At Art of Ice Sculptures we have been hand-carving ice sculptures for a number of years here in Sydney. Here is some information for those wanting to know more.

Where do you get the ice?

Originally, ice sculptors used to harvest blocks of ice from frozen rivers or lakes. Obviously this works in winter in cold climates but isn't practical in Sydney Australia! So at Art of Ice Sculptures we make our own blocks of ice to carve.

How do you get the ice so clear?

As of November 2007, we have imported a world-class ice carving block machine. Made in the USA by Clinebell Equipment Company Inc, our machine produces crystal clear blocks of carving ice that are 1m long by 50cm wide and 25cm deep, and each block weighs in at around 150kg. These machines are used around the world, including the ice for the famous Minus 5 bars.

How long does it take to make a sculpture?

Of course it varies with the size and complexity of the piece being made. First of all, we have to freeze the water, which takes several days. Then we "temper" the ice so it is at the right temperature for carving. Too much difference between the temperature of the outside and the core of the ice can cause thermal cracking which is not desirable. Once the ice is just right, we hand carve it using a variety of tools including chainsaw, router, die-grinder, hand chisels, drills and other tools both powered and manual. Most sculptures carved from a single block are carved in an hour or so at our studio in Seven Hills - if it takes too much longer than that then the temperature differences can cause problems.

How do you engrave the ice?

We carve channels in the ice that we then fill with snow, and seal off. This gives a clean white engraving effect, and allows us to personalise your sculpture with a name, logo, or party slogan. We can use coloured ice gels to get different colours as well.

How do you colour the ice?

We use a special method to create coloured ice carvings. To add writing to the ice, first we carve out the letters and then fill the space with pure white snow. To add colouring, instead of snow we use coloured ice gels and a method known as the Maxfield colour method. We reverse the cut and put the colour from behind, then seal it off so that the colour doesn't run as the sculpture melts.

How do you make larger ice sculptures?

To make sculptures that are hand carved from more than one block, generally we carve the individual pieces and then assemble them on-site. As we carve we have to strike a balance between removing enough ice to make the sculpture transportable, and not removing so much that the sculpture doesn't last.

How cold is the ice and how do you transport it?

After each sculpture is carved, we place it in our special freezer that runs at around -30 degrees C. This brings the temperature of the carving right down and gives it extra longevity on display. It also tends to make the colouring fade but luckily that comes to life again once the sculpture warms up a bit on display. When we transport our carvings we wrap them in insulation and ensure that there is no airflow getting to them. We have succesfully transported sculptures as far as Thredbo with this method.