# Intricate Vegetable Sculptures Marilyn Sunderland Sculpts Gourds into Vegetable Art By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2013-06-04 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegetable-art References: [oddstuffmagazine](http://oddstuffmagazine.com/unique-masterpieces-of-pumpkin-by-marilyn-sunderland.html) & [marilynsunderlandstudio](http://www.marilynsunderlandstudio.com/gallery/) The astounding vegetable art created by Marilyn Sunderland is carved entirely out of gourds. These intricate [pumpkin carvings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/women-carvers) are clearly a step up from the Jack O' lanterns you might carve on Halloween. These decorative pieces have incredibly detailing that pulls from other elements of nature like [leaves, flowers and animals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lithic-bloom). Sunderland is fascinated by [gourd carving](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gourd), as this all-natural art form has been used for centuries by ancient cultures. You might not expect that this edible material is so versatile. The artist notes that gourds are very versatile and can even be "carved like wood," painted, stained and dyed. When the leaves start falling, these Autumnal creations would make beautiful centrepieces for the Thanksgiving table. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 62% | Activity: 39% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Bizarre](https://www.trendhunter.com/bizarre) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Intricate Vegetable Sculptures:** Opportunity for artisans to explore the art of gourd carving and create intricate vegetable sculptures. - **Nature-inspired Detailing:** Artists can incorporate detailed elements from nature like leaves, flowers, and animals into their sculptural designs. - **Versatility of Gourd Carving:** Exploring the versatility of gourd carving by using techniques such as painting, staining, and dyeing. ### Where This Applies - **Artisan Crafts:** Artisans can leverage gourd carving to create unique and intricate sculptures, tapping into the demand for one-of-a-kind handmade items. - **Home Decor:** Gourd sculptures can find a market in the home decor industry as beautiful and nature-inspired centerpieces or decorative pieces. - **Seasonal Decor:** Seasonal decor industry can benefit from incorporating intricate gourd sculptures into their product offerings, especially during Autumn and Thanksgiving. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Otherworldly Wooden Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1.md) - [Outdoor Floral Sculpture Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sculptures-at-kew-gardens.md) - [Sophisticated Upcycled Home Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/basket-sculptures.md) - [Repurposed Wooden Vessels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/darren-appiagyei.md) - [Delicate Basket Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/basket-sculpture.md) - [Human Torso-Inspired Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lene-bdker.md) - [Basketball-Themed Floral Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sunflower-vessel.md) - [Biology-Inspired Porcelain Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shiyuan-xu.md) - [Spooky Carved Pineapples](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carved-pineapples.md)