Poplar Hollow Studio
Mixed Media
Unique and One of a Kind mixed media folk art is created primarily with gourds, which have been cultivated for both functional and decorative purposes for thousands of years. Many of the gourds we use are grown on our Pennsylvania family farm circa 1886. We hand-select each gourd studying its shape and texture to determine what it wants to be; no two gourds are alike. Our artistic vision draws inspiration from life on the farm where the changing seasons, an affinity for treasures from a bygone era and cherished holiday traditions are all celebrated in our work.
We have been creating our gourd folk art for almost 20 years and various techniques are used. Often the gourd serves as a natural canvas with layers of paint, attention to detail and a multi-step antiquing process bringing the piece to life. In other instances, hand-sculpted paper clay and wood are thoughtfully combined with the gourd creating a natural synergistic composition which is then ready for painting and antiquing. A third technique is carving and/or pyroengraving (burning) the gourd using translucent ink dyes for color. Together the combined techniques produce distinctive folk art pieces that are imaginative, whimsical and festive.