Roberta CooperGourd artist, Sequimobertacooper.com
"I love to see the transformation of a gourd from dirty and messy looking into an elegant work of art......"
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Into the Depths
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Plum Crazy
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Red and Braids of Gold
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All That Shimmers with Fir Cones
Artist Statement
I love to see the transformation of a gourd from dirty and messy looking into an elegant work of art. My designs have a simplicity of design–gently curving lines inspired by nature, such as the way a creek makes its way through a meadow. I like using natural materials for embellishing gourds–binding the rim of a gourd with pine needles; placing a pile of Deodar cedar cones or Douglas fir cones inside the bowl of a gourd.
Recently in my studio I wanted to use an entirely new color, something other than “earth tones.” What I selected was a teal transparent ink dye. The gourd was really kind of gunky looking–lots of markings from being out in the fields before being harvested. Well… I was thrilled with the results: It looked like the bottom of the ocean with boulders and coral underwater. So, it really was just another “earth tone, but that of the ocean!” And I have entitled it “Into the Depths.”
I really love working with gourds–I can get lost in the creative process for hours and finally notice it is dark outside. (Well, that was in the wintertime!! Happy for the longer days now!!) Come visit with me at our show!
I love to see the transformation of a gourd from dirty and messy looking into an elegant work of art. My designs have a simplicity of design–gently curving lines inspired by nature, such as the way a creek makes its way through a meadow. I like using natural materials for embellishing gourds–binding the rim of a gourd with pine needles; placing a pile of Deodar cedar cones or Douglas fir cones inside the bowl of a gourd.
Recently in my studio I wanted to use an entirely new color, something other than “earth tones.” What I selected was a teal transparent ink dye. The gourd was really kind of gunky looking–lots of markings from being out in the fields before being harvested. Well… I was thrilled with the results: It looked like the bottom of the ocean with boulders and coral underwater. So, it really was just another “earth tone, but that of the ocean!” And I have entitled it “Into the Depths.”
I really love working with gourds–I can get lost in the creative process for hours and finally notice it is dark outside. (Well, that was in the wintertime!! Happy for the longer days now!!) Come visit with me at our show!