Gourd Art! 

Gourds have been used for centuries as utensils; however, they can be easily overlooked as artwork.  This is what makes art such and an amazing and beautiful thing – art is truly in the eye of the beholder and there are no limits as to what can be considered a “piece of art”.  Gourd art is no different.  Each piece is truly unique because it is a gift from nature and no two gourds are alike.  Mike Domanico does a remarkable job at capturing the gourd’s individual characteristics and bringing them to life.

Mike grows the gourds in his garden behind his home in Scottsdale, AZ.  At the end of the growing season, they are picked and laid out to dry.  During the drying period, the outer shell of the gourds turn light brown and the seeds rattle on the inside.  At this point they are ready for cleaning.  Mike scrubs the outer shell to remove the dusty mold and other debris that tarnishes the appearance.  The seeds are removed and re-planted or given to you as a buyer.  During this cleaning phase, Mike becomes familiar with each gourd and begins to notice its character and the vision of the final piece materializes. 

Mike uses a variety of pottery tools, wood burning tools and leather dyes to create each piece.  His style is simple and utilitarian; yet each gourd tells a story and Mike does a fantastic job at capturing and conveying the story. 

We invite you to view the Gourd Galley below and spend a moment examining the intricate details and listening to the story being told.

Each gourd is available for sale.  Custom orders are also available.  Please contact us to discuss your specific interests.