Frost & Function: Turning Winter Landscapes Into Art

Turning Winter Landscapes Into Art

Winter brings us lower temperatures and colder weather. But it also brings snow, which turns the nature around us into a real winter wonderland. For some, it means snowy joys, and for some of you who are not fans of wet and cold weather, not really. Such time is immediately associated with fewer outdoor activities, but let us show you the other side.

Even though you see snow removal as an obligation and chore, you can make it interesting for you and your family. With a little imagination and initial investment, you will ensure long-term fun as long as the snow falls.

Get your snow plow ready because we’ll clear everything in front of us.

Choosing The Right Tool And Setting Up For Snow Sculpting

Team? Check.

Snow? Check.

Tools? Let’s go and solve it.

To create snow paths, slopes, and snow sculptures, you will need tools to make it easier to create and collect snow where you need it. Do not forget to take safety precautions.

These are the steps that will make your planning easier:

Preparing Your Landscape For Snow Art

The choice of location is crucial. Whether it is in your yard, a meadow, or some other area that may have hills, but let it be open and have plenty of snow. The snow should be of “quality” for making sculptures – it must be firm and compact enough to hold the shapes you shape it into, but also soft enough to be shaped at all. Clear the snow if there are branches or grass that could bother you.

Selecting Suitable Tools

To begin with, you will need snow shovels, snow blades, and some kind of snow plow if you want to make a really big downhill track.

You can look for snow blades in stores specializing in this type of equipment. There are many variations, and the best ones are those with flexible, thinner blades because they give you more control and easier sculpting.

Of course, you don’t have to have a snow plow. That thing is both huge and very expensive. This is where our tips and tricks come into play. 

You can buy a snow blade for tractor, which is basically an add-on/attachment. It’s simple to use. Just connect it to the tractor, and you’re good to go.

A good ol’ shovel and some elbow grease can always be a reliable alternative.

Essential Safety Tips

Handling such tools requires special caution. Use protective equipment (gloves, glasses) and make sure that children are not nearby or prepare everything before they come – make it a surprise for them.

Making Snow Sculptures 

If you are a beginner in this activity, start with an easier form, maybe even the favorite children’s snow activity – making a snowman. The procedure is actually very similar. For a ”real” snowman, you must first make large snowballs of packed snow so they can stand on top of each other and be shaped further. In your case, make one large packed pile of snow that you will later shape into desired shapes.

With a shovel or snow plow, pile up the snow to the desired size and, at the same time, compact it so that it is very firm. It is crucial for your sculpture to last as long as possible.

First, define the outer outline with the blade and then define the more significant main parts. Placing the blade at different angles gives you different effects. Also, different pressures must be checked to get the depths and achieve the best and most realistic result possible. Play and explore.

When you are satisfied, move on to other details. For that, you can use smaller carving tools, such as a rake, or simply use twigs from nature. This will give you a more detailed and smoother shape of your sculpture.

You can also include the children to try to make their own sculptures with their small spatulas and twigs. We believe that both you and they will be proud of their work of art.

Secure And Protect Your Work Of Art

If you have done everything right (and if the weather cooperates), your sculptures will last for quite some time.

This is a trick that extends their lifetime even more. Take a spray bottle, pour plain water into it, and lightly spray your sculpture. You can further smooth it with gloves or a smoother tool in order to create additional protection for the surface layer.

Conclusion

Snow does not have to be only your concern and the weather problem you are waiting for it to melt. Come out and enjoy the snowy idyll. Ride a sleigh or snowball, or just take a walk and watch the magical sparkle of delicate snowflakes. Build an igloo and let your inner child have fun.

Let your creativity shine and your imagination run wild. Let the snow be your canvas or material for creating works of art.

You Might Also Like