Staff Editor
Manuel Frolich creates intricately complex geometrical art and optical illusion, which takes quite a bit of time and effort. Almost as soon as he’s finished, his canvas is erased by mother nature and all he’s left with are the snapshots. Some spectacular ones that, courtesy of New York post, we just had to share.
Sand art to new dimensions
Living near the coast of Ireland was the biggest factor affecting the unique and fascinating art Manuel Frolich loves to create. When he goes to the beach, he doesn’t take a towel, he takes a rake.
As he got better at it, he started packing along a drone too. Each and every one of his mind blowing masterpieces are etched in sand along the beach. They only last until the evening tide comes in.
Frolich’s hobby started spontaneously. He’s always liked art and dabbled some. One fateful day in the late 00’s he “picked up a piece of driftwood on a beach and began to sketch with it.” He was instantly addicted. Every time he hits the beach with his kids he would do another one.
In 2014, New York Post relates, “he created his first large drawing, which was about 164 feet in diameter.” He had to run up the cliff to get a photo before it was destroyed.
“I start at the desk, first playing around with design ideas, only using a ruler and compass.”
After he gets the sketch he works out “a geometrical construction plan for the beach, which is highly important, as I have only limited time between the tides.” He loves everything about his unusual art. “Every single step is a joy of its own.”
Draw the outline first
As anxious as Manuel is to get into the design, first he needs to lay it out and it’s not simple. “The outlining can take up to three or four hours before the actual drawing takes place.”
His art comes leaping off the paper and so does the Escheresque finished product.
He generally uses markers at home to shade in the parts he plans to rake. He’s glad he paid attention in geometry class.
“To work out my mathematical plan is tricky and time-consuming, but when it’s all ready for the beach, this construction doesn’t leave my mind until it’s finished on the sand.” His art takes around four to six hours of raking to create the final image.
Every time he goes to the beach he times it to arrive when the tide is going out. His art only requires four tools. A “measuring tape, a bamboo stick, string and a set of different rakes.”
People actually ask him where he gets the dark sand from. He just smiles and points to his rake. It’s extremely relaxing once he gets started in a zen gardening kind of way.
