Halloween Art Dilemma!

[SablePoint]

Well, I'm having some issues with some seasonal art! The gourds(you know, the little small ones that people paint) are out and I bought some to paint. I haven't painted gourds in years, and I've been growing bored of sculpting, so it sounded fun having a little old time painting time.

Well, I painted 3 gourds and 2 of them are holding up, but 1 of them was stinking badly! I thought, "well maybe there's a hole in it." The insides will rot and if there's a hole you're gonna smell it!
Well, even though it was a nasty smell, it wasn't that potent, so I let it continue it's rotting process. Then just a few minutes ago, I saw mold popping out through the paint and even the glaze! I saw the holes, it was flattening too.
I keep the gourds in my room, so there's no condensation or extreme heat/cold or rain going on. I don't know why it molded so badly.

So I tossed it.

What I want to know is why it did that and is there a way to prevent that from happening again. Are my other gourds going harden without molding and stinking like the one I tossed?
I have a painted gourd that I had for about 8 years and it's fully hardened and in perfect shape. No paint issues or mold!
Could it just of been the gourd it's self? Just a bad gourd? Or is there something I should do to the gourd before painting it?

Thanks for any help!

 

[irishlops]

Coniglio wrote:

Well, I'm having some issues with some seasonal art! The gourds(you know, the little small ones that people paint) are out and I bought some to paint. I haven't painted gourds in years, and I've been growing bored of sculpting, so it sounded fun having a little old time painting time.

Well, I painted 3 gourds and 2 of them are holding up, but 1 of them was stinking badly! I thought, "well maybe there's a hole in it." The insides will rot and if there's a hole you're gonna smell it!
Well, even though it was a nasty smell, it wasn't that potent, so I let it continue it's rotting process. Then just a few minutes ago, I saw mold popping out through the paint and even the glaze! I saw the holes, it was flattening too.
I keep the gourds in my room, so there's no condensation or extreme heat/cold or rain going on. I don't know why it molded so badly.

So I tossed it.

What I want to know is why it did that and is there a way to prevent that from happening again. Are my other gourds going harden without molding and stinking like the one I tossed?
I have a painted gourd that I had for about 8 years and it's fully hardened and in perfect shape. No paint issues or mold!
Could it just of been the gourd it's self? Just a bad gourd? Or is there something I should do to the gourd before painting it?

Thanks for any help!

Hi, i have no experiance with gourds, but i looked in a book i have and here is some info that might help

1. saying you got it from a shop yes? Is it an art shop or whatever?
If any gourd is bruised or spolited, discard it right away as it will deacy and rot in storage, or after decorating it.

2. well, basically this paragraph in the book is confusing to me...
MAKE SURE ITS DRY!!!
gourds take a long time to dry out!
The outside of the gourd must dry completely and then it will take another several months for the inside of the gourd to dry and cure. Lagenaria gourds can take twice as long to dry as Cucurbita gourds.

1. Start by cleaning the surface of the gourds with soapy water and allow them to air dry. You can wipe them with rubbing alcohol to further ensure the surface dries completely.
2. Place in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, for about 1 week. The skin will begin to harden and change color. After a week, the outside of the gourd should be well dried.
3. Move the gourds to a well-ventilated, dark area where they can remain for at least 6 months. Spread them in a single layer and be sure none of the gourds are touching each other. Allow for air flow under the gourds by placing them on a screen or vented surface. It may be easier to hang larger gourds for drying.
4. Check your gourds every day or two and discard any that begin to decay, shrivel or get soft. If mold appears (2rd photo at right), see if you can wipe it off with a dry cloth or one dipped in bleach. If the gourd is still hard, it should be fine. Drying gourds is not a pretty process.
5. Turn the fruit every couple of weeks, to dry evenly and prevent rotting.
6. When the gourds become light and solidly hard and you can hear the seeds rattling inside when you shake them, they are ready for use. At this time you can carve, paint, wax, shellac or decorate your ornamental gourds any way you wish. Hard-shell gourds may still be rough or peeling (3rd photo at right) and can be smoothed and polished up with steel wool or fine sandpaper They should last indefinitely.

So, maybe if you got it in a shop it was a poorly dried product.

Now bascilly.. in the book it has no more on care about it, but saying its alive and then..
i guess that dont put near sunlight or warm heat and.. i guess any more common sense.
hope i helped!
I would love to see the finished product.

Edit- Guords are liek wood, they need to be wiped down with some funiture or shoe polish to stop it drying out.
a little wax or oil also helps for years to come.


Elena

 

[SablePoint]

Oh, thank you so much! :bunnydance:

 

[irishlops]

Coniglio wrote:

Oh, thank you so much! :bunnydance:

dont worry your welcome!!
LOL, i dont do much art in that style or way, im more of a drawing person, but from what i saw on the internet they look very cool!
Hope it helps.

