Where Does Driftwood Art Come From?
Aside from the obvious that it is driftwood, where did the idea of driftwood art come from? Modern concepts behind this come from the decor community as a novelty.
Nevertheless the idea to utilize driftwood for purposes of various kinds is as old as time itself. Using it for art dates back to early Native American times.
There is something special about driftwood. It holds a unique and special place for the qualities it can hold. If you are wondering how special it can be, some pieces sell well into the thousands of dollars. Commonly they can be had anywhere between the twenty to fifty dollar range for nice pieces. More inferior sticks or small break offs can be bought in batches for under twenty.
Indeed they can be expensive. Why do these small sticks sell for so much? Aside from them needing to be recovered it can take time for nature to make them become as they are. Before commercial logging the ability to find driftwood was far more common. Early pictures of the Western coastline showed the beaches littered with driftwood. Old timers have made claims to some beaches having piles between 20 to 60 feet high.
Some Natives such as the Inuit survived from what they collected. Living north of the tree line this supply of lumber would be used for everything from firewood to making bows and even canoes. It would not be until European traders came that this would slowly begin to change. Yet it is clear that driftwood was an accessible and abundant supply as a resource in history.
With commercial logging most large timbers which are found are salvaged for the purpose of them being returned to the logging company. There is a small industry built around this concept. Men will go out in boats and haul the logs in which escaped the culling.
In return these teams are paid little for their work but many find it fulfilling. With regulation and attempts to cut costs the logging companies are better at protecting their crop from going astray. Still it can be difficult as most companies use streams and rivers to float what is cut downstream before hauling out.
There are far fewer large timbers adrift today than in history. Some have claimed that this has in turn impacted ecosystems and based upon the science it is true. Driftwood provides an invaluable resource for our lakes, rivers and oceans. The scarcity of this resources has not not only driven up prices but it has also impacted our waters.
Scarcity Leads To DIY Driftwood
For hobby use people have turned to creating their own driftwood. The process is rather simple in that wood is cut, bark removed, some may boil the wood and then it is dried. Once dry it can be used as driftwood for applications such as aquariums.
In hobby applications this is the most common avenue for obtaining what one needs. Small outfits have created small industries where they offer what is made for these purposes. In short not all driftwood you find for sale online will be pieces that were taken from water.
There is nothing wrong with this method if you like the appearance. Just know that there will be a difference between how it looks to the real thing. Genuine driftwood if exposed to enough time in the water will create a natural rugged but beautiful appearance.
When manufactured for hobby use the wood will simply look debarked and clean. Another big difference is the presence of tannin within these diy pieces. Real driftwood will leech out their tannin into the water over time. This is part of the initial process where the wood begins to break down.
Some hobbyist find themselves needing to remove these tannins before the wood is used. Most commonly this is done for aquariums. To remove tannin all one must do is boil the wood. Essentially cooking it will speed this process removing what would otherwise turn the aquarium water brown.
Is Collecting Driftwood Safe?
Yes it is safe to collect driftwood for personal uses. Yet take whatever precautions are needed for the intended use. Using driftwood in home decor is pretty straight forward. You want to ensure that it is cleaned properly and dried in order to remove any potential nasty organisms you may not want in your home.
For driftwood art I would suggest following the same principles. The potential for bacteria, mold, or unwanted insects is very real. So please use common sense in application.
The EPA forbids using driftwood for burning in home appliances. Yes we all know Native Americans burned this stuff for generations. Yet it is different circumstances. Our homes today do a much better job at keeping air in and draft free.
Some wood even after being exposed to elements can release toxic gas that can be harmful. The introduction of some organisms can also create a toxic environment when burned. It does not require man made chemical exposure to make a potentially dangerous situation.
I bring burning to the front as there are many wood artist which use wood burning as a part of their art. You guys should already know how to produce your art safely using plenty of air flow and protective gear. If you plan on using driftwood for wood art burning then please continue to use your safety measures that you have set into place.
Other than these basic common sense principles there are no issues with collecting and utilizing driftwood for your diy purposes. The only other precaution would be for aquarium scaping artists which also should follow special procedures in wood preparation to protect their fish ecosystem. I do not cover this here as there are far better resources for that information.
Why Use Driftwood For Art?
It is absolutely beautiful! That is why many use it. There was a fad which began years ago surrounding barn wood. The aged appearance was highly sought after and used in home decor and design. I personally never cared for how many used this wood in some designs. Yet driftwood takes this concept to a whole new level.
