Mark Daukas
Mark works on a small section of a multi-block King Neptune ice sculpture inside the 2011 version of the Orange County Fair Ice Museum.
This piece that Mark sculpted depicting two leaping sailfish was the tallest of the window pieces at the 2011 Ice Museum. The Ice Museum had nine windows through which spectators could see the fantastic ice sculptures without having to brave the cold.
A different kind of "seahorse," this hippocampus ice sculpture combines horse and fish in a dynamic pose that is one of Mark's specialties.
Mark's precisely carved angelfish ice sculpture also featured snowfill engraved striping. Snowfill engraving gives ice sculptors a way to create contrast (white snow against clear ice) on the surface of their sculptures.
Here's a closeup shot of the head of Mark's hippocampus ice carving. Note the lifelike look of the creature's eye.
Mark cracked the ice along the tail of the hippocampus to give it a scaly look. In the past, Mark has used this technique on some of his ice sculptures so that they'd resemble marble.
Both kinds of seahorse sit next to one another before they are placed on their pedestals in front of the viewing windows. Mark carved his pieces for the display windows back at the Carving Ice studio and the delicate ice sculptures were carefully transported to the Museum.
Besides the hippocampus piece, Mark carved a more standard version of a seahorse ice sculpture, which also was displayed at one of the Museum's viewing windows.
Mark puts finishing touches on his sailfish piece. Each of the ice sculptures require careful touchups before they're ready for viewing. In some cases, as in the case of the sailfish carving, the sculpture must be assembled.
Jim Ottens (l) and Roland Hernadez (the architect of the 2010 and 2011 OC Fair Ice Museums) stand before Daukas' version of Rodin's "The Thinker" at the 2010 Museum. Photo courtesy of Jim Ottens
Mark's multi-block Neptune ice sculpture sits partly complete in the 2011 Museum. Mark sculpted the entire piece onsite at the Ice Museum. The