Driftwood is Transformed Into Fantastical Sculptures That Resemble Natural Spirits By an Artist

In Victoria, Canada, artist Debra Bernier makes imaginative sculptures from the natural surroundings. Bernier explores the shape and form of each piece of driftwood, painstakingly cutting out or adding to the natural material to make these beautiful, feminine forms. “I never start with a blank canvas when working with driftwood.” “Each piece of driftwood is already a sculpture, sculpted by the waves and wind,” Debra explains. “The wood tells a tale, and while I hold it in my hand, I attempt to imagine its journey.” I stretch or shorten existing curves and contours to form recognized forms of animals or people’s faces.”

Debra’s art is not confined to wood; she frequently adds shells, clay, stones, and other miscellaneous things to her sculptures. The sculptures, which resemble nymphs blooming in the forest and along the coast, are a real synthesis of humans and nature, frequently invoking ideas of fertility and motherhood. The use of shells, which are a sign of fertility in many cultures, contributes to this relationship. These talismans, which are a contemporary reimagining of archaic stone Venus figurines, encourage peaceful contemplation, which Bernier skillfully captures in wonderfully framed images.

“The completed sculptures reflect not just my life, my family, and my children, but also a timeless, holy connection we all have with nature,” she explains. You’ll never look at a piece of driftwood the same way again!