Rusty Croft

Sculpting Since: 1997
Location: Carmel, California

When your first project sets a world record, you know you’re onto something big.  Such was the case with Rusty Croft, an Iowa kid who became an ice sculptor in Partyville, sometimes known as Park City, Utah.  Partying came to an end (not exactly) when he was smitten by his bride-to-be.  They emigrated to Carmel, CA, where without ice, Rusty turned to sculpting sand.  (Tough life.)

His first professional gig was in San Diego in 1997 where he worked with an international team creating the world-record setting sculpture, “The Lost City of Atlantis” (a 20-acre recreation of the paradise buried beneath the sea).  He went on to sculpt and win awards all over the world and become one of the preeminent personalities in the art.

Despite his success, Rusty still remembers how intrigued he was when he saw his first sand sculpture. “I was instantly in love,” he recalls.  Now he hopes that his work will inspire and motivate a new generation of sand sculptors. “My motto is ‘dig in and make art,’” he said. “It’s that simple.”

Notable Achievements:

• 3rd prize, 2014 Sand Sculpting World Cup, Atlantic City, NJ
• Peoples’ Choice award, 2014 South Padre Island, TX
• Grand prize and People’s Choice winner, World Masters Class, 2012 U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge
• With Kirk Rademaker, co-owner of Sand Guys, the sand sculpture and team-builder firm that serves legendary Silicon Valley corporations like Yahoo!, Google and Facebook
• Co-host of Sand Masters on The Travel Channel
• Appeared on Good Morning America and featured in Sunset, Phoenix Home and Garden and American Lifestyles Magazines

Website: http://www.sandguys.com