Heather Kinkade - Artist

Ms. Kinkade is the president of Kinkade Gourds, a fine art gourd company that grew out of a desire to continue the hand graphics that she had refined over the last 26 years in the Land Planning and Landscape Architectural field. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Heather took as many art classes as possible to refine her artistic side of the profession. As time moved forward, hand graphics were replaced with computer graphics and management duties consumed working hours putting an end to Heather’s creative expression. This natural transition to working with gourds has allowed her to once again find her creative talent. This new direction has allowed Heather to continue to work with her hands through carving, burning, staining, painting and color pencil rendering of once living, three dimensional, plant material; which stays in line with her love for the natural environment.

 Ms Kinkade is challenging the way traditional gourd techniques are conducted by creating her own interpretations for faux leather tooling on gourds by basing her work on traditional leather tooling techniques and master leather artist’s patterns. She is also creating new basket patterns for use on gourds; patterns based on traditional basket designs. She continues to move gourd design toward a higher level of design and toward new effects with a focus on western characteristics. For her efforts she has been awarded with ribbons in every art show she has entered as well as being accepted as a juried member to every art league she has applied to for membership. This year she has been awarded the following:

 Wuertz Gourd Festival in February 2011

White Rope – First Place, People’s Choice, and Judge’s Choice

Magnolia – Judge’s Choice

Gourd Purse – Second Place

Arizona Art Alliance Spring Show in March 2011

Magnolia – First Place in 3D

2010 Awards:

Sundust Gallery

Sun Flower – Distinguish Artist Award

Cody Country Artist League Spring Show

Heshi Circles – Second Place 3D

Wuerts Gourd Festival

Morning Glories – First Place

Maple Leaf – Third Place

2009 Awards:

Wuerts Gourd Festival

Mask – Third Place

Representation:

Big Horn Galleries in Cody, Wyoming and Tubac, Arizona

http://www.bighorngalleries.com/HeatherKinkade.htm

Fountain Hills Artists Gallery in Fountain Hills, Arizona

 Current and Previous Showings:

Northwest Gourd Festival in Moses Lake, WA

July, 2011

Cody Country Artist League Spring Show in Cody, WY

June through July, 2011

Herberger Theater in Phoenix, AZ

Living in Arizona

July through August, 2011

Fram’n Works in Phoenix, AZ

Two month show with one other 2D artist

October through November 2010

K3 Guest Ranch in Cody, WY

On Going 2009 -2011

Wild West Extravaganza in Cody, WY

July 2, 3, and 4, 2009, 2010, 2011