preparing  the forms

Setting the forms, shoveling and packing the sand.   The correct amount of water is critical to hold the sand together without turning it to soup. 

Remove the forms, and begin roughing out the design

Forms removed and a big lump of sand waiting for Angelina to give it form.   You can begin to see the shape of the polar bear, note the back, ears and snout beginning to take shape

You can really see the bear taking shape, Joanne is getting started at carving the baby bear laying on the ice.

With the patience of a Zen master, Craig puts the lettering on the sign.

Getting close to finished.   It is hard to tell in the picture, but the momma bear is much shorter than we planned her to be.   The whole head of the bear fell off while starting the finishing detailed carving.   Angelina managed to re-design the bear on the fly and rescue the sculpture.

Finished.  Or at least as finished as time allowed.   There was much more detail Angelina wanted to put on the bears, but with the tragic collapse of the bears head we ran out of time.