Custom Driftwood and Nautical Lamps by Virginia Artist Norris Padgett

Custom driftwood lamp made by Virginia artist Norris Padgett.

A recent issue of Coastal Living Magazine featured “Our Favorite Modern Interiors- Stunning Contemporary Spaces by the Sea". The article titled “Blue Crush” written by Gena Sigala and photographed by Dominique Vorillon included as a centerpiece in this living room a custom driftwood table base with oval glass top (artist unknown). This exceptional table reminded me of the driftwood sculpture custom lamps created by Norris Padgett, a Virginia artist that we represent in our gallery, so I thought this to be the perfect time to feature a few of his creations on our blog.

Norris Padgett’s inspiration for his driftwood and other coastal creations typically begins while beach-combing after a storm on his waterfront property located on the York River near historic Yorktown, Virginia. He enjoys his private time walking along the riverfront searching and collecting everything from seashells to large pieces of driftwood that have washed ashore and left behind as the storm surge declines. Then his artistic eye takes over and the sculptured creation begins. Great pieces of tree stumps and other segments of driftwood are inspected and brought back to his workshop where he carefully cuts and shapes them into abstract sculptured forms. Finishes are applied and the lamps are assembled- some with the addition of nesting shore bird decoys, shells and other beach finds perched on small flats or inside of crevices in the wood. According to Norris, even the wood bases are made from beach-combed pieces of thick pine, possibly once a tread from an old dock or other structure destroyed during past inclement weather.

Each of Norris’ lamp sculptures is a one of a kind and I am always amazed when he brings by one of his latest creations. These driftwood sculptured lamps will be a perfect addition to your coastal cottage and home interiors.

A high quality product for nautical/coastal living.

Click on link here to see our selection of Norris Padgett Custom Lamps.  Norris Padgett Custom Lamps.

Click here to go to Skipjack's Nautical Living home page.
Smooth Sailing,

Joe Elder

The Nautical Home- Using Authentic Nautical Decor in a Collector's Home

Let me  get started by saying thank you for sending us these wonderful pictures of your nautical home and allowing us to share them with our readers. These pictures come to us from a great customer (and wonderful friend) that has shopped with us since we opened our first gallery in 2003 in Virginia Beach, VA.  We hope that you will also be inspired to share some of your pictures from your nautical/coastal home.

The first picture (shown above) shows a table-top collection of  antique wooden blocks together with a custom made lamp and a green glass float ball.  Notice the vintage hand-made wooden slat lampshade above the three purchase ship's block lamp fitted with line.  I really like the combination of the rich, dark woods and old wrought iron fittings on the blocks together with the natural hemp color of the lines and the dark-green color of the vintage float ball.

This picture is also from his living room and features a few small wood blocks together with a glass float ball and a custom-made buoy lamp in original red and white paint. The buoy that the lamp is made from comes from Nova Scotia.  The turk's head lamp finial is made in Nantucket.

The model  displayed here on a dining table is a Chesapeake Bay Deadrise hand-built in Gloucester, VA.  The colorful harbor scene on  the back wall was painted by Norfolk, VA. artist Dorothy Hudgins.

A collection of vintage wooden lobster trap markers from Nova Scotia recently decorated with nautical scenes by Dorothy Hudgins.

Displayed on top of a stark-white painted wood cabinet is a line of vintage wood and cork floats with a the fancy knotted end of a boat oar above.  I am a big fan of using shades of red and navy blue colors together with bright-white painted cabinetry. The old cork and faded painted floats gives the room the feel of a an old salty fisherman's shack.

An opaque yellow float ball is held in place by the claw of a painted bronze crab and in a bowl of  beach-combed sea glass displayed in a cubby in the kitchen.

Authentic Nautical Decor that you can buy. Click on the link next to the produc

Turk's Head Lamp Finial-  http://tinyurl.com/yh5bzhe

Custom made buoy lamps-  http://tinyurl.com/ygtmurm

We also have available other authentic nautical decor items similar  to those shown  in these pictures including a large selection of wood blocks, glass float balls, lines, nets, lobster markers, fishing line corks and wood floats, nautical lamps and marine art. http://www.skipjacknauticalwares.com/

Click here to go to Skipjack's Nautical Living home page.

Photos in this blog were taken on site by Joe Elder. All rights reserved.