It is about time I address a few FAQs. Questions which come up time and time again when I attend craft fairs. So the first chapter is about driftwood and introducing coastal vibes into ceramic sculptures.
DRIFTWOOD: coastal vibes
Who doesn’t love driftwood?! Some of the pieces are a piece of art in themselves. Sand-blasted, sun-bleached, worn and torn. Some pieces have caught small stones, which refuse to come out. Also some pieces are very hard, whereas others are soft, not sure which tree species they are from. You wonder where they originate from or how far they have travelled….
The question I get asked most is:
Where is your driftwood from?
The first ever lot came from New Zealand. We went quite a while back on holidays and had a camper van travelling around the South Island. During the trip the driftwood piled up in the back of the camper van! Subsequently we then decided to send it back to the UK. We shipped it on the last day of the hols and it arrived two days after we came back home!
At that point I had no idea what to do with it! Although driftwood sculptures in itself are beautiful I wanted to combine them with ceramics.
Elemental
I first incorporated the driftwood into “Elemental” sculptures, which consist a central metal rod which is anchored into a ceramic base together with ceramic elements and driftwood. They are about 70cm tall. The driftwood and the colours of the ceramics evoke coastal vibes for a garden or patio.
elements, and driftwood.
Assembled on a metal rod with a ceramic base
Ocean’s Dreamcatcher and Tidelines: coastal vibes…..
Following the Elementals I developed wall-hanging pieces “Oceans Dreamcatchers”. A metal hoop combined with ceramic elements and driftwood, giving a real coastal vibe to the house. The hoop is either 40cm in diameter or 60cm in diameter.
Lastly another project incorporating driftwood: “Tidelines” with a straight metal rod, either 50 cm or 70 cm long. Could fit in any bathroom!!
The combination of different materials like ceramics, driftwood and metal offers endless creative possibilities!
ceramic elements, driftwood and metal rod
Unsurprisingly the first batch of driftwood is long gone! Subsequently I sourced some more from New Zealand and I am also constantly on the lookout for new sources: might even plan some holidays with the distinct possibility of beachcombing 😊