Semi-Pro Sculptors
These artists' journey has not just begun, but their skills continue to strengthen with each carving of a sandcastle they create and each competition in which they spend time building out an artistry of sand. You won't want to miss watching these semi-pro artists transform into excellence right before your eyes with unbelievable talent create sand sculptures worth remembering.
Growing up in southern California, many of my earliest memoriesvare of days at the beach, making drip sandcastles and moats. I guess building things was in my veins because I’m now an architect and master sand sculptor. My significant sand creations started in 2005 when I participated in a local charity event in Olympia, Washington. I helped amateur teams plan and build competitive sculptures. That got me hooked on sand on a big scale. A good friend and I established our own masters sand carving team, Form Finders. Ever since, we’ve been competing on Pacific NW beaches for the past 16 years. Our team makes it a point to bring on new people who want to learn the art of sand and get better. There are always new techniques to learn and I enjoy pushing myself to try challenging subjects. I hope you enjoy all the sculptures on display!
Joelle Gagnon
Joëlle Gagnon is originally from Saguenay. She created a market gardening and cultural business there. His way of life close to nature is intimately linked to his creation. A self-taught artist in visual art and snow sculpture for 18 years, Joëlle develops her concepts and ideas during field work, like a natural cycle inspired by her way of life which calls for contemplation and development. of the natural kingdom. Drawing, illustration, writing and ephemeral sculpture (snow, ice, straw and wood mostly) are these main mediums. Joëlle has always drawn since her childhood, inspired by the Nordic nature of her part of the country, the grandeur of the landscapes and characters between modernity and tradition, between summer and winter, between realism and expressionism. In search of inspiration, her path took her to Europe, Japan, Nunavik, Nunavut, Yellowknife or Scandinavia. A drawing book on hand and colors in your pocket, ready to draw a few lines from an interesting character or do some observational drawing. She has always been proactive and creative in order to keep her art alive and evolving. Involved in her community, she is sensitive to living together, the self-determination of peoples, the protection of the environment, food autonomy and the development of her region, themes that we find in her art, which serve as a means of expression. A way to make others reason about what is happening inside her, while keeping a global vision and trying to touch on universal themes.
Leonard Gonzales
Leonard has been sculpting sand as an INTENSE hobby for over 30 years. He started as a member of the Imperial Beach “IB” Posse Sandcarvers competing in the US Open Sandcastle Competition in Imperial Beach, CA throughout the 80s and 90s. As competition formats changed Leonard has started participating in individual sculpting events but mostly enjoys hanging out on the beach with his friends and family like the good old days. In 2020 Leonard and fellow IB Posse teammate Mark Durazo were honored to be invited to compete on the Race Against the Tide television show that aired in September on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) network.
Marc Mangia
Marc was born ,raised and lives in Columbus Ohio. At a young age. He started working with his hands, assembling and taking apart anything and everything. As a teenager, he started working with his father in the construction business as a carpenter, and he continues today working as a carpenter and running the business. After many years of playing in the sand using his carpentry skills, talking with some of the masters, and watching how they work, the sand, his love for Sand Sculpter has grown. In November 2012 he entered his first competition where he placed first in the amateur division at Fort Myers Beach American sand sculpting championships. Since then, He has several first and second place finishes in the semi pro division. Marc plans to keep honing his skills learning and having fun in the sand.
Brendan Schaffer
Brendan Schaffer is an accomplished and resourceful artist who has produced art in a variety of media including paint, wood working, and award-winning sand and snow sculptures. Brendan was featured on the Travel Channel special, Best in Snow in 2017 after his snow sculpture of a campfire went viral and reached millions of people worldwide. After leaving the hills of northern New Jersey and settling at the beach in Cape May, Brendan has focused on sand sculpting, but will play in the snow when the “Cape May bubble” pops! Brendan has won contests throughout the United States, but the joy of making people smile through his art is definitely the best prize to him. Brendan is currently the Program Leader for the Wildwood Public Schools’ Afterschool Program, inspiring children with eco-art every chance he gets! You can follow his work and see other pieces on Facebook and Instagram: Schaffer Art Studios
Thomas Brown
Thomas Brown, born in 1976 in Muscle Shoals, AL, and hailing from Louisville, KY, is a versatile mixed-media artist. Transitioning from clay, stone, wood, and metal sculptures, he entered the realm of ice sculptures when he embraced the vibrant chaos of New York City in 2008. Brown's art harmoniously blends his Southern roots with NYC's dynamic energy. As a principal ice sculptor at Okamoto Studio, he has had the pleasure of carving in many of NYC’s iconic landmarks and collaborating with artists internationally and across the USA for the past 16 years. His expertise also encompasses ephemeral works and experimental music, contributing to a unique artistic portfolio. Over the last decade, he has frequently collaborated with musicians to create album and video art, and create sculptures as a live performance for music festivals. Key accomplishments include his participation on a televised sand sculpture contest on Canada's CBC Network “Race Against the Tide- Season 3”, in 2022, leading to large-scale projects in the Netherlands and Quebec City's Ice Hotel. Brown, was also a three-time competitor, two-time winner, on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America”, showcasing his artistic prowess alongside culinary legends Morimoto and Bobby Flay. His favorite episode is the “Eggnog Challenge” from 2009. In 2020, Brown began making miniature sculptures from the seeds of avocados... Mostly portraits of folks’ beloved pets. This has since expande into architectural wood carving. His latest work of animal heads will be permanently displayed at the Frank Thomas Restaurant in the Chelsea district of Manhattan. For inquiries and more information, contact Thomas Brown at ThomasBrownAffair@gmail.com. Explore his art on Instagram @thomasbrownaffair.
Resa Wohirabe
Resa Wohlrabe is an award-winning artist specializing in oil and acrylic painting. She has shown her art around the country at prestigious events like Art Basel Miami. Sand sculpting was an unexpected creative passion that blossomed because of her love of the beach. Doodling mandalas and "drawing" designs with sticks in the sand led her to begin sculpting as an amateur for ten years. This is her first year as a semi-pro and she is looking forward to testing her creative skills at Sandfest 2025. www.resawohlrabe.com Socials: @resacreates