When most of us pass by an old piece of wood on the ground, we don’t look at it twice. After all, it’s just a stick, right?

The grooves, pits, and fractures in a piece of driftwood, however, are miniature pieces of art made by nature that serve as the inspiration for Canadian artist Debra Bernier’s earthy, enchanted creations.

She adds driftwood pieces by carving portraits of people and animals, resulting in ethereal, eternal sculptures. Bernier’s artwork is a tribute to the God-given natural environment and man’s relationship with it. It was inspired by his love of nature, his compassion for animals, and the sacrifices made by women.

“The finished pieces are a reflection of not only my life, my family, and children, but of an eternal, sacred connection we all share with nature,” she says.

Since she was a young child, Bernier has adored the beach and the ocean, and she has always thought that it is a magical and creative area.

“The little girl in me is still fascinated by the shapes in wood, the sun sparkling on the water, smooth gray stones, and salty seaweed,” she says.

Wood is a naturally beautiful material that provides crafters, designers, and artists with countless creative possibilities. Whether it is used as a canvas for paintings or to create lifelike sculptures, it always emits a unique charm.

She shared: “The wood tells a story and I try to think of its journey as I hold it in my hand. I extend or shorten the curves and contours that already exist into familiar shapes of animals or peoples’s faces.”

In addition to such beauty, weather-related natural decay serves as inspiration for Bernier’s sculptures. She occasionally incorporates additional organic materials, like clay or shells, inside the wood to give it even more dimension.

Check out her artwork below, and the next time you see a piece of driftwood or a gnarled old branch, stop and look at it for a moment. You might just get inspired!

Some of her sculptures hint at the multilayered experiences of women, including love, connection, and children, but also healing, uncertainty, and inner strength.

Since she was a young child, Bernier has adored the beach and the ocean, and she has always thought that it is a magical and creative area.

“The little girl in me is still fascinated by the shapes in wood, the sun sparkling on the water, smooth gray stones, and salty seaweed,” she says.

These beautiful sculptures are available for purchase on Bernier’s Etsy shop, where you can also get inexpensive printed cards of the pieces.