My latest beach find.

[AndyS]

I occasionally find driftwood that I make into walking sticks and canes. This is my latest. The Japanese have a concept of age and imperfection making beauty. Imperfection is also important to the Navajo people who believe that only Gods create perfection so anything made by Man that is perfect is done with the help of demons. Therefore they intentionally weave imperfection into their blankets.

For me this piece epitomizes Wabi Sabi and the spirit of the Navajo. Imperfect to the point of beauty.

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[url=https://ibb.co/XZ1k1Vn][img][/img][/url]

[WalkerinSC]

1. Very nice

I think so Jewish, Moslem, and Christian sects throughout history did the same thing with clothes and prayer rugs.

[AndyS]

3. Were I Navajo I could take solace in the fact that there is absolutely

nothing in my life that is perfect. Contrary to appearances there are no evil spirits trapped in me!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. You've done it justice, Andy. Beautiful finish and the details are amazing. nt

[AndyS]

4. As always, thank you Dear Peggy. nt

[KPN]

5. Nice! May I ask what you used to finish the find? It's really an attractive finish.

[AndyS]

7. I use a product called Deft wood finish.

It's basically laquer. This is 'semi gloss' but if you are careful not to shake or stirr it you get high gloss so it's essentially two finishes, gloss and satin, in one can.

It took 4 coats to get the gloss as drift wood is very dry and soaks the first two coats up like nothing.

[KPN]

9. Yeah, that's who I asked. We live on the Pacific Coast and have

collected quite a few driftwood pieces over the years. A couple of them I’ve thought about finishing them — but haven’t because the wood is so dry and seems porous. Thanks for the info!

[2naSalit]

6. Elegant piece...

It certainly has some unique character which is perfection in its own way.

[AndyS]

8. I find the most wonderful shapes and textures along the beach.

Everything from fish bones to weathered shapes in drift wood.

[MLAA]

10. What a treasure you have crafted!

[AndyS]

11. I am ever amazed at what nature presents and how it changes things.

All the soft wood is gone with sand and wave action leaving such intriguing shapes and sinuous curves.

[nuxvomica]

12. Beautiful work! Kudos to both you and nature

Years ago a friend showed me a huge bronze platter he'd bought in Morocco that IIRC was made by Bedouin craftsmen. He asked me to find the flaw in the intricate geometric patterns carved into the bronze, explaining that they always make these items with one imperfection so as not to insult Allah, who alone can create perfection.

[AndyS]

13. The Navajo leave a flaw to allow the evil spirits to escape.

As I said upthread, contrary to appearances there are no evil spirits in me. Spirits yes along with beer and wine . . .

[calimary]

14. Gorgeous!

[AndyS]

15. I think so too! nt

[BlueSky3]

16. This is stunning

I like to paint landscapes and once had a friend tell me that she couldn’t learn to paint because she would want the result to be “perfect”. I believe art teaches us to accept our imperfections.

Your walking stick is perfectly beautiful. Thanks for the photo.

[AndyS]

17. I learned a long time ago that if my work satisfies me it has

passed the most stringent test and is no longer being judged. It is the eye of the beholder that is in question. For me there are two kinds of images; those I find and those I make. This walking stick presented itself to me and I just love it. Some of my images begin between my ears and progress from there. In a world of pure imagination, thank you Willie Wonka!

[Hekate]

18. Absolutely lovely. I absolutely love this sort of thing.

[AndyS]

19. They are gifts.