Fourteen years ago former professional skateboarder Daniel Nelson moved from White Rock, British Columbia to Pass Creek, near Castlegar, and now runs Driftwood Works where he creates unique, hand-crafted furniture and artistic creations such as skateboards and guitars. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Kootenays, his signature pieces feature locally-sourced driftwood and eco-friendly epoxy, often reflecting the region’s rivers and landscapes. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Afro-sporting TV artist Bob Ross and famed Alaskan naturalist Dick Proenneke, Nelson brings an unconventional approach to his craft. In this Q&A, he discusses his creative process and evolution as an artist.
Hey Daniel. You grew up in the Lower Mainland, right? What encouraged you to move to Pass Creek?
Yeah, I grew up in White Rock, BC and moved here because I had driven through the Kootenays back in 2001 on a skateboard tour with my friend Josh Evin. He had taken the entire crew to his Baba’s house in Robson and I was blown away at how beautiful and peaceful it was here. I told myself, “One day I wanna move up here.” I finally did in 2012.
How did you get into pro skateboarding?
The town I grew up in had a huge skateboard scene and over the years I just met a lot of amazing people that gave me sponsors and I got to travel the world.
How long did you do it for and what events did you compete in and where?
I’ve skated for 31 years and I still skate to this day. I skated in contests all over North America: Tampa Am in Florida, Slam City Jam in Vancouver, BC, and Sound and the Fury in Seattle, just to name a few.
What enticed you to get into furniture building?
I really like working with my hands. Just like skateboarding, there are no boundaries or rules to what you can build with wood.
What’s the process for creating your unique creations?
I first have to find the right piece of wood that excites me to wanna see if I can bring the image of what I think it could look like even before I build it to life. Most of the time I’m listening to the clients’ desires and wants but I’m lucky as most of them leave me with creative freedom and trust my judgement.
Each one is like an art piece. Have you always been artistic? If so, what other media have you worked in?
I’ve never really been good at drawing or any other types of art. I find that with wood, I can almost see what I’m gonna build before I build it.
What’s the hardest part about this type of furniture building?
I’d say the hardest part is making sure I have years and years of wood to choose from for future projects as every client has a different dream of what they want their custom build to look like. So having a large selection is key as it takes years before I can even use the wood to create my art.
What’s the funniest moment you’ve had while working on a piece?
Well I’m not sure if it’s funny but I was sure laughing after I got a phone call from someone that worked with Metallica that wanted to order some guitars from us back in 2018. [Unfortunately the band didn’t go through with placing an order.]
What do you do when you’re not working with driftwood?
I skateboard, take my dogs Jack and Gizmo out for adventures, and go camping.
What do you love most about living in the Pass Creek area?
I love Pass Creek because we’re sandwiched between two beautiful mountains. Plus we’re only minutes away from Castlegar, but it still feels like we’re outta city limits.
View this post on Instagram
Where can people find more information about your work?
I can be found on my website driftwoodworks.ca as well as on Facebook and on Instagram at @driftwoodworks.inc and @Happylittleslabs.