Lakewood artist Linda Dempsey has created numerous innovative driftwood sculptures that feature human faces crafted from wood and integrated clay. Residing near Lake Erie, she has been exploring driftwood as a medium for about five years, drawing inspiration from the shores of Edgewater Park and Whiskey Island. Dempsey contemplates the inherent human urge to forage for treasures, sharing how her perspective on driftwood has shifted; she started to recognize human forms within the wood, which inspired her to incorporate torsos and legs into her sculptures. After studying photography in California, her artistic journey has blossomed, allowing her to produce unique pieces that breathe life and personality into the natural materials she gathers from her surroundings.