Washington State Gourd Society

Welcome to the home of the

We are the Mu Chapter of the American Gourd Society

The artistry of Dynva Todd

Dynva's Story: In 2002 my husband and I were visiting his family in Tucson, AZ. We visited the Tahona Chul gift store after breakfast and I saw my first piece of gourd art. I fell in love with it! I commented to my husband how much I loved it and, unknown to me, he went back later to buy it. It had been sold! Steve told me about his intentions and how sorry he was it was gone. I had learned a few years earlier that I could draw when my daughters were in elementary school after volunteering and getting the job of doing the "monthly birthday bulletin boards." My father-in-law was a wood carver and wood burner in Tucson, my mother-in-law a potter. Both artists have been great inspirations in my life. The Wuertz Gourd Farm is less than an hour's drive from their house. Having lost the prospects of owning that gourd, I decided "I can do that!" Steve and one of my daughters took off to buy gourds at Wuertz on their way back from an expedition to Phoenix. I bought one single-penned wood burner for about $7 and created my first piece; a ram which I later sold for $75. Using a wood burning pen was just an extension of my pencil; the gourd a different canvas than paper. Each gourd is naturally a piece of art unto itself; its shape, size and color spiritually unique. Their versatility amazes me; the reality of this fact proves itself every time I see another gourd artist's work. I feel blessed in the enjoyment I receive from every gourd I pick up and adding my "touch" is a joy received and understood by others who have found their art in gourds. Dynva Todd

Dynva Todd - DynvaArt@aol.com