Making Gourd Dolls & Spirit Figures

by Jim Widess and Ginger Summit

Book Overview

Dolls that dance, dolls that protect, dolls that charm: these beautiful gourd dolls do that and more. Ginger Summit and Jim Widess--authors of The Complete Book of Gourd Crafting and Making Gourd Musical Instruments --pay tribute to an ancient craft in a volume both inspirational and instructional. It's packed with images of dolls from different cultures and eras, filled with testimonials from the most creative artists working today, and brimming with advice and irresistible projects. Summit and Widess explain how to choose a gourd, mold one as it's growing, clean it properly and safely, pyrograph and sculpt faces, create movable joints, and make such creatures as a simple, limbless Stump Doll; beaded Zulu doll; endearing Hobgoblin; and stacked Mother and Daughter dolls.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1402732201
• ISBN13: 9781402732201
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Sterling
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.9" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Starting Place for Making Gourd Figures

As a gourd artist, I wasn't able to find much information on creating figural pieces with gourds when I first began. Ginger and Jim have done an incredible job of compiling work from a variety of artists with different styles. There is a great history on dolls in different cultures in the beginning of the book that I found fascinating. Different techniques for creating figures are shown in many styles as well as mediums. Probably the very best thing about this book is the abundance of pictures throughout. It will give you great inspiration to come up with your own creations!

A great gourd book

This book is a beautiful publication. It has concise, simple instructions to projects plus many wonderful examples of artists' work with comments from the artists. It shows the many things one can do with gourds. It's a must-have for your gourd library.

Inspiration!

I am a doll maker who has not worked much with gourds, but I am inspired to do so now! I am especially fond of the whimsical and archetypal characters Thank you for your contributions to the art world! Carole Henning Larson

Fabulous Book

As usual, Ginger Summit and Jim Widess have outdone themselves!! This book is a great one for the beginning gourder or the experienced.

Fantastic Book

Far exceeded my expectations! Full of ideas from the best in gourd art. Couldn't put it down after I rec'd it. This book will probably be the most treasured of all of my gourd art books. I too prepaid- Well worth the wait. A must for any gourd artist.