I was born and raised in Kansas City, MO. I attended college for 2-1/2 years but have no formal training in art. I worked for Gill Studios, Inc., a screen printing company, for 37 years, trained by an old sign painter (whose hands shook until his brush hit the sign). I spent many years as an artist on the drawing board and retired in 1997 as vice president of graphics.

Upon retirement to Lake of the Ozarks, I was looking for an artistic hobby. My wife brought home two plain gourds in the fall of 1999 and said she and a friend would like a Santa Claus. Not really being familiar with gourds, I was somewhat perplexed but did manage to finish the task and really enjoyed it. I went to my first gourd show in 2000, entered my first competition in 2001 and was instantly hooked.

I do a lot of pyrography (wood burning), cutting, some carving and sculpting. To decorate gourds I use mostly dye, colored pencil and water color, occasional pen and ink. It is important to me that I keep the gourd prominent when doing my artwork.

I have exhibited in many states - Missouri, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Texas, Ohio and Kentucky - and have been honored with many ribbons and special awards. I was also honored to be in the Summer 2006 edition of The Gourd Magazine by AGS placing second in the “container with a lid category.”

Wanting to keep this as a hobby, I do not actively pursue selling my artwork. However,
if approached by an individual interested in one of my gourds, I will sell it.

I am now serving in my second year as President of the Show Me Gourd Society of Missouri.

Bert Petrie