How to Paint a Gourd

Fill a bowl or bucket with warm water.

Choose the desired number of gourds you want to paint. The gourds should be at least 6 inches (15.2 cm) in length, not counting the stems.

Wrap a dishtowel around each gourd. Dishtowels help keep the entire gourds underwater instead of floating to the surface.

Submerge the draped gourds into the bowl or bucket of warm water.

Allow your gourds to soak for approximately 4 hours to soften the skin.

Rub the skin off the gourds gently, using steel wool.

Rinse the gourds thoroughly and allow them to sit overnight or until they are completely dry.

Apply a water seal if the gourd will be used outside and allow it to dry. Paint the gourd with an oil-based primer in the areas that will be decorated and allow it to dry. This makes a solid surface for your art.

Gather all the paints you would like to use and begin with a base coat. This could be an acrylic or oil-based paint. You can also use a spray paint.

Draw any desired designs on your gourds using a pencil or marker if desired. You can skip this step if you prefer to paint the designs free-hand.

Apply paint to your designs with paintbrushes or sponges using small strokes and a light amount of paint. You may also spray the paint, just make sure to spray lightly and at a distance of at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) to prevent the paint from running or dripping.

Allow the freshly-painted gourds to dry thoroughly once more.

Coat the gourds with clear paint or an acrylic quick-drying sealer to give it a glossy finish and prevent scratching or peeling.

Finished.