Driftwood Reimagined as Breathtaking Nature Spirits by Artist
Artist Debra Bernier of Shaping Spirit has an extraordinary ability to perceive faces in the most unexpected locations. Within driftwood pieces, sun-bleached bones, and shells, she imagines figures and animates them using found natural materials. The carved sculptures frequently portray women, eyes softly closed and serene, as they rest in the polished and smoothed contours of the finished wood.
Bernier discovers her raw materials along the coasts of Vancouver Island, Canada. While countless individuals may find it difficult to see these elements as art, she consistently looks beyond the exterior. “Pareidolia is a phenomenon where individuals perceive faces or animals in items like clouds, rocks, or trees,” she shares with My Modern Met. “As a child, I experienced this frequently in my imaginative world. As I matured, I began crafting these faces from clay and wood and translating my visions into reality.”
Bernier’s exceptional craftsmanship and her talent for infusing lifeless objects with character are compelling; one cannot help but feel that same serenity upon witnessing her creations. This is intentional. “I aspire for my sculptures to assist individuals in discovering their inner tranquility,” the artist expresses.
A significant portion of Bernier’s work elicits themes of fertility and motherhood, paying tribute to and celebrating the maternal forces present in our lives and surroundings. Her figures and focus on natural materials continue a long-standing tradition of Venus figurines. The cultural significance of these ancient artifacts remains uncertain, yet many regard them as symbols of fertility or even representations of a mother goddess. These concepts are timeless, as they continue to resonate with us today.
Bernier’s original pieces and prints can be found in the Shaping Spirit Etsy shop.
Shaping Spirit: [Etsy](https://tidd.ly/4ko1cKL) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ShapingSpirit/) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ShapingSpirit)
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