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What am I doing?
I call myself an Earthscape artist- I am using natural materials to engage the landscape.
In my beach mural exploration (aka: playa paintings, beach art) I use a rake to etch designs onto the beach during the low tide. Raking exposes the wetter sand, causing a color difference between the raked and unraked sand.
How do I get it so perfect?
For the geometric designs I use a rope as a compass. the rest is geometry in action- and its perfection is a thing of beauty to participate in. For the organic designs, the pattern is 'grown' using principles of growth. For them, perfection is a state of such complete integration that the entire artwork seems to 'exist' as its own entity. The best unintended compliments I have received were from folks thinking a pattern was naturally occurring.
Why do I do it?
The unanswerable question!
- It's fun. I get to be at the beach, usually barefoot in the sand.
- I enjoy wowing people with the creations, of bringing wonder and beauty into the world. Their erasure is a constant reminder to engage and appreciate the present as it is happening.
- There is an esoteric fractal quality of being within the pattern that is being made- it feels to have relevance in other aspects of my life, of building a larger pattern from the inside, sometimes not fully knowing what is resulting.
- Connecting to the ephemerality of all things.
How big is it?
I have never officially measured my pieces. But judging from the size of people in them, they can go up to 300' or larger (90,000 sqft.). Generally, I go as large as possible given tide and beach constraints. How long does it take? I usually give myself about 2 hours of working in the space of the low tide.
How do I feel about it washing away?
I can be a stickler for getting something the way I think I want it- which is more goal-focused. But ultimately, when it is finished, I let it go. For me the energy and draw is around the act of creation. Even on days when everything goes wrong and there's no way a 'finished' piece can result (rogue waves wash away a huge section prematurely, discovering the sand has washed away leaving only pebbles, a parade of dog walkers shows up (yes all these have happened!)) I still appreciate the act of being at the beach doing the art.
Where do I do it?
I have done my work in many countries around the world though of my work is in Northern California.
Am I for hire?
I am indeed. Connect with me here. Or just drop me a note.
~Andres 4/11/19