If the wood spends enough time in the water I have already mentioned how the tannin is slowly removed from the lumber. Yet there is also a bleaching effect which takes place from the sunlight. The wood begins to transform.
It is essentially breaking down. As it deteriorates nutrients are released into the water. The grain cracks and this process alters the natural appearance. The key is finding wood which has been in the water just the right amount of time.
If it has spent too long in the water it will be too deteriorated. If it has not had enough time then it will not have cultivated this rugged unique appearance. Yet finding that just right piece is incredibly beautiful.
Today most pieces will be small as larger logs are more rare to find. Nevertheless this does not stop people from hunting down and creating unique works of art with this wood. It has an appeal to it that few other lumbers possess.
Cutting, Shaping, And Using Driftwood
I will give you a word of caution here. There may be more danger in cutting driftwood than there is burning it. I have written in other places about how wood dust by its nature is an issue. Spalted woods are downright dangerous. Driftwood also fits into this same category.
When it comes to cutting be sure to use dust collection and have airflow. You never want spores to find their way into your lungs. Please take precautions and wear a respirator. Remember wood dust can remain in the air for about an hour when it is at the small micron levels. Any nasty spores will also do the same.
Beyond this precaution the wood can be cut much similarly to other lumber. There will be some differences. How the wood has dried may further crack some portions. Water causes the wood to swell and weathering in addition to sun exposure will make the grain more unstable when compared to newly milled lumber.
The care that needs to be taken is focused on keeping the piece together for your desired project. Pay attention to the cut and the possibility of it causing the wood to splinter off or separate due to large cracks. It is a shame for a cut to ruin a piece for your desired application yet it does happen.
Shaping the wood with other tools whether by blade or sanding is done in much the same way as other lumber. There may be portions of the driftwood that has become unstable due to deterioration which you will need to watch out for. In turn other portions may feel almost petrified when dry and become more difficult to cut, shape, or sand.
While the process is almost the same you will notice a difference in the consistency of the wood. The larger the log is the less this becomes an issue. It requires a lot more time for a large log to deteriorate to its center.
How To Use Driftwood For Art
I have seen driftwood used in art across a wide spectrum of creations. Wall art is common as well as smaller display items that are absolutely beautiful. Some will use wood oil on the pieces rather than stain and finish in order to bring out the natural color of the wood. These smaller pieces will often be combined with others to create a shape or form for display.
In terms of crafting an item I have seen tables made from driftwood. Some of the most beautiful tables made came from this variety as compared to the more commonly used slabs. To achieve this may require more investment than you anticipate in order to find lumber worthy of this application.
More often than not smaller pieces are used in conjunction with others in order to make art. When completed it appears very Native American in shapes such as animals or mythical creatures. Additionally more functional purposes can be chosen such as frames for mirrors or pictures. These art applications can definitely give your display a very unique appearance.
Most often these smaller pieces of driftwood are preferred in their natural state for use. They are not cut and shaped like other lumber. In order to make a creation for art one will select pieces which are of the shape and size which they need.
In small pieces cutting and shaping often will destroy the natural beauty which the wood has acquired. Some art creations may require some of this to be done yet trying to select the best piece of wood for the application can help. This requires an artistic eye and touch when compared to the cut and run maker style wannabe’s.
Because It is Fun And Beautiful
Some wonder why to bother with all the trouble of working with driftwood. In short is is absolutely fun and beautiful. If you are looking for a way to let kids have some fun with crafts it doesn’t get any better. The odd shapes and sizes really brings out their creativity. It would surprise you in what they see and in turn create with the wood.
As the commercial industry became more prominent in our age rare lumber becomes more difficult to acquire. This is true beyond driftwood and extends into many other lumber variations. The prices continue to go higher and what was once common is called exotic.
At least with driftwood our industry driven world has been able to mimic what nature can do. It allows for the fun and beauty to continue at a more affordable cost. Nevertheless one can always go hunting for nice pieces along rivers, creeks, and lake shores. If you live by the ocean there will at times be very nice finds which can be taken advantage of.
The very act of hunting for this exotic driftwood can be fun for you or the family. It can be taken home and then processed to be used for creating something as a family. This builds a component that we are missing in our society today. Here you are able to cultivate more than art, you are creating memories with your children that they will forever have with them.