Coshocton woman creates gourd-geous art pieces

COSHOCTON — The biggest thrill Norma Owens of Coshocton gets from her gourd art is witnessing the smiles it brings to people’s faces.

Owens sells her creations at various craft shows across the region, including the annual holiday bazaar slated for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, at Lake Park Pavilion. There will be more than 50 vendors selling a variety of handmade items with a focus on holiday gift giving.

“It’s local, it’s inside and has a nice festive atmosphere,” Owens said of the bazaar. “It’s a much nicer place to shop than the crazy stores, and you got one of a kind items.”

Owens is originally from California and came to Coshocton in 1987 to be the first female trainee of MMS Aviation. She also served four years in the Air Force.

She got into gourd art around 2008 after attending a workshop taught by Theresa Scheetz and Phyllis Debnar. She got hooked and continued to take classes and experiment on her own from there.

Owen grows her own gourds and people give her some because they know she does the art. Gourds come in different

shapes and sizes, which can lend themselves to different pieces. Surprisingly, many gourds are perfect for

Christmas crafts as those with long tops make a good hat for Santa, and those with small round tops and bigger round bottoms can become snowmen.

After the gourds are dried, Owens cuts out the bottom with a small saw and removes the insides. She then draws a design on the gourd and uses wood burning tools, carving tools and paint to create the design. Some of creations, like the snowmen, have a light placed in the bottom, which shines through spaces burned into the gourd.

Owens’ pieces range from the fairly simple snowmen to decorative bowls to elaborate figures standing several feet high with gourds for the head and hands. Nativity scenes made from gourds are popular this time of year as well.

“The hardest part for me is, really, coming up with the ideas. Once I have an idea, it’s drawn on there and I’m wood burning, it’s almost cathartic,” Owens said. “You don’t have to think about it anymore. You’re just burning your lines and I’m listening to my music.”

A woman approached Owens at her table at the Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival in October at Roscoe Village.

“She said, ‘you’re the main reason I came,’” Owen recalled. “I enjoy having a booth setup, because it always brings a smile to people’s faces.” llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com @llhayhurst 740-295-3417

LEONARD HAYHURST/COSHOCTON TRIBUNE Norma Owens works on a snowman made from a gourd. She has been making gourd art since about 2008. She sells her art at various craft shows, including the holiday bazaar Friday at Lake Park.