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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ellie Forbes & Steven Smith

Artist creates sand sketch of Greta Thunberg - using two rakes and a stick

An artist has created an incredible 100ft sketch of Greta Thunberg on a beach – using two rakes and a stick. Sean Corcoran, 52, spent three hours making the sand art - based on a portrait of the Swedish activist - before the tide came in and washed it away.

He used two rakes and a horse-riding lunge stick to create the massive portrait, which stretched 100ft by 60ft across the beach at Copper Coast Geopark in Waterford, Ireland.

Environmental artist Sean said: "My drawing is based on an iconic portrait of Greta by photographer, Michael Campanella. I created a digital version of the picture first on my phone from a black and white photo of the portrait.

"I positioned the sand art against a concrete wall at the base of a cliff. I made up a grid before I started creating it on the sand, it was like paint by numbers.

"It’s actually an anamorphic drawing that only makes sense from a precise vantage point on the cliff, from where I took photographs and a timelapse. I did it with just two rakes and a horse riding lunge stick and it took me about three hours.

“Normally people don’t see my artwork because it gets washed away, but people on the beach could see what I was doing, which is what I wanted. People think it will be sorrowful when the tide washes it away, but it actually feels very uplifting. I stayed until about 6pm to see the tide wash it away and it feels like giving back to nature – it’s a mindful experience.”

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Dad-of-two Sean hopes Greta will see the pictures and said the art had created a divide between people who love and loath her.

He added: “I do hope Greta sees the picture. People either love her or hate her, but either way she saying what needs to be said at the moment and her age makes it all the more poignant.

“I have had really positive and really negative reactions to it, there is a big divide about Greta and what she is doing. But I think that’s a positive thing because at least conversations are being had.

Sean Corcoran spent three hours making the sand art - based on a portrait of the Swedish activist - before the tide came in and washed it away (Sean Corcoran/SWNS)

“In the portrait she is pushed right up against the rock, which I think represents where Greta is – between a rock and a hard place. Love her or loathe her, Greta Thunberg is at the centre of the climate crisis debate.

"In my opinion her bravery and persistence is admirable. Her outcry’s have certainly encouraged so many others to stand up and be counted. That for me is worthy of applause and the reason I decided to create this portrait of her."

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