Non-Competing Master Sculptors
It's not all about winning, it's about having fun!
You don't have to compete in Texas SandFest to enjoy all the fun of creating sand sculptures. These artists have sculpted under the Port A sun just for fun. Learn more about these sculptors below.
Emerson Schreiner
Emerson is a painter and sand sculptor from West Michigan. He now lives in Galveston, Texas where he runs the Galveston branch of Sandy Feet Sand Castle Services. Emerson has been giving sandcastle lessons and crating sand sculptures for events and competitions for many years and has taken home prizes in several Master's events, including Siesta Key's Crystal Classic, Texas SandFest and South Padre Island's Sand Castle Days. When he's not on a pile of sand, you can find him climbing rocks, playing guitar or trying to make friends with the local cats.
Greg J. Grady
New Hampshire native and Marine Copr Veteran, Greg is a self-taught artist and a 2nd generation sand sculptor. What started as a hobby on summer vacations as a young child had turned into following in the footsteps of his father. G2 spent much of his youth on the sand pile, an introduction and exploration into the world of sand sculpture. His Irish luck would have him apprenticing under the world's best sand sculptors, playing in the biggest of sandboxes and traveling to beaches across the county. A passion for sand had turned into a career and over the past 15 years, Greg has made sand sculptures for just about every event imaginable and has competed professionally around the globe. Greg loves what he does and feels blessed to be a part of such a wondrous art form and community. For mor information and to follow his travels on the sand trail: Instagram g2grady ItsJustSand.com
Heather Woodworth
Heather is a second-generation sand sculptor from Leander, Texas. A graduate of The University of Texas with a degree in Studio Art, she entered her first competition in 2001 at the age of 7. From there, she went on to a place 1st & 2nd place in various youth sculpting competitions. In 2022, Heather won 1st place in the solo division of the Crossroads Sand Sculpting Festival. She has been competing in the Texas SandFest Master Division since 2014, placing 3rd in the Duo category in 2018. When time allows, she is also a sculptor for various commercial professional sand sculpting projects.
Lucinda Wierenga
Lucinda has won a modest amount of international fame with her sand sculpting skills - carving at major contests and festivals world over since 1987. She has taught generations of Texans how to build a better sandcastle - and has reached untold numbers more with thee "how-to" sandcastle books - she is currently working on a fourth. Lucinda helped establish the South Padre Island Sandcastle Days' master contest in 1987 and has either run it or participated in it every year since. Lucinda's company - Sandy Feet Sandcastle Services - has organized and created large, multi-sculpture exhibits all over Texas, including the South Padre Island Holiday Sandcastle Village - an ever-changing sand sculpting gallery featuring the works of some of the most talented artists on the planet.
Marie-Line Gagne
Marie-Line Gagne is an artist fueled by boundless creativity and a love for the whimsical wonders of nature. Since 2017, she's been carving her path, quite literally, in ice, snow, wood and sand, transforming dirty logs, frozen landscapes and sandy beach shores into vibrant masterpieces that capture the public imagination. She had been seen surfing her professional waves not only in national and international competitions but also on TV realty shows with her funky participation in Race Against the Tide season 3. With every stroke of her chisel and every grain of sand, she continues to spread joy and wonder with her ephemeral art, proving that sometimes, the best way to leave your mark on the world is to sculpt it with a smile.
Celebrity Corner: Walter McDonald
Amazin' Walter By Christy Atkinson (Walters Daughter) Amazin' Walter has competed at almost every Texas SandFest. He has competed as a solo and with several different partners. Mostly with his daughter, Christy, together they have won 9 awards at Texas SandFest. At 82, he is the oldest sand sculptor in captivity. This year, he will be celebrated in the new "Celebrity Corner" inside the gallery alongside the other Master sculptors. Stop by and say Hi and take a pic with him! Walter has popularized and perfected many different techniques for building sand sculptures. He hand-stacks the sand like pancakes to make towers and arches, then carves them into whimsical castles. Folks the world over are amazed by the detail and beauty of his castles. Walter is also known as the archwizard and is famous for including an outhouse in every castle that he builds. Things you may not know about the Amazin' Walter... Originally from Orange, Texas Married to Lucky Laurie Gaudi for 10 years, dated for 19 Built his first sand castle for money in 1985 He writes and plays his own songs on guitar, ukulele and 3-string cigar box guitars Also plays the harmonica (Don't ask him to play the trombone, yes he has one) Is a very good dancer Is an award winning photographer and has worked at several newspapers Had one brother and a half-sister Has one daughter and once son-in-law that he adores Is an excellent pool player and plays one-handed, left or right Vows to have 1000 projects started before he departs this world Likes to play games and is good at them His front porch hammock is his happy place Worked at the Balloon Guy, twisting balloons at Blackbeard's Restaurant on SPI for 25 years Makes jewelry and dabbles in bone/ antler carving as well as pottery Was featured on the first Get Dirty, Play in the Sand T-Shirt (and all the rest, save one) Has participated in Sand Blasters and Race Against the Tide reality TV shows. Built a sandcastle for Oprah in the Bahamas. Has been on Texas Country Reporter with Bob Phillips, twice and is in the book. Tried to run away with the circus, but had to give it back. (Joke) All in all, Amazin' Walter is still dazzling his admirers with all the crazy stuff he does. Who knows what his next adventure might be. Be sure to stop by the celebrity corner and meet the legend. Become amazed and inspired by his talent and smile.