A friend told me my driftwood pieces looked too clean and it clicked

They said the art felt 'sterile' because I was sanding every surface smooth. Now I leave the bark and lichen on one side for texture, like on a piece I found at Baker Beach last month. Do you ever get pushback on how much to 'clean up' a found object?

3 comments

3 Comments

danieltaylor3mo ago

I get that, but for me the cleaning is part of the process. I like finding the shape under all the grit.

karent7524d ago

Oh definitely, that's exactly how I feel about old paintings... there's something really satisfying about seeing the details pop as you uncover layers of dust. It's like giving something a second chance at life, even if it takes hours of careful work. The quiet focus of it all just makes the end result feel more earned somehow.

richard_shah3mo ago

Yeah, like that article said, it's about balance. @danieltaylor gets the shape, you get the story.