Here's a sample of some competitive sculpting.  Sand sculpting contests are typically between 22 and 26 hours over three days.  Only water is used to compact the sand.  It is shoveled into forms and packed tight.   The forms are removed when the sand reaches a workable state and it is ready to be carved.  After all the carving is done, a light fixative/windscreen made by diluting school glue with water. It is applied using a garden sprayer to prevent the sculpture from drying out and returning to dust.  Competitive sculpting is quite difficult physically and is as much a test of endurance as skill!   There are barely a few hundred competitive sand sculptors worldwide.  The attraction competitions hold for sculptors is the chance to connect and reconnect with friends from around the country and the world… and the chance to show off our skills.  Sculptors will push the sand to its extremes structurally and in degree of detail at every chance. And as there are no themes or requirements to follow, will express them selves artistically. The results can be striking.

Here are a few of my entries.  Some were done solo and some as part of a team.  Enjoy!  If you have any questions about competitive sand sculpting feel free to send me an email anytime! 

This top right sculpture was called “Handle With Care” carved circa 2007.  It fell during Earth Day hence the theme.

I carved “Makes No Senses” (2nd from top) with my good friend Matt Deibert from Atlantic City.  Each of the five senses are represented several times but in no order and with limited realism.  We worked from the idea, but without a plan essentially making it up as we went along.

Right: “Nasal Passages” was another team sculpture.  This one was done with the incomparable artist Kirk Rademaker.  We teamed up for the Siesta Key Crystal Classic.  The idea for some sort of a man sticking his head out of a space ship came to us merely an hour before the start of the contest.  We had no real discussion beyond the idea except that when I suggested we plan further Kirk replied, “Did you ever see kids in a sandbox with plans?.  Sometimes no plan is the best plan. 

“IMAGINE” Carved with Brian Wigglesworth at the Texas Sandfest on Port Aransas Beach in Texas.

This is the one side of a massive sculpture designed by myself and Bouke Atema of the Netherlands.  This was the third place winner at the World Championships held in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 2012.

“The Gears Are Turning” Back view; Atlantic City 2012 Solo Division. 

“The Amazin Sand Castle Machine” was a tribute to ‘The oldest sand sculptor in captivity” Amazin Walter McDonald.  Created with my cast mate from Sand Masters Andy Gertler in Siesta Key Florida

To the right are front and rear views of a sculpture called “Spheres of Influence” Carved with another cast mate from Sand Masters Rusty Croft in Atlantic City for the World Cup of Sand Sculpting.

Music might be my favorite theme for sculpting.  Here’s one I called “Songs In The Key Of Life” After the classic Stevie Wonder album of the same name.

Here’s another carved with Andy Gertler for the Crystal Classic in Siesta Key Florida.

And one last music/art piece.  I don’t recall the title, but the idea was Venus Di Milo breaking out of a cello and was carved at the New England Sand Sculpting Contest on Revere Beach, Massachusetts.