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Bettie Lake · July 1, 2021

Using KwikWood and Epox Clay on gourd is not as difficult as you think. Let’s learn how to handle it safely and effectively.

Ways of using QuikWood on a Gourd

Tips and directions by Miriam Joy

One of my favorite gourd teachers lives just up the road from me in Prescott Valley. She taught at festivals for several years and like me, she has written books and helped many people learn to do gourd art. When it all got too stressful she and her husband started creating videos of her Teaching. Today we are going to watch her show us how to use KuikWood on a gourd.

author’s note: The spelling of this word is often done with a Q instead of a K. But the word still sounds the same.

Miriam is married to Bud and has five full-grown children who also share a passion for art. Currently, she has her artwork displayed at several galleries in Sedona, Camp Verde, and Prescott, Arizona.

She was 6 months old when the Bureau of Indian Affairs hired her father to teach in Chinle at an Indian boarding school and was inspired by the Native American sense of pattern and love of nature.

Over the years, their videos have become very professional and with her store, she can finally stay home and enjoy the beautiful forest of Prescott.

Now she has over 800 videos to keep you busy on her Youtube channel and they are free!

I met Miriam when she was teaching was teaching crayon wax painting. If you have not tried this technique, just visit her store for tutuorials, project directions,supplis and of course her books.

What is KwikWood?

This is a wood putty epoxy (acts just like clay) that can be used on gourds. In fact, gourd artists have many ways of using QuikWood on a gourd to repair a crack or add additional parts to the gourd surface.

KwikWood Epoxy Putty Stick is a hand-kneadable, fast-setting polymer compound for permanent repairs to wood. It also bonds to metal, glass, masonry, and many plastics. And It comes in a handy “Tootsie-roll®” form with the curing agent encapsulated in the contrasting color base material.

By the way, it is available in three different shades: Original for pale, unfinished wood; Pine for yellow wood; and Dark for dark wood. Shades can be mixed to create or match other wood colors; mixing shades will shorten work life.

How to use KuikWood on a gourd

Before applying, roughen and clean area to be repaired. Wear impermeable gloves before handling or mixing uncured material. Then follow these easy steps.

KuikWood has a 15 to 25 minute work life. Fast-Cure Pine and Dark have a 3 to 6 minute work life and must be applied within 2 minutes of mixing. Functional cure occurs in 60 minutes.

Most gourd artists like using KuikWood on a gourd as a way to attach body parts to the round gourd.

Below you can watch a video of how this is done.

Sculpting clay Arms with QuikWood Epoxy Clay Dottie Kuhl

I have included 4 video here so you get all the information you will need to get started. Part one: Getting Quickwood out of the package and prepping the medium for use.

Part 2 Creating a tree on a gourd using the quikwood

Part Three: How to use molds to create forms to attach to gourds.

Part Four. Products she used.

Also, be sure to check out Miriam’s Store. She is an affiliate of ours, so that means if you use the code: Bettie, you can get a 10% discount and she gives a little back to me to support the site.

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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Using QuikWood Epoxy Clay on Gourds