Ice sculptures often look like a precise replica of a real-life object or person, and their exactness almost brings to mind a stone carving that might have taken an artist years to complete.
One of the fascinating things about ice sculptures is that they only last for a short time, but ice sculpture artists take hours to complete their works, even though they’re destined to last for only a short while.
Many artists want to see their works displayed for years in homes or museums, but ice carvers don’t often seek that same type of fame. Here are a few facts about ice sculptures.
Common Types of Ice Sculptures
The most common types of ice sculptures are medium sized and are usually carved for events like weddings or corporate meetings. Ice sculptures in the shape of a swan are particularly popular, and some weddings see religious icons or angels carved for the reception.
Interestingly, some of the ice sculptures you might see at a corporate event are standard shapes that are created with a machine rather than through the hand of an artist. When an ice carver is responsible for carving the ice, a number of different factors can impact the carving method used, as well as how long the carving might take.
A finished ice sculpture might be made of a single block of ice, or it might be composed of many. Sometimes, an artist might use several blocks of ice when creating a geometric pattern. For carvings of people or animals, the sculpture will often be made of a single block of ice.
Materials for Ice Sculptures
Not surprisingly, an ice sculpture requires ice, which is made from water. Sculptors often prefer very clean water that offers a clear and crystal-like result on the finished sculpture. A carver may also wish to work in a clean room without a lot of dust and debris because floating contaminants can impact the clarity of the ice as it’s carved.
There are companies that create ice sculptures that use special machines to push out extra air molecules from the water as it freezes. Doing so results in a clear block of ice. Some sculptures do call for frosted ice or ice that isn’t completely clear, and this is easily accomplished with sand, colored lights, and gels.
Creating the Ice Sculpture
An ice sculptor has many tools at his or her disposal to create incredible ice sculptures. Some projects call for giant blocks of ice that are fitted together to create entire houses or large structures. Other projects don’t require such large pieces of ice and can be carved with simple tools like saws, chainsaws, and grinders.
One of the talents that fledgling ice sculptors must learn is working quickly, which is at odds with the way many artists work. A painter might take days or months to complete a painting, but an ice artist must complete his or her work in just a matter of hours. The ice sculptor must also be quick on his or her feet because accidents happen where a part of the ice sculpture breaks off. The artist must quickly devise a way to continue work in a new direction, despite the breakage.
When an artist isn’t involved in the actual carving, a computer numerical control (CNC) machine might be employed to create intricate and delicate carvings on the ice. A sculptor can feed information into these machines from programs like Adobe Illustrator and then wait patiently as the CNC machine automatically carves the ice.
Need Ice or Snow for Your Event?
Are you hosting a snow party? Want to make sure your child’s December birthday is full of snowball fights and sledding fun? Contact Emergency Ice and Mr. Cool Snow Parties. We’ll make sure your event is full of winter magic!