Making a gradient *follow* a shape? 1

[Inkers]

I've been doing some images in Illustrator and have been using a gradient to 'fill' the shape (it's amazing what you can achieve) but as the shape is a rounded semi-circle type shape, a linear gradient fill just looks.. unnatural.

Is there any way I can morph the fill to follow the lines/shape that I'm wanting to colour?

 

[samjazz]

Here's a method that works pretty well.

http://teom.coningham.net/ai-cs2/gradient-following-a-path