 

[SablePoint]

They're both going to be bunnies. My bunnies in particular. One of them are going to look like Koga and the other Bun Bun, but I gotta go pick me up some other supplies - which is going to be hard! I've been up since 10:00 pm and haven't been asleep yet! Only 3 hours of sleep, but I'll end up passing out later.

I like to draw aswell. I do all kinds of art, and some is really random - I mean really random.

^ I didn't win best in show, but the host said if there were places, I'd come in second! Made $70 at the county art fair with these guys!

 

[irishlops]

AWh... there so cute!!!

 

[irishlops]

Do you have nay drawings or other art pics??

 

[SablePoint]

Thanx!

My scanner pooped out on me again, and I'm going to dig around for some of my most impressive work. I like to draw animals, I'm not really good at objects and people, the faces are really hard.

 

[irishlops]

:scared: :shock:
thats the same as me!!!
i love to draw animals and im not good at objects or people, faces are hard!!
wowo, we have lots in common,:highfive:
heres some i ahve uploaded.. ill do more later maybe today.
Coniglio wrote: [/b]

Thanx!

My scanner pooped out on me again, and I'm going to dig around for some of my most impressive work. I like to draw animals, I'm not really good at objects and people, the faces are really hard.

 

[irishlops]

heres some of mine.
i love them insects!!
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=51313&forum_id=5

 

[SablePoint]

WOW! Those are fantastic! You draw really realistic, and I adore the mini rex - he looks just like Koga.

 

[hartleybun]

despite being distracted by the cute bunny pic i did manage to google gourd painting wow! what a real labour of love but very well worth it

 

[irishlops]

Coniglio wrote:

WOW! Those are fantastic! You draw really realistic, and I adore the mini rex - he looks just like Koga.

:inlove: your bunny is so cute!!!!
(ill post my bunnies tomorow)
lol, i agree, when i looked them up in my art book... very long, but worth it

i cant wait to see the finished the artworks of yours.
ps,how do you draw? realstic, cartoony.. ect?
donna, do you do art??

 

[SablePoint]

I actually draw more fictional better. Demon rabbits have been a favorite. I have my own characters, though they look alot like pokemon.

 

[irishlops]

Coniglio wrote:

I actually draw more fictional better. Demon rabbits have been a favorite. I have my own characters, though they look alot like pokemon.

funny thing, my hands dont let me do taht style, even though, I LOVE that style.

I cant wait to see them. i also draw some dragons, but thats as fictiony as i get.

 

[kirsterz09]

not to good on gourds over here too. Again more the drawing artist like irishlops, haven't posted any in a while as, have been bedded under with trying to prepare a fantasy a3 pic for me nan lol! but am currently working on a wild dog pic which I will post when I'm done.
the beetle carving was great, it's different and I like that about it, very surprised you didn't win, you would of had my vote and your bun is just way too cute! You can check out one of my buns Blue on the halloween photo contest.

 

[hartleybun]

(((((elena)))) only just seen your reply! yes im another arty type! havent tried gourd painting yet tho'. im going to have a look out for them. there's alot on the web about this art form. thanks to coniglio for bringing it to my attention:bunnydance:

 

[irishlops]

hartleybun wrote:

(((((elena)))) only just seen your reply! yes im another arty type! havent tried gourd painting yet tho'. im going to have a look out for them. there's alot on the web about this art form. thanks to coniglio for bringing it to my attention:bunnydance:

its ok, im just thinking about making a thread for every one to post there art on and every one can post feedback.

 

[RexLovables]

Coniglio wrote:

They're both going to be bunnies. My bunnies in particular. One of them are going to look like Koga and the other Bun Bun, but I gotta go pick me up some other supplies - which is going to be hard! I've been up since 10:00 pm and haven't been asleep yet! Only 3 hours of sleep, but I'll end up passing out later.

I like to draw aswell. I do all kinds of art, and some is really random - I mean really random.

^ I didn't win best in show, but the host said if there were places, I'd come in second! Made $70 at the county art fair with these guys!

This might be a super dumb question, but are those beetles real?

 

[irishlops]

RexLovables wrote:

Coniglio wrote:

They're both going to be bunnies. My bunnies in particular. One of them are going to look like Koga and the other Bun Bun, but I gotta go pick me up some other supplies - which is going to be hard! I've been up since 10:00 pm and haven't been asleep yet! Only 3 hours of sleep, but I'll end up passing out later.

I like to draw aswell. I do all kinds of art, and some is really random - I mean really random.

^ I didn't win best in show, but the host said if there were places, I'd come in second! Made $70 at the county art fair with these guys!

This might be a super dumb question, but are those beetles real?

No its not a dumb question, the only dumb question is the one you dont ask.
they are definitly fake. But i think there made from wood??