I retired as an art teacher in the Missouri public schools in 2002. I have been working with gourds as an art medium for nearly 30 years. My first introduction to gourd art was a poster featuring the work of Robert Rivera. At first, I thought the poster was of Native American clay pottery. Looking closer, I realized the pots were actually gourds crafted to look like Indian pottery. I was very impressed with Rivera’s work and fell in love with gourds and their infinite artistic possibilities.

While working with gourds over the years, I have experimented with many methods of decoration. I initially began by using acrylic paint. Then I found a new love, the wood burning pen. I have used several varieties of dyes as well as gold leafing, colored pencils and relief carving. I discovered the mini jigsaw, which made cutting through the gourds much faster and easier. With it, I could create a variety of rims, lids and cut out shapes.

My tiny little work room is so full of gourds and gourd related tools and materials that I barely have room to move around. It excites me just to look at all that “stuff” and think about what I can do with it.

Fuzzy Dog Gourd Designs
Pam Johnson
25004 Hwy. H
Waynesville, Missouri 65583
573-774-6308
e-mail psj4@cablemo.net