Virginia Beach , where he competed as a solo against groups consisting of up to 15 people . Despite his solo status he placed third . In April of 2012 he won an amateur competition in Fort Myers Beach , Florida , and later the same year won the Discover Presque Isle competition in Erie and was awarded “ Best on the Beach ” by choice of the people attending .
Invited to compete as an advanced amateur in the American Sand Sculpting Championship in For Myers in 2013 , he won first place in the solo amateur division . To become a master in the art , a competitor must be voted to that status by a unanimous vote of the judges of a given competition . He missed the designation in 2013 but returned to defend his title in 2014 .
Once again , he took first place in the advanced amateur solo category in Fort Myers , but this time the judges voted him to master status . In 2015 in his first time competing at the master level , he won second place out of 16 participants in the solo category . He and a partner have also competed
in the doubles category . Todd still has a day job as a mechanical engineer at Miraclean in Ashville , New York , and values his time with his family above everything else . But he plans to keep practicing and competing . Happily for Kiawah , Todd had an opportunity to enjoy the Chautauqua House here in September and had plenty of time to work on his art .
Sand sculptures for competitions may consist of only two materials — sand and water — with a light spray of glue mixed with water allowed on completion to protect against wind . For the artist , the challenge is twofold : finding an inspiration for an appropriate subject and exerting the energy to make the inspiration a reality .
Kiawah provided a perfect canvas for Todd to develop his skills , and we can only hope he will return sooner rather than later . He has certainly found the world in a grain of sand — and so much more . Find Todd Pangborn on Facebook , Pinterest , and pangdad _ 62 on Flickr . com . NK
34 Naturally Kiawah