People often ask how a snow sculpture is carved. Sculptors usually start with snow that has been packed into a form and compressed to form a block. These can vary in size from 4’x’4’x 8’ tall to 20’ or more in any direction.
Snow: as a sculpting medium, it is challenging. It morphs at Mother Nature’s whim, often in unpredictable ways. It can be wet, icy, fragile, crusty or powdery—changing from day to day. It can support it own weight or collapse under it. But it also provides for stark contrasts. It is perfect for playing with negative space, shadows, illumination, lines and curves. And unlike marble, it doesn’t take years to carve. Sculptures often emerge in a day or a week. Most of all, snow is organic. And snow sculptures are ever-evolving. They continue to list and lean long after the snow sculptors have put down their saws.Although the nights can be bone-chilling, the toil is worthwhile. So too are the reactions of those who view the sculptures and whose winters are a bit warmer as a result.