A Gourdfolio Book!

A Gourdfolio

A collection of Gou...

By Tracy Swartz

Click on the picture or HERE to purchase.

Proceeds from the sale of this book help fund my gourd art projects!

Design Style Guide Giveaway #2

This month's giveaway features Lindy Wood of Woodsheddesigns. Good luck!

She Who Nurtures

As I worked on “She Who Nurtures” some interesting things occurred which made me go “hmm”. Was this simply a whimsical journey of creation or was I actually stirring up my subconscious pot journeying through universal facets of myself I found mirrored in my fellow sisters? Ooh, that’s deep! Yet the proof of others feeling and enjoying her presence makes me believe that there is something more to these gourd sisters than meets the eye. It amazes me how art can stir the soul. I adore her sister “She Who Dreams” because I am a dreamer. I must admit that I tumbled head over heels in love with “She Who Nurtures.”

People who required a nurturing kind of energy seemed to gravitate toward me. I had one friend who explained that when she comes to my house and receives a hug, it’s as if all is all right with the world. This makes me seriously wonder what will unfold as I create “She Who Laughs” or “She Who Growls”. I may have to be locked in The Lair with my food slipped in through a dinner plate-sized hole in the door.

During my time with “She Who Nurtures” I was reminded to work on my nurturing. For most of us humans this is not easy to do. There is always someone or something that needs attention. Too often we give and give until we are depleted, empty and dry. If we want our cup to overflow, we must take the time to refill it. That one is finally sinking in.



“She Who Nurtures” is the second mask for the “I Am” series. She is 38” tall and 15” wide. She was created using a dried gourd, dried grass, and feather picks. She’s painted with alcohol dye, acrylics, and Dr. Ph. Martin’s watercolors. I used micro beads in most of the gold areas.

She took two months from start to finish and it wasn’t a straight and narrow path either. My creative process ebbs, flows, twists, and turns. There are times I refused to listen and had to do things once, twice, even three or four times. The mistakes that left me cursing turned out to be, upon a second glance, doorways to what was exactly needed. Truly, there are no mistakes only opportunities to look at something with fresh eyes.

The Gourdesses are no longer willing to sit patiently and wait for me to finish their sister masks. They have let their presence be known and insist upon being created. They took down the device that spews numbers and discombobulated the speaker telling them to take a number and wait. Sarcasm escapes my inner artist who persists until I cry “uncle” and get to work.






During this time I was also asked to create an owl pin. That was incredibly fun to do! This piece is approximately 2 ½” in height and 2” wide. It’s surrounded with micro beads (per customer input), pyroengraved, and painted with Dr. Ph. Martin’s Watercolors.



Lastly, there is room in the June classes. You can click HERE for more information. I’m off to start on “She Who Laughs” (her face will not leave me alone) and start on a Gourdess. May you have a Wonder-Filled day and always enjoy the journey.