Painted Gourds Make Giant Fruit

Touring the Welburn Gourd Farm in Temecula, California, a pear shaped dried gourds caught my eye. Then an apple gourd shaped like a large apple, a banana and orange shaped gourd rounded out the bowl of fruit idea.

1. Clean them well with water (or you can buy them pre-cleaned).
2. Paint with acrylic paints to match the intended fruit.
3. Coat with matte acrylic varnish (DuraClear) to give a low shine - like the grocery store fruit with wax.
4. Arrange in still life and enjoy!