Arcticulates ®

Focusing on Alaska's Beauty

Author: K. Fields

Ice Sculpture Winners of 2009

(Single Ice Block Category)
All Photos by Rhonda Konicki

I wanted to post some pictures of the ice sculptures done last year in March. These pictures are the winners. This post has the pictures of all the sculptures carved using one block of ice. The details to these sculptures are amazing.

The cold weather and snow piling up outside have me looking forward to the new sculptures that will be done in just a march this year. I admire the people who like to work with ice and create such beauty to look at, transforming long dreary winter days into beauty.

1st Place and Peoples Choice in Realistic
Surfacing Kingfisher

First Place(realistic) Ice Sculpture titled: Surfacing Kingfisher (photo by Rhonda Konicki)

Ice carving done by:
Junichi Nakamura - Japan
Suguru Kanbayashi - Canada

All sorts of tools are used to ice carve, power tools are a biggie.. drills for drilling holes, with a large variety different shapes and size bits, chain saws for chopping huge pieces of ice off the block, sanders and drills with a variety of discs to smooth and shape the ice.

Of course warm clothing is a must if you are working outside, and here in Alaska day light doesn't last long, so some good lighting is a must.

Ist place (Abstract) Ice Carving
Spring

1st place(abstract)Ice Sculpture titled: Spring (photo by Rhonda Konicki)

Ice Carving by:
Aaron Costic - USA
Martin King - USA

There are some really good web pages on the internet that can teach you how to carve ice. It is always nice to know the basics before you begin. For instance... here is a website that has a video teachings and good tips on carving ice and figures our of ice. Here is a great one on:
How to carve a sphere.

This website also sells the tools needed so if you decide you want to try it, you got it all right here. As a sidenote... I do not own or have any thing to do with this site. I am just fascinated by the Art of Ice Sculpture and will be listing other interesting sites as well.
How to carve a face video

2nd Place (Abstract)
Adam and Eva: One Heart for Two

Second Place (abstract) Ice Sculpture, titled: Adam and Eva One Heart for Two. (photo by Rhonda Konicki)

Ice Carving by:
Vitaly Lednev - Russia
Sergei Loginov -Russia

There are dangers to ice sculpture too, first of all the ice blocks are extremely heavy. If they are not sitting, stacked or fused right they can fall on someone, which can cause some pretty major injuries or death. Most professional ice-carvers are aware of this and take precautions in making sure things are done right. They also cord off the larger more delicate displays so that people cannot walk up to the or climb on them.

If you do not know what you are doing, caution is always best, rather then crushing your hands, feet or bodies from large chunks of ice falling. So wearing protective warm footwear and gloves are a must. Plus taking the time to stabilize your work before you add anything to it, is best... to prevent serious injury from the ice blocks slipping.

2nd Place (Realistic)
Leafy Lunch

Second place (realistic) Ice Sculpture titled: Leafy Lunch (photo by Rhonda Konicki)

Ice Carving by:
Greg Butauski - USA
Jeff Petercsak - USA

This web page has more photos of ice formed into different shapes and beautiful designs:

Abstract Ice Designs

Ice Sculptures are pretty and used for a lot of things, weddings, big parties... in fact they have a special school you can attend to learn about all the aspects of ice sculpturing for special occasions. This website has information on this plus sculpting with fruits and vegetables:

The Academy of Ice Carving

3rd Place (Realistic)
Artists Choice -Ivalie Cox Artist Award for realistic Art
Invitation

Third place (realistic) Ice Sculpture titled: Invitation (photo by Rhonda Konicki)

Ice Carving by:
An Qi Feng - China
An Di -China

And did you know that there is a National Ice Carving Association?
Here is a link to their page with lists of ice sculpture pictures:

National Ice Carving Association

If you don't want to carve the ice yourself but think a pretty ice sculpture would be perfect for your next event, then there are also a of websites available that have professional ice carvers in business to make beautiful items out of ice for parties, weddings etc etc:

Carving Ice

4th place (Realistic)
Eternal Flame

Fourth place (realistic) Ice Sculpture titled: Eternal Flame (photo by Rhonda Konicki)

Ice Carved by;
Steve Armance - France
David Vallet - USA

Here are a few more photos of the Ice Sculpture winners of 2009 In Anchorage, Alaska

5th Place (Realistic)
Wild Ride

Fifth place (realistic) Ice sculpture titled: Wild Ride (photo by Rhonda Konicki)

Ice Carving by:
Chan Kitburi USA
Dean Murray - USA

6th Place (Abstract)
Beautiful Chemistry

Sixth place (abstract) Ice Sculpture titled: Beautiful Chemistry (photo by Rhonda Konicki)

Ice Carving by:
Dawson List - USA
David Fong - USA

7th Pace (Abstract)
Evolution

Seventh place (abstract) Ice Sculpture titled: Evolution (photo by Rhonda Konicki)

Ice Carving by:
Rashaanjav Tuvshintur - Mongolia
Tserendash Batmunkh - Mongolia

I really enjoy the art of sculpting ice. The designs are so beautiful. I wonder where some of the artists get their inspiration from.

Later...

K Fields

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