The first decorated Gourd I ever saw, I thought was a pottery piece, until I picked it up and found it was practically weightless. I was fascinated and proceeded to look for Gourds that I could craft myself. I love their shapes; no two are quite the same. I think of Gourds as nature's pottery. 

                                                                Each Gourd is selected from hundreds and then handcrafted. After cleaning the outside, I cut the opening and clean out the inside before I proceed with a pencil design that I then burn onto the Gourd.

Then later apply color with leather dyes that are opaque to let the natural marking show through. After drilling holes around the opening, I often use pine needles to finish the opening and seal the outside with a clear finish. Micheline

About the artist in me...

I was raised in a small French town called Bout de L'île on the Saint Laurent (St. Lawrence) river near Montreal. My first drawings other then in school were done on fiber board from home construction sites nearby, since there was nothing else available to me at the time. Later as an adult in college I realized how much art was a part of me and so I tried to create art in my spare time. First with dry water color then acrylic and oils. I like to try everything that comes to mind. I have done drawings and finished them with thread on linen. I have designed and crafted outrageous furniture in addition to refinishing and then painting on furniture. Gourds are my latest experience.

Micheline

Micheline is a juried member of The League of NH Craftsmen.