arts

Creativity After Christmas
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Creativity After Christmas

While working on my next big piece, I’ve been contemplating the art I’ve made during January in the past few years. Not only did I find that the pieces were some of my best, but three of the past four have won an award of some sort! 

2014 – Date Night (formerly Colored Pear Illuminated) – 1st gourd lamp, won 3rd place in sculpture at 2014 Celebration of the Arts

2015 – Teddy’s Balloon – made for my little man – 1st place in Gourd Magazine Spring 2017 Craft contest (resulting in featured artist for Summer issue)

2016 – Ascension – Honorable Mention at 2016 Artworks Members Only show

2017 – Dream – My largest piece to date – sold during my first setup at the Kentucky Crafted Market

Stay tuned for this year’s creation 😁

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Ascension (2016)

Ascension (2016) (9″ x 9″)  Hand drawn over Christmas break (2015) and completed in January 2016.  This gourd features various patterns, ascending upwards with contrasting designs and divergent directions, symbolizing the varying paths I’ve taken while growing my skill and ability with gourd art.  Embellished with pyrography, cutting, and carving.

This piece has been in two juried shows, while being awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Artworks Members’ Juried Show (sponsored by the great Cheree Federico Photography).

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SnP’s Gourd Lamp #1

SnP's Gourd Lamp #1

I’ve finally joined the latest push in gourd art, I made a gourd lamp. Just as in any type of gourd art, the possibilities of a gourd lamp are endless. It’s truly amazing to see the lamps that are created all around the world. For my first lamp, I chose to go with a swirl-type pattern, incorporated my favorite features, such as the carving, various patterns, and the quilt-like patterns that have come to be a constant in my work. The coloring is unique…eye shadow. My wife almost threw out an entire pallet of many colors, and I had to try before seeing material get tossed away (of course I love to recycle and reuse). I then incorporated various holes for the light to escape.

I hope you enjoy 🙂