1. How did you first discover sand art/sand animation, and what was the most important deciding factor in you wanting to do it?
Sand animation was pioneered by Caroline Leaf in 1968 with her animated film project “Sand, or Peter and the Wolf” for an undergraduate class at Harvard University. As a child, in 1973-74, I saw two animations by Eli Noyes, another Harvard graduate, on the PBS television program Sesame Street. They showed her animated films “Sandman” and “Sand Alphabet”. I was really fascinated with it, but at 6 years old I was a bit too young to think about doing it myself. By 1989, I started working as a professional artist and mural painter. In 2004, I saw a video of Hungarian artist Ferenc Cakó’s live sand animation performance being passed around in the early days of the internet. Cakó was responsible for turning sand animation into a live performance. At this point, I had been working as a fine artist and muralist for many years already. In 2009, a Ukrainian sand artist, Kseniya Simonova won “Ukraine’s Got Talent” with her emotional sand animation performance. Her sand video went viral around the world. A associate of mine mentioned that sand animation was becoming desirable for corporate entertainment and events. Mural painting work had become scarce, due to advances in digital technology. I needed something new to do, a new way to make a living. I knew I had the necessary skills and experience to do it. So, I spent a year teaching myself sand animation, and posted my first sand video on YouTube in January 2011. Two weeks later I was scouted to perform at a party for Cirque du Soleil, and I’ve been traveling around creating sand animations ever since. One of the things that I love most about sand animation is that it is an ephemeral art form. It lasts only in the moment, and requires the living presence of the artist to happen.
2. Do you believe that creating art is just a hobby, or something much more? Why or why not?
For me, making art was always something I wanted to do for a living. I told my mother I wanted to be a commercial artist when I grew up. I started painting at age 5 and never stopped creating. Art is what I’m best at, and something that I can contribute to society. Being a professional artist is not an easy path. It requires focus, hard work and determination. It’s not for everyone. It’s for someone with an entrepreneurial mind, as well as a good skill set. I started out as a window display artist and through that I began painting murals. I’ve done fine art paintings and shown my work in galleries. I’ve worked for jewelry designers, and made my own jewelry as well. I have also worked as a sign painter and a street painter. It’s important to be flexible and to be aware of trends.
3. What is a message you would like to send to those who may want to pursue an art form such as this?
Sand animation is an advanced art form which requires a huge amount of time, hard work, focus, patience and practice. You will need drawing skills, an understanding of shadow & light, a dancer’s flow and coordination, and a steady hand. It may not come easily. There will be a lot of trial, error and mistakes. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Learn from them. You will also want to learn music and film editing as you grow into the art form.
4. Did you ever experience someone ridiculing or mocking you for doing this, and if so, how did you overcome it?
All of my life, people have told me that I couldn’t be, shouldn’t be, and wouldn’t be an artist. I’ve proven them all wrong. When someone tells you that you can’t, it’s usually because they can’t. The cause is often jealousy and fear. Listen to your heart and do what’s right for you.
