To create the artworks, Beck starts with a geometric image on paper, often created by someone else, and uses that to understand the best way to recreate the image in the snow. When he gets to the site, he uses nothing more than a compass, snowshoes – and sometimes a piece of string and a measuring tape – to create outlines of the image which he then fills in slowly step by step. A really good design takes around 10 hours in the snow, which means, if he’s not too tired, Beck sometimes works into the night.
Much like crop circles, snow art is less impressive up close. But an aerial view or Beck’s creations reveals spectacular geometric shapes, which are only enhanced by the idea of the work that goes into creating it.
Related: Artist makes giant wintry crop circles just by walking in the snow
Beck’s first piece of snow art was just an excuse for a little exercise, but after a slow start and even a run-in with the police, he decided to take it more seriously.
He had been an orienteering map maker, but could no longer make a living from it because of issues with his feet, so instead, he decided to create his snow art and take digital pictures of it with the idea of selling the photos.
Beck has recently published a book filled with his astonishing creations called, appropriately, Snow Art, which is available on his website.
Via My Modern Met
Images via Simon Beck
