Whether it’s through a painting or a sculpture, the means to reach the general public to convey a message with the passion you have burning inside you are easily found. Andoni Bastarrika, a Basque artist, expresses himself by sculpting hyper-realistic, life-sized animals out of only sand. Many of us used to build sandcastles and tell stories about brave knights and beautiful princesses when we were kids. The life-sized realistic animal sculptures created on many beaches around the world are amazing and have entertained both children and adults. Andoni is known all over the world for his extraordinary abilities as a result of the sheer quality of his work.
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Bastarrika created the Little Mermaid on the sand to please his daughters in 2010, while at the beach with them. Despite the fact that it wasn’t an artistic triumph, it was a promising start. After some practice, the artist claimed that his hands knew what they were doing. Despite the fact that this artist discovered his talent by chance, he was able to further develop it over time.
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Andoni mostly works with his hands, but he does use brushes and toothpicks to carve in the finer details. Although he primarily works with sand to create his life-size works, he occasionally incorporates outside elements to complete the masterpiece. For example, he has replicated the hooves and horns of his famous sculpture, the “Bull,” using various objects.
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Humidity is an important factor in the creation of these masterpieces. When creating the sculpture, moisture allows the countless number of particles to stick together. The once-completed beauties, however, revert to their original form due to wind and tides.
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Image Credit: andoni_bastarrika_artista
Many of this artist’s sculptures are a true tribute to nature. You can also find out more about him by visiting his Instagram profile. Many more of his beautiful creations can be found on his Instagram profile. Andoni is a true gift from the heavens.
