Frequently Asked Questions
Dawson List of Ice Dragon answers some of the questions that he commonly hears about ice sculpting:
"Is that ice?!"
Of course it is! This question always baffles me, but I'm coming from a less than objective position. I guess people are thinking, "Who would be crazy enough to put all that work into something that's going to melt?" I do think it's interesting when people think that a carving is made from glass or plastic. And I do completely understand a person's desire to touch an ice sculpture (or even lick it).
"Did you use a mold to make that?"
No, all of Ice Dragon's pieces are carved from solid blocks of ice. Every effort is made to make sure that the ice is as clear as possible, from using premium quality crystal-clear blocks to taking the time to remove defects in the ice. Sculptures that come from ice molds are often not as clear and don't have the clean cuts that carved sculptures do. To see photos of an ice sculpture being carved, click here.
"I've seen ice sculptures on a cruise I was on. Did you used to work on a cruise ship?"
Nope. Working on a cruise ship is not a prerequisite to be an ice sculptor. Many people also think that all ice sculptors are chefs. This is also not the case in part because the art of ice sculpture has evolved to the point that it is difficult for a chef to be a quality chef and ice sculptor. Learning high level ice sculpture techniques are often too time consuming to be a part time effort. However, some of the top ice sculptors in the world are also chefs, and I did begin to learn to carve ice from a chef while I was working at a hotel.
"Do you use a chainsaw?"
Yes. A chainsaw is one of the primary tools of the modern ice sculptor, as are a variety of other power tools and usually specialty chisels. Although these tools can be somewhat dangerous if used improperly, there's always plenty of ice around put on injuries.
"Doesn't it bother you when your sculpture melts?"
Not at all. I view my creations as four dimensional artwork. In addition to three dimensions as a sculpture, they also observably occupy the fourth dimension: time. This means that the ice sculptor must take into account how the sculpture will melt and change. To me, this is an added challenge in the art and not a problem. In addition, I've never created what I consider to be a perfect ice sculpture, but if I ever did, I might be upset if that one melted. In fact, it's kind of nice that they melt because your mistakes and imperfections in the ice eventually disappear. Finally, that's what cameras are for.
"Don't you get cold working in a freezer?"
Yes, of course it's cold. Sometimes I genuinely dread going into the freezer. But to carve ice you should really go to where the ice is. And you're not exactly in there wearing a t-shirt and shorts. To some extent, however, you do get acclimated to the cold; it gets easier over time to handle ice bare-handed for extended periods of time. Then again, maybe I'm just freezing to death all the nerves in my hands.
"How long does an ice sculpture last?"
That, of course, depends mostly on the temperature. Also, though, it can depend on the sculpture. More delicate sculptures will not last as long. Generally, sculptures at room temperature will last at least four to five hours.