As I mentioned in a previous post (here), I had the chance to make a drum at this year's Great Northern Arts Festival.
Last Saturday I took the "Gourd Ocean Drum" class - see description below. We took a wide shallow canteen gourd, stretched a goat skin across it, and filled it with pellets. The pellets create the sound of waves when you
roll them across the skin side. You can also use a stick to make a traditional drum sound.
We then had a choice about how to decorate it - either by painting it, using fur or hide, or using the wood burning technique, which is what I tried.
Last Saturday I took the "Gourd Ocean Drum" class - see description below. We took a wide shallow canteen gourd, stretched a goat skin across it, and filled it with pellets. The pellets create the sound of waves when you
roll them across the skin side. You can also use a stick to make a traditional drum sound.
We then had a choice about how to decorate it - either by painting it, using fur or hide, or using the wood burning technique, which is what I tried.
The class was taught by Elizabeth Gordon, who is originally from Nunavut but who now lives in Bowman, Ontario. She specializes in making art out of gourds - this is another one of her pieces that was on display at the festival.
In the photos below I have shown the step-by-step process. It was a lot of fun and not nearly as hard as I thought
it would be!
STEP 1: Select your gourd. I chose one with a "stem" still attached as I wanted to be able to hang it on a wall later.
STEP 2: Take a piece of goat hide that has been soaking in water, and dry it slightly. I won't lie to you - it didn't smell great when it was wet but when it dried it was fine!
STEP 3: Take a handful of pellets (we used BB pellets) and place them carefully in the centre of the skin (they like to roll around!)
STEP 4: Place your gourd upside down in the centre of the goat skin.
STEP 5: Cut the goat skin so that you have about 1 to 1.5 inches overlap around the edge of the gourd.
STEP 6: Attach the skin to the gourd, first applying a thin layer of wood glue to the overlapping skin, then stapling the skin. Start at 12 o'clock, then 6, 3, and 9 o'clock, and keep going until you have attached all the way around. Gently pull the skin tight as you go to make sure it is taut.
STEP 7: Attach a braid or ribbon with pins to cover up the staples. You can see the clock markings on the paper - place a pin at each hour mark.
STEP 8: This would be a good time to stop for a photo.
STEP 9: Decorate your gourd however you wish. Some people painted them, but I chose to try wood burning for the first time. I chose a wave pattern as I thought it would be simple, and in line with the "ocean sounds" of the drum. It was not easy but kind of fun to burn the pattern in.
STEP 10: Admire the finished product!
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