Washed ashore by oceans, seas, and rivers, driftwood often hides a beauty that most people tend to overlook… but not Debra Bernier. The mastermind behind Shaping Spirit sculptures is breathing new life into driftwood through her magical works of art.
Bernier’s creations are full of intricate details, each one unique in its own right. She usually collects driftwood on the shores of Vancouver Island, Canada, and then uses her special talent to finish the work that nature has already started. She explores different philosophical concepts through her sculptures, which often take the shape of women seeking freedom and expressing their individuality.
Bernier is a huge believer that each piece of driftwood holds a story, and it’s her job to help tell it. She describes her art as a personal expression of the gentle beauty she sees in nature, and she tends to imagine the history of wood whenever she works on a new sculpture.
“I consider myself a co-creator and storyteller, revealing the hidden past and spirit of the wood. My art speaks of the unity of humans and nature. I hope that Shaping Spirit sculptures will inspire others to wonder about the big stories, hidden in the little things,” she writes on her Etsy page.
