A Place to Breathe is a one-of-a-kind original artwork painted directly onto a naturally weathered piece of driftwood. Tall coastal trees rise against a soft, open sky, their branches reaching toward the light as a quiet shoreline stretches into the distance. A small group of orcas moves through the water below, adding a subtle sense of life and movement to an otherwise peaceful scene.
The vertical shape of the driftwood naturally became part of the composition. Rather than painting around its unusual silhouette, I allowed the wood to guide the landscape — the trees growing upward with the form of the piece, while the shoreline opens into the distance.
There is something deeply restorative about a place like this: somewhere the forest meets the ocean, the air feels open, and you can simply pause for a moment. A Place to Breathe was created to capture that feeling of stepping away from the noise of everyday life and finding a quiet place to reconnect with nature.
The natural grain, weathered edges and raw contours of the driftwood remain visible throughout the artwork, giving the landscape an organic quality that couldn't be recreated on a conventional canvas.
The artwork is presented on a handcrafted aromatic cedar base with a naturally irregular edge. The character of the cedar — including its organic shape and natural variations — adds another layer of warmth and connection to the West Coast materials used throughout the piece.
Finished with a clear resin layer, the painted surface has a subtle depth and luminosity while preserving the character of the natural wood.
12.5" H × 6.75" L base
Original artwork on natural driftwood
Handcrafted aromatic cedar base with natural irregular edge
Finished with clear resin
Signed by Mara Szyp
A Place to Breathe is a one-of-a-kind original artwork painted directly onto a naturally weathered piece of driftwood. Tall coastal trees rise against a soft, open sky, their branches reaching toward the light as a quiet shoreline stretches into the distance. A small group of orcas moves through the water below, adding a subtle sense of life and movement to an otherwise peaceful scene.
The vertical shape of the driftwood naturally became part of the composition. Rather than painting around its unusual silhouette, I allowed the wood to guide the landscape — the trees growing upward with the form of the piece, while the shoreline opens into the distance.
There is something deeply restorative about a place like this: somewhere the forest meets the ocean, the air feels open, and you can simply pause for a moment. A Place to Breathe was created to capture that feeling of stepping away from the noise of everyday life and finding a quiet place to reconnect with nature.
The natural grain, weathered edges and raw contours of the driftwood remain visible throughout the artwork, giving the landscape an organic quality that couldn't be recreated on a conventional canvas.
The artwork is presented on a handcrafted aromatic cedar base with a naturally irregular edge. The character of the cedar — including its organic shape and natural variations — adds another layer of warmth and connection to the West Coast materials used throughout the piece.
Finished with a clear resin layer, the painted surface has a subtle depth and luminosity while preserving the character of the natural wood.
12.5" H × 6.75" L base
Original artwork on natural driftwood
Handcrafted aromatic cedar base with natural irregular edge
Finished with clear resin
Signed by Mara Szyp
