Mastering the Art
Professionally trained or not, the couple has honed their creative skills through sand sculpting. Of the two, Dan is the imaginative force behind new designs and daring ideas. He has become quite good at drawing, and he’s known for his ability to carve proportional human bodies. His innovations not only push Meredith to try new things, but they also challenge the sand-sculpting industry as a whole, Meredith says.

“I’ve just found sand to be the most fulfilling thing in my life because I really carve from the heart,” says Dan. “When I do solo pieces, I leave a part of my life—my kids, relationships, who I am—on the beach.”

Meredith, on the other hand, directs her focus to the details of each sculpture. Her steady hand adds the shadows and deep lines that bring the project to life. Even the tiniest, nearly imperceptible details matter, she says. “My lightbulb moment was meeting Dan and seeing what he was doing with realism,” she explains. “He convinced me I could do things I didn’t think I was capable of.”

Taking Time To Teach
Out-of-the-box sculptures are Dan and Meredith’s trademark. The pair has carved everything from a full carousel to a sandy replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà. Some of their projects have required truckloads of sand weighing as much as 200 tons. Dan isn’t a big fan of castles, and, really, who can blame him? There’s little thrill in making something that’s already been done, especially when you’re capable of sculpting a breaching whale, barnacles and all. •

For more information about Meredith and Dan’s work or to contact them for sculpting lessons, visit www.sandingovations.com.