Trustina Fafa Griscavage

Gourding For the Love of It - Metal Leaf

May 24 - 29, 2026

Open to All Skill Levels

Special Topics, Sculpture, Fibers

Overview

Students are invited to discover the intimate and adventurous art of gourd crafting in this comprehensive workshop, which is open to all skill levels. The course begins with foundational preparation, including how to safely use power tools for cutting, cleaning, and sanding the gourd. Students will then move on to a blend of foundational and intermediate surface design techniques, including creating, choosing, and placing a design, wood burning, dyeing, applying metal leaf, and stipple carving. Materials used include gourds, metal leaf, dyes, and acrylic paints. Students can expect to leave with three finished projects: one demonstrating gourd dyeing, another with metal leafing, and a third piece showcasing stipple carving.

Course Fee : $760.00

Download The Materials List

Scholarships & Material Fees

Need help covering workshop costs? Arrowmont offers financial aid opportunities to broaden access to our arts and craft programs. We believe a diverse community enriches the learning experience for all.

Material fees are not included in our national workshop costs, but are included with the cost of our winter short workshops. A material list with estimated costs will be emailed about 30 days before the national workshop begins.

TUITION & FEES

SCHOLARSHIPS

Cost Breakdown

One Week Workshop Tuition

$760.00

Registration Fee

$50.00

Estimated Cost*
*Fees exclude housing and meal plans

$810.00

VIEW HOUSING & MEAL PLAN COSTS

Artist Bio

Trustina Fafa Griscavage

Trustina Fafa Griscavage is a gourd artist originally from Ghana who now lives in Baltimore, Maryland. Since discovering her talent for gourd art in 2016, she founded Gourds By Fafa studio to make and sell her work and to teach workshops. Her work, which is inspired by her Ghanaian background and her desire to promote peace and beauty, has been displayed and sold at prestigious venues including The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, The REACH at Kennedy Center, and the Baltimore Farmer’s Market. She is an experienced educator who has taught several gourd art workshops at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and served as a resident artist at the Baltimore County Public Library, where she has continued to teach various workshops. Trustina was awarded First Place and Best in Division at the North Carolina Gourd Society's 80th Anniversary Gourd Show in 2022.

Artist Website

Explore the Wood Studio

With a dedicated building to all things wood, the John Jordan Wood Building, it should come as no surprise that our wood workshops have developed a bit of a reputation for being the best of the best. A dedicated woodturning studio, machine room, and woodworking studio offer a wide range of equipment and options for students and instructors alike. From woodturning to furniture making, greenwood appliques to carving, the sky is the limit for what our wood workshops can do.

Explore the Wood Studio