John Gibson Gourd Artist John Gibson views a gourd the way a painter views a blank canvas or a sculptor looks at a piece of stone.  "I feel more like a person who sculpts than paints," says Gibson.  Indeed, he is a  craftsman, designer, and engraver.  With compass and ruler in hand, he painstakingly makes the measurements that ensure the geometric position that is so vital in his art. Each of Gibson's designs are a multi-step process.  From washing, curing, cleaning, sanding, and leveling each gourd, to drawing the design and burning it into the gourd's hard shell.  Gibson then turns to dyes for color and to give the gourd a textured, three-dimensional look not possible with paint.  After a clear coating is applied, finishing designs are etched in with a high-speed drill.  He may then add a final touch, such as a piece of bone, horse hair, or turquoise. Like the gourd itself, everything Gibson incorporates into his art is natural.

Feather Gourd $275-

Buffalo Gourd $525

Wolf Paw Gourd $245-