Snow sculptor turns winter wonderland into works of art

Hancock is home to a talented snow sculpture artist whose latest masterpiece is proudly displayed in his front yard. Local resident Jeff Fay, an accomplished illustrator and designer, has transformed his yard into a winter gallery over the years, featuring whimsical creations such as a fish, spaceship, shark, and bear. This year’s Santa sculpture took two days and nearly 20 hours to complete.
The main tools for his front yard creations are a snow blower, shovel, bow saw, and a scrub brush. Santa’s design idea this year came from a 1980s illustration he had produced. “It has to be really cold for ideal snow sculpting; the kind of weather that makes you want to stay indoors!” Jeff said he has been in snow sculpting competitions at Wisconsin Dells for over 15 years, when the weather cooperates.
For larger competitions, such as those held in the Dells, they all begin with one essential ingredient: densely packed snow. Individual artists or teams usually start by creating large blocks of compacted snow using wooden or metal forms. Natural snowfall is often too light and fluffy, so snow will be shoveled into the forms and then stomped or pressed down until it becomes firm and uniform. Once the blocks are solid, the forms are removed, leaving behind a clean, sturdy snow canvas ready for carving the artist’s vision.
Because snow is fragile, artists work slowly and deliberately, making sure the structure remains stable as they carve deeper. Many snow sculptors switch to finer tools such as chisels, brushes, and even kitchen utensils to add details and textures. The artists have to work efficiently to prevent melting or collapsing, especially on sunny days. Using shadows to create depth is part of the “magic.”
Sculptors may mist the sculpture with water to create a thin ice layer that strengthens the surface and adds a subtle shine. Lighting is often added for nighttime displays, highlighting contours and depth. Once complete, the sculpture stands as a temporary work of art—beautiful, intricate, and destined to return to water and air when the weather warms.
Jeff works with his partner Patty Drexler, who is also an artist focusing on interior design. They bounce ideas off one another as the weather looks perfect for sculpting. You can find Jeff’s artistic work at faysonecreative.com, where he works on art and design, logos, illustration, and customized art requests.