I am a native Texan currently living in Sherman, TX with my husband and an assortment of 4-legged children – a horse, donkey, 3 dogs and 5 cats. Although I have been drawing and painting all my life, I only recently caught ‘gourd fever’.  Three years ago after becoming frustrated with burning on wood (the grain kept messing me up), I switched to gourds.  I met Bob Dunfield at McKinney Trade Days and after quizzing him on the ‘best’ wood burning machine, I was off! I am totally and completely obsessed with gourds.

My earliest art influences were my grandmothers; both were artistic. My paternal grandmother was a pastel artist specializing in landscapes and family home places and my maternal grandmother was a decorative artist who decorated bird eggs and hand-sewed children's clothes. I have been surrounded and nurtured by parents, family and friends who have encouraged me with praise and support of my artistic abilities. I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a BFA in Commercial Art in 1982. As a child, I drew with pencils and pastels but in 1986, I discovered color pencils.  I created pet portraits for friends and family and occasionally sold my work at art events.  In 1998 I took China painting lessons, bought a kiln and painted plates and ceramic tiles for commissions plus murals in homes in the Dallas area.   

I believe gourd art has interested me because it allows me to use the skills I have developed throughout my lifetime. Whether it is pencil, pen and ink, paint or pyrography, I am able to incorporate the techniques I used in these mediums into my gourd art. My artwork will always reflect my love of nature and animals. Gourds are nature’s canvas and one that will forever be part of my palette. Painting animals on gourds and using other natural elements like pine needles, feathers, deer antlers and embellishments of beads and leather excites me. I am constantly thinking of new designs and subjects and look forward to getting home in the evening and working on my creations.  I also look forward to retiring and creating gourd art full time.

I have won several awards in gourd competition:
2006 - TGS 1st place and VIP Award - Bighorn Ram.
2007  AGS 1st place Pyrography - Bighorn Ram.
2007 participated in Kerrville Arts & Cultural Center and Cooper Shade Tree Gallery Show in Round Top; 2007 TGS five 1st places and one 3rd place.

I am happy to have found a venue for my art in TGS and the Dallas Gourd Patch. To have many wonderfully talented artists around me inspires me to strive and create my next gourd piece.

Sylvia Gaines
Sherman, TX