Using White Paint
This gourd dye technique uses white gourd (acrylic) paint to enhance each of the four gourd dye colors used. Because of the paint, you will not heat set the colors at the end of each application because the heat will make the paint bubble.
You will add the white gourd paint to each color on your pallet. First mix white gourd paint with your darkest dye color and sponge it on the gourd and let it dry. This is a Welburn product in a Welburn video, you can use any white acrylic paint.
Add the colors to your gourd, from dark to light with a damp sea sponge. Use light coats of dye, remembering to leave areas empty for the next layers. Let it dry between each layer.
Be very care if you are heat setting their suggested dyed rim because the paint will easily bubble!
Watch as she takes you through the steps of these gourd dye techniques.
To solve the problem of the porous gourd she begins by adding a gold pigment powder to Formula 49. Rub this on with a cotton pad. Lots of it, so it covers the gourd. Could also be a silver or a pearlescent pigment.
Marbleizing Colors with Gourd Dyes and Pigment Paint
Mary Gehley from Welburn Farms demonstrates this technique.
This gourd dye technique uses 5 colors of dye. My tip is to choose a color family. Remember to heat set this!
Next, she adds the five colors of gourd dye using separate cotton rounds for each color. Take 5 colors close on the color wheel.
My tip here is to remember to put the lids back on the bottle. I also work on an old cookie tray just in case of an accident!
The last step involves dropping alcohol onto the dye which will bring up the gold and add more depth to the colors. Heat set the final product. Then spray with a UV spray and then the Helmsman varnish. Both of these will help keep the colors bright. Read more about these sprays at
Love these bottles for easy application of liquids that come in large applicator.
1 Oz. needle tip bottle
Falling in Art 1 oz. Needle Tip Squeeze Bottles with a Funnel, 6-Pack $9
Watch this process.
When you add paint to the gourd dye you achieve a more subtle look that I think looks really great when you add pine needle rim or an embellishment. These two gourd dye techniques are not hard and can be very handy if you have a gourd with an ugly surface. Try them!
Have you tried any of these techniques?
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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I’m new to gourd painting. Where do you get paints and brushes. Is there a book to order out of for paints and grourds?
Most any color applications will work. There are gourd dyes and special tools available at https://welburngourdfarm.com/
Read my review blogs of product and tools for help. Also check to see if there is a gourd society in your state and check their website for a club and meetings. There will be lots of help there.