Jen Norpchan’s gourd art consists of a little of this, a little of that…a whimsy. The whimsical characteristic of her gourds fascinate and delight everyone. She is enchanted by the imperfect nature of gourds and the fact that no two are alike. The gourd is a magical canvas: its shape and patterns guide the artist to what it will become, ‘each piece unique’.

Cultures from all over the world have used gourds in all parts of their lives, from the functional to the spiritual and aesthetic. Emerging from beautiful seeds, the gourd dries for several months in the sun.

Jen’s gourd’s start to synthesize what is in her…a daydream during a hike, the energy release after a day at work, a funny cartoon, a good laugh, or a visit to an art museum.

Her real appreciation is for the illusive "Gourd Hunt.” She will hunt for hours to find the perfect gourd. Each piece is unique… a way of going to that other place where the mind escapes, shoulders relax, and the breathing comes easy.

She may carve the gourd with high-speed drills or by hand; embellish with clay or resin, “paint” the gourd with acrylics, dyes, shoe polish, water color pencils & crayons, wax; even design them with armatures, and housing (internal engineering) all to create her wonderful creature’s that bring her as much happiness as she hope’s they do for you.

Jen tells us she is grateful for the left brained, intellectually stimulating world in which she spends some of her time as an architectural designer…but grateful for the enlightenment and creativity that allows her right brain to rise.