Gourdgeous Décor
Debbie Skelly
Gourd Artist
My love for gourds started when I moved to Maggie Valley, NC in 2005. I have always loved creating some form of art, mostly painting, but when I was introduced to gourds, that all changed. I saw my first gourd in a gallery in Boone, NC. From that day on, I knew that I wanted to work with gourds. Presently, I design and create only gourd art. I cannot imagine doing anything else.
My gourd designs are influenced by nature, Native American and Southwest styles. Because I love the “critters”, (as I call them), often I incorporate butterflies, dragonflies and hummingbirds into my art. In addition, I use dreamcatchers, bears, turtles, and kokopellis, which are in the Native American and Southwest styles. I can actually incorporate anything onto a gourd.
I use a variety of media such as leather dyes, inks, polishes, paint and clay. Carving and wood burning are used on many of my gourds. All natural embellishments and beads are often used as accents.
I believe you can never stop learning. I have taken gourd classes from some of the best gourd instructors, Bonnie Gibson, Judy Richie and Ronna Wuttke to name a few.
My work can be seen at Woolworths Walk, Asheville, NC., Balsam Mountain Inn, Balsam, NC., and Stickley Arts & Gifts, Banner Elk, NC.
Very Nice Gallery in Downtown Asheville, NC
Beautiful Inn in Balsam, NC
Stickley Arts & Gifts
Banner Elk, NC
I belong to the American Gourd Society, Georgia Gourd Society and the South Carolina Gourd Society.
