Down on The Farm Gourd Gallery

: Back door of Martin Gourd pig farm birdhouse design by Karen Wilson – This is the back door to our pig farm wren house design. Karen used acrylics to paint the design and hubby Paul B. Wilson made a door in the back for easy cleaning of the martin gourd type birdhouse. Semigloss indoor/outdoor polyurethane was applied with two coats with a brush. A fun farm scene to do.

: Oink Oink Pig Farm by Karen Wilson – This martin gourd was designed by Karen Wilson with acrylic paints. Pigs are another farm scene Karen’s customers love. A polyurethane finish was applied and this piece was made into a wren house with a back door.

: Colonial Farm Scene container by Paul B. Wilson – Acrylic painted colonial farm scene container by Paul B. Wilson This piece was entered in an art show in 2010.

: Back view of colonial farm scene container by Paul B. Wilson – Detailed acrylic painted colonial farm scene container by Paul B. Wilson.

: Dipper Gourd Cow Farm Scene by Karen Wilson – Down on the cow farm. Painted with acrylics this fall cow scene when the apples are ripe. A dipper gourd was used and polyurethane indoor/outdoor finish two coats hand brushed on. Made of indoor or outdoor use.

: Cow Scene Bowl by Karen Wilson – Karen Wilson also loves to use acrylics and make farm scene bowls. This is her cow scene specialty. Polyurethane Semigloss which is non-toxic when dried was applied with brushing on two coats. A nice bowl for the kitchen.

: Cow Farm Scene Third place ribbon Il Gourd Society, Clinton, IL 2008 – Cow scenes are popular with Karen Wilson. This particular martin gourd design is a wren birdhouse with a back door. It is acrylic painted and coated by brushing on two coats of semigloss polyurethane indoor/outdoor finish. It is one of our folk art specialties. Also have won a first place ribbon in Arthur, IL for a birdhouse competition overhaul painting of the gourd design.

: Small Martin Gourd Cow Farm Scene 2011 by Karen Wilson – This was acrylic painted by Karen Wilson. The cow farms are quite popular with the public. Try to give each cow a characteristic expression. Have made the cow scenes into wren size birdhouses, bowls, and containers with various types of gourds. All are acrylic painted.

: Chicks, Chicken, and Rooster Farm – Acrylic painted farm scene of our chicken and rooster friends birdhouse design. This design has a door on the front with hold for easy cleaning. Wren size birdhouse.

: FRONT VIEW OF OUR CHICKS, CHICKENS AND ROOSTER FARM by Karen Wilson – Acrylic painted chicken and rooster farm scene. Front hinged door with wren hold access for easy cleaning. Polyurethane indoor/outdoor finish hand brushed two coats.

: Bow Wow Dog by Karen Wilson – Dog designs are fun to do especially on the larger dipper gourds. Karen used acrylics on this piece to make this fun dog design. It was made into a dog birdhouse for a little wren. Polyurethane finish was brushed on for outdoor use.

: Extra long handle curved gourd cat by Karen Wilson – This cat was painted with metallic acrylics and general acrylics on a long handle curved gourd piece by Karen Wilson. Polyurthene finish in semigloss was applied by brush with two coats. A fun piece to do.

: Curved dipper acrylic painted cat birdhouse by Karen Wilson – Karen Wilson loves cats and loves to design them with acrylics and wood burning on various dipper and long handle type gourds. She likes the curved gourds which make the cats look like they have tails. This piece was acrylic painted and brushed with semigloss polyurethane finish with two coats and is ready for outdoor use as a wren birdhouse.

: The Cat’s Meow by Paul and Karen Wilson – The extreme cat design we did together. This one is wood burned with a 950 degree wedge wood burning tool then we used gold acrylic paint and metallic green acrylic paint for the eyes of the cat. Finished it into a wren birdhouse. Used polyurethane finish for indoor/outdoor use two coats hand brushed on.

: Metallic dipper gourd cat by Karen Wilson – This cat looks Egyptian with Karen Wilson using metallic acrylics and other type of acrylics to bring out the design in this wren birdhouse. The curved tail on this dipper gourd enhances the gourd design. A polyurethane semigloss finish for outdoor use was applied with a brush with two coats of finish. A fun design to do.

: Woodburned dipper Cat Gourd Design by Karen Wilson – This woodburned cat design was done by Karen Wilson with a 950 degree wedge tip with a woodburning tool. Polyurethane finish in semigloss was applied with a brush with two coats. A delightful wren birdhouse.

: Extra large hanging chicken design by Karen Wilson – This chicken was painted with acrylics, sculpted with polymer clay for beak, head dress and eyes. It is an extra large bottle type design and more for hanging indoors or outdoors. Polyurethane indoor/outdoor hand brushed two coats is always on all our gourd art pieces. So can use this piece for indoor or outdoor use and decoration.

: Fancy Chicken by Karen Wilson – This piece used a bottle gourd and painted the head with acrylic metallic paints and body with various acrylics. The chickens beak, and head dress and eyes are polymer clay. Love to say “Chickens were baked in the oven”. Chicken designs can be made for indoor display or made into birdhouses for outdoor pleasure. Love to use various sizes of bottle type gourds for constructing my chickens.

: Rooster bowl 2nd place ribbon 2008, IL Gourd State Convention, Clinton, IL – Karen Wilson won a second place ribbon for her painted rooster bowl design in 2008 at the IL State Gourd Convention in Clinton, IL. Acrylics were used to paint the design and polyurethane semigloss indoor finish was brushed on with two coats. This is one of Karen’s specialty designs she loves to do and vary with rooster designs and other farm animals and make into functional bowls.

: Rooster Bowl Advanced design with coiling by Wilsons’ Gourds – The rooster bowl is now more advanced and appealing with Karen Wilsons acrylic painting and hubby Paul B. Wilson’s coiling of the bowl. Polyurethane finish in semigloss indoor was applied by brush with two coats.

: The Chickens have roosted!!! by Karen Wilson – These medium sized chickens were painted with acrylics and scuplted head dress, beak, eyes with polymer clay which was baked on the gourds in the oven. Each chicken has own facial expression making each unique. Two are made into birdhouses for wrens. Note that we never put a perch on our birdhouses due to larger birds trying to invade the wren’s nest by using a perch to make the hole bigger. Drainage holes are underneath to keep the young ones safe and secure. Polyurethane indoor/outdoor finish hand brushed on with two coats. Note: These chickens were sold but can make more if customer wishes.

: Ma and Pa Gourd by Karen and Paul Wilson – Acrylic painted and sculpted gourd heads made into scarecrows for the Midwestern Herb and Garden Show at Mt. Vernon, IL. They were used for a couple of years with the garden display. We enjoyed making them. Polyurethane finish for indoor/outdoor use, straw hair on female. Used broom type handles and wooden bottom to sit flat. Crisscross design for shirt. Fun to make. We love to make scarecrow heads and sell them. We give advice on how to construct the rest of the body to make your own unique scarecrow. Broom handles work great!!!