First thing to keep in mind is the type of gourd I use, which here in Puerto Rico grows on trees. Unlike the more familiar vine-grown gourds, these calabash are relatively thin, leading many people to think they are like fragile eggshells. Not true! Once dried, they are hard and dense like a hardwood. Although I wouldn't recommend throwing them down on the ground, they are surprisingly strong. Trust me, my 'studio' is also our home, a 33-foot boat which Ken and I share with Czar, our 75- pound Collie, whose tail has caused a few of my works-in-progress to hit the deck, literally. (see the Artist page for more).

The higüera grows in a multitude of sizes and shapes. Click on photo for more info.

Secondly is that I paint the inside of the gourd as well as the outside. Now this may not sound particularly noteworthy, until you stop to consider one point. If you take a look at a vine grown gourd, the inside is very porous. Although painting is indeed possible and often done, you won't normally see more than basic color applied. Higüeras, with their dense shells, are perfect for painting, inside and out. Two layers of skin from the inside must first be removed to insure the paint adheres, otherwise over time the skin would flake off, taking my artwork with it! This is not usually done, even by other artists here in Puerto Rico, mostly because it is such tough work, but for some strange reason there is something in my personality which compels me to meticulously paint every square inch of the surface. I cannot leave an area plain...it just doesn't seem right to me. Ken asked me once, "How come you have so much patience for your detail work on gourds but not for me?" My answer? "The gourds don't talk back!" Click on photos for larger views.

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