My name is Krista and I sign my work with a woodburner, the letter K and the date, place, and completion of each piece. So far that place has always been Maui, my home now for nearly 30 years after growing up in Michigan.
I am a self taught gourd artisan though largely indebted to numerous gourd artists who have authored books and/or participated in DVD's and online tutorials about various gourd art techniques. In this respect I have many teachers and gourd artists who have inspired me though none of them know who they are. I am grateful to all of them!
I have learned the most from just doing and trying. The mistakes I have made have never really been mistakes but sometimes portals to new techniques or valuable lessons in what not to do next time! Prior to my work with gourds I had dabbled in only the simplest of crafts and never any form of art. I was actively seeking something to feed the creative organ which had become so persistently needy that I could no longer ignore it when gourd art continued to present itself to me in the oddest of ways. This sought after form of creative expression needed to be something which would provide a steady practice, an opportunity for growth and also the flexibility of offering projects which could be completed in a comfortable time span for me. I do not much care for projects which always take great lengths of time of complete. I also wished to find something I could excel at and truly enjoy rather than something which would be wrought with frustration, for if it were I knew I would lose interest. And quickly. Hence began my journey into gourd art.
I have experimented with a great many techniques and have found for myself that hand working gourds with a gouging tool and employing rim treatments provide great satisfaction and I very much like the finishing look rim work provides. By using these methods there is often nothing to plug in, a lack of toxic gourd dust and the absence of loud noises. I also enjoy woodburning (who could resist drawing with fire?) and the familiar, pleasant fragrance it provides. I find these techniques of working with my hands to be very soothing and healing.
My style is fairly primitive and the embellishments I use are normally very natural in keeping with the earthy look of gourds.This all works well for me as I do not have a studio but work in my small condo, usually on the lanai or at the beach, in a park or some other natural setting as there is little for me to take along in order to do my work. This work with gourds has ignited a great, growing and lasting passion in me with the added element of sensing I am engaging with objects which hold a sacredness having served humankind in such useful ways for thousands and thousands of years.
God provides, and so often in ways we least expect!
