CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Texas SandFest kicked off Friday out on Mustang Island.
The event is known to attract tens of thousands of spectators from all over the world for the three-day weekend festival, but the stars of the show are always the works of art.
It's really quite the spectacle to watch the artist at work. If you think about it, they're taking tiny grains of sand, clumping it together to create larger-than-life masterpieces, taken straight from their wildest imaginations.
One of those master sculptors is the 'Amazing' Walter McDonald who has claimed the title of 'Oldest Sculptor in Captivity.'
"I guess I got started before they all did both in life and in age, I'm 82," McDonald said.
You can call him eccentric, but that's just comes with the job especially when your canvas is a giant mound of sand.
He's competed at almost every Texas SandFest.
"If I to do something in a competition, have a choice, it's always a castle," he said.
McDonald has quite the eye for the smallest of details and has just about every tool of the trade fit right in his pocket.
His craft has taken him around the world.
"China, Japan, Belgium, Holland, Costa Rica, Mexico, Middle East Singapore, Australia," he said.
The list goes on, but his favorite place to sculpt, is right here on the Texas Coast.
McDonald said it has to do with the make up of our sand which he said is perfect for sculpting, and the people.
"All these people are my friends almost like family, my daughter is out there," he said.
We spotted his daughter not far away. She's also a sculptor who is putting her creativity on display at the event.
They're just a couple of the master sculptors setting up shop along the stretch of beach at Port Aransas showing off their skills at this year's Texas SandFest to thousands of spectators who are here from all over.
"Florida, I've heard Chicago, Washington," V.P. of Texas SandFest Richard Kay said. "It is the largest sand sculpting event in the US."
Andy Hancock from South Padre Island got his start two decades ago.
"You've got many world champions here," Hancock said. "It proves it creates joy and happiness. I love it."
He's spending the weekend helping teach visitors the craft of sand sculpting and has these simple rules:
"Number one, you only use wet sloppy sand, second, use a bucket and build it like a pyramid. Fatter the bottom, thin at the top," he said. "Third thing, always use your tools. work from the top down and have fun!"
Texas SandFest continues through Sunday. Gates open at 9 a.m. daily For more information check out texassandfest.org.