Duties     

To be an Ice Sculpter, you would have to manage the following responsibilities:

• Use a wide arsenal of sculpting tools such as rasps, modelling clay carving tools, wire, chisels, hammers, grinders and bankers to pay close attention to the sculpting project.
• Visit the site where the sculpture is commissioned and measure the area closely, in order to choose the appropriate materials to make the vision into a reality.
• Engage in the design process which may include taking photos, sketching and experimenting with different materials for artistic expression.
• Work on tight deadlines while also paying close attention to detail for accurate sculptures that meet the requirements of the client.

Day In The Life

Your life can be very thrilling as an ice sculpter. Since warming ice becomes hard to carve and loses its binding properties, you have to demonstrate great skill and urgency when undertaking each project. Once an idea is sketched out regarding the design, you enter a chilled storage freezer to work on pure ice that is often imported from abroad. Using dry ice is a common method to extend the shelf life of the ice while it is a work in progress.

Utilizing a large handsaw or chainsaw, you will carve out the initial shape after which you will use other tools like a chisel or angle grinder for smaller details. Each block piece may take up to three and a half hours to complete and requires you to take regular breaks. Gaps between work can involve jumping up and down or clapping your hands to keep the body’s blood circulation going.

Work Schedule

Ice sculpters have to work in uncomfortable settings like a nine by six meters freezer that is pre-set to ice cold temperatures to preserve the ice. Typically, work starts early around 8.30 am in the morning and you will have to become familiar with protective winter clothing such as thermals, ski jacket, leather gloves, beanie, boots lined with wool. Work hours can be irregular depending on the complexity of the sculpture, going till late nights like midnight. Many sculpters hold another job due to the erratic nature of work inflow. Self-employed sculpters work on their own time as long as they stick to deadlines.

Growth Of The Job

The employment of fine artists such as ice sculpters is expected to increase at 2 percent between 2014 to 2024, as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job opportunities in this field are largely dependent on the state of the economy, with fierce competition for both full-time and contract positions. Studios and private clients are always scoping out creative talent for ice sculptures. Keeping a well organised portfolio of your past projects will help you stand out when looking for better employment opportunities. It is also essential to keep track of the latest developments in this industry, such as a growing interest in using modern equipment or technologies to carve figures and 3D forms. While you may not intend to use them, knowledge of technical ceramics or 3D printed art can give you new perspective on your artwork. Once you have established yourself as a promising ice sculpter, you can advance at a company or open an independent business.

Typical Employers

Ice sculpters are in demand by high profile clients such as private parties, conventions, luxury restaurants, hotels and so on. You could be hired by big or small organizations to create more basic sculptures and hone your techniques alongside more experienced professionals.