In the last blog I posted – the painting of Southport Beach- the principal reason why I went down there was to get some driftwood to complete a mobile. I liked the notion that the distressing of the wood is a product of the sea as are the fishes.
I started out by carving rough, archetypical fish forms out of the driftwood but gradually, as I proceeded with the project, I left it to the wood to convey the form – though on a couple I cut them in half and repositioned the ends to make better sense- well you do, dont you?
I am wondering whether to get another one and have 3 hangings a 2, 3 and 2 to better intermingle the forms – but now the wife is looking sceptically at them, so they might be reconsigned to the sea.
Sculptures and other artworks are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
graham mcquade 
We have a bit of ‘fishy art’ on the wall in our hallway. Driftwood slightly shaped by our then 10 year old youngest son, to revela the fish inside as he said. I occasionally get asked about the gallery where I bought it. 🙂
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Thanks Kim some of these organic forms conjure up all manner of images. We bought a mirror from a gallery in Rye, Sussex where the outside is made up of sliced driftwood and rope to give a kind of collage around the glass and it is all encased in a frame. There are also remnants of paint on some of the wood. All revealing the highwatermark inside.
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thats a nice sideshift from painting, the mobile looks great, some fish are recognizable others need a pint or two..
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Thanks Steve, well carved fishes was getting too obvious – make the viewer work is what I say – even if they need a pint or two.
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I once heard a painter say similar to that, i just paint pictures, they decide whether its good or bad, cheers..
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I love this type of art! Several artists I know incorporate driftwood into practical as well as artistic items.
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Thanks Louise. See my reply to Kim above. I know Kurt Jackson in the UK puts bits of found material into his beachscapes and perhaps I should be more adventurous too and do more. I could even paint on it like you do with your animals.
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This is awesome! I am always making “stick projects” as I call them, they are all over my house, luckily, the husband doesn’t seem to mind!
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Thanks Tiffany. I’ve filled the house – now its the garden.
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Love these, Graham.
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That’s a good looking mobile! Great work Graham! Cheers!
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