Susan McKinney

Artist Bio
In January 2021, I was putting the finishing touches on our house and looking for pieces of driftwood to use as a centerpiece for a coffee and dining table. I didn’t want anything that needed attention or watering.  After looking and not finding the right thing, I decided to try to find driftwood and make exactly what I wanted. This is how the adventure began!

 My husband, Bob, and I put on our heavy plastic boots and went stomping around in low tide, picking up pieces of driftwood. Each piece was so unique that we couldn’t throw any back and took home 15 pieces to try out. That’s when I started adding plants, votives and shells to create special pieces and then I realized I would like to design these to share.

When I start a new piece, it takes 2-3 weeks to prepare the driftwood - cleaning, drying and spraying - so it is safe for your home. Then the creative part begins - figuring out the perfect angle, deciding if a votive works, gluing the faux plants and the best part, tucking away a little shell or portion of a shell for good fortune and good health.

Artist Statement 
Susan McKinney creates beauty with natural driftwood pieces from the North Carolina Coast.  For additional information, please visit her website at WoodSea (@woodsea_design) • Instagram photos and videos