Ben Willingham paints gourd vessels in an unusual folk art style at his shop in the artist community at scenic Brasstown, Western North Carolina. Brasstown is also known for the John C. Campbell Folk School. Read Ben's writing on gourd craft: Are You Like a Gourd?. His story contains some gourd making how-to hints.

Ben carves and paints our native American gourd (cucurbita pepo). The same species that archaeological digs have uncovered, proving it has been in cultivation for thousands of years.

To get a distinctive hand painted gourd or one like this visit Ben's shop or email askaguide.

Pictures taken with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black).

Here is Ben with a soccer ball sized hand painted gourd vessel standing in the front gallery of his shop. Notice the variety of distinctively styled pieces on display.

...chatting with a customer outside the shop.

Ben applies his unique skill with pen and ink to capture and preserve the images of buildings that are not there anymore, or soon will be gone.

Not all quaint covered bridges are native to New England. This one once kept wheels and travelers dry in the foothills of the Georgia part of the Southern Appalachian mountains.

The Covered Bridge

Over the years and through the fields squeaked the old iron wheels.
As the wagons spent the day traveling to a town far away.
A river, they must cross. They the people, knew once to the river. They were near; home was not far away.

Just cross the old covered bridge. Draw some water from the river, eat the lunch and on our way.
We will be home by the end of the day.

Ben Willingham
August 8, 2006

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