|Top Ten Sand Sculpture Questions.
|1. Sand sculptures are held together by the water in the sand. The waters surface tension between individual wet grains creates a strong bond. The bond is even stronger if the sand is compacted because the grains are closer together, so the water connection bridges a shorter gap.
|2. Rain is much less damaging to sand sculptures then most people expect. Since water is the bonding agent, it can actually be good for the sculpture if it is otherwise too dry. Dryness is a bigger danger. For this reason, a light solution of nontoxic, invisible, biodegradable glue is often used to protect the surface from the drying effects of sun and wind. The glue gives no structural strength, but does protect the surface details.
|3. The quality of the sand used determines in large part how long a sculpture will stand, but even poor sand can last several days without collapsing. The best sand can last indefinitely, especially if it's been coated with glue, to retard drying, or if it's located in an interior space.
|4. No more so than when a song ends. For a sculptor, the process of sculpting is more important then the end result. A fallen sculpture just creates the opportunity to do more, and better, sculpting. I am disappointed if something collapses before I can take a photo, but that's a very rare thing.
|5. Not really. Moving a sand sculpture is almost impossible. Even a small carving can weigh several hundred pounds, and is, of course, very delicate. Part of the charm of the art form is that they are to be enjoyed where they are, and for the limited time that they last, by the people lucky enough to be there to see them.
|6. In my case, since January, 1975. It was during my first adult visit to a beach. I was an art student at the time and had gone to Florida for the month of January to paint landscapes, since the winter weather in Kentucky made outdoor painting difficult. I soon discovered the joy and creative potential of shaping sand and have been hooked ever since.|
|7. I have sculpted in many materials, wood, marble, clay, etc, but sand is by far my favorite. The immediacy of the image and the lack of distance between the idea and the shaping of the form make it the most appealing.
|8. Although sand sculpture goes very fast compared to any other type of deductive sculpting (stone or wood for example) it still takes a few hours to make a substantial piece. On a day at the beach, I might easily spend six or eight hours creating a sculpture. The amount of detail effects the time necessary too, of course. As a rough example, a ten ton detailed castle, ten feet tall, would take about three days to carve.
|9. No. Every sculpture I create is an original work, designed especially for the client or the occasion. the closest I get to repeating a piece is to do a different variation on the same theme, and even those tend to be separated by a few years of pondering how the treatment of that theme might be developed into a stronger piece.
|10. Possibly. Sand sculpting attracts so much media attention that I have been on TV and in the newspapers many times, mainly on TV stations local to the site of the sculpture, but also sometimes on national TV and publications. |
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THINGS TO ASK BEFORE HIRING A SAND SCULPTOR
(and the answers I would give)
Do you have a lot of experience?
I have been sculpting sand since 1975, working professionally and competing at a masters level since 1988. I have worked with most of the major sand sculpting companies, at locations in Europe, North America and Asia. I also compete at events worldwide and have been the World Champion, American Champion and North American champion. These titles were all won in the solo category, meaning no one else contributed to the sculpting.
Do you have a background in art?
I have a bachelors degree in art from Berea College, in Kentucky, and have been a full-time professional artist since 1978. Although there are many people working as sand sculptors who don't have a formal artistic background, I am convinced that the sculpture I make is enhanced by my education and artistic experience.
Were the samples I've seen created by the same artist who will sculpt my project?
In my case, absolutely yes. If you hire me, you get me. You'll be hiring a sculptor, not a sculpting company. I will be the only or primary sculptor, and I'll be the one who answers the phone when you call. However, if you hire a sandsculpting 'company' then the sculptor they send you will not necessarily be anyone whose work you've seen in their brochure or even anyone with very much experience at all. Sand Scupture companies typically have a list of sculptors they call on for jobs, and because they are the most expensive for the company, the best and most experienced sculptors don't necessarily get called first.
Is sand sculpture all you do?
I'm happy to say no to that one. I believe that working in multiple mediums improves an artists work and attitude both. What's learned in one medium enhances the others, and the dreaded burnout is avoided. Because I only do it about half the year, working in sand is always fresh to me, and I think my sculptures reflect that. Working in sand full-time also means being on the road full-time, which is a very difficult and draining lifestyle.
Do you mind answering viewers questions?
Sand sculpture is a performance art. People love watching and enjoy interacting with the sculptor. Not all sculptors are comfortable or tolerant with that, and you'll recognize those sculptors by their use of personal music systems with headphones. I understand that being accessible to the viewers is a basic part of what will make your project a success. I enjoy talking to fans of all ages, chatting and answering questions as I sculpt. For me, it is part of the joy and sharing of the art form.
Will I know what the sculpture will look like?
Yes, if that's what you want. I always talk to my clients about what they'd like to see and what would work the best visually for their project. I then provide scale drawings of the proposed sculpture from all angles. I then make every effort to have the finished piece look even better than those drawings. Some clients just ask me to "do my best work", which is certainly fine with me also.
Can I talk to some of your past clients?
Of course. References available upon request, as they say.
Here's a quote from the event organizer of a recent project for the United Way in Louisville:
"You were a very vital part of the celebration and the media coverage showed that. I hope we can work together in the future."