CL Arts

I have always enjoyed the spiritual aspects of my art. I am uplifted by the natural beauty of the earth and
feel privileged to work in a medium that allows me to express this. Working with gourds helps me to speak
of the quiet joy of wild things.
Being mindful of the elemental beauty of the gourd, I like to have the gourd shell peak through; even in a
fully painted piece my painting will be translucent.

There is a rich and varied cultural heritage in the use of gourds and I often find myself wondering what
the ancients would have done. This inspires me to study the art history of gourds around the world and as
a consequence, my work is often quite eclectic. Ancient artists often displayed a reverence for nature and
sense of design that is timeless and easily appreciated on many levels. I strive to reflect my own
appreciation in a similar way.

The gourd is a marvelous natural resource for practical use and a wonderful source for spiritual, musical,
and artistic expression. I like to think of my art as a modern continuation of ancient art traditions.

Please, enjoy!

About myself . . .

I have been painting in soft pastel and teaching as well as continuing my own art education for several
years. I have done award winning paintings currently in my own or private collections and I've had
some success designing polymer clay jewelry of people's pets. I happily have intimate knowledge of
cats, rabbits, and Scotty dogs!

While teaching weaving for an environmental living program at my children's school the discussion
moved from weaving fabric to baskets to the use of gourds by pioneers and native Americans. After
some research and experimenting I became captivated by the artistic possibilities of hard shell gourds.

I have a studio in my home and concentrate most of my work in creating fine art on gourds.
Occasionally I give private drawing lessons. I also teach gourd art classes at the Caning Shop in
Berkeley or at Zittel Farms in Folsom. I am a member of many gourd and art societies and my work is
featured in the following books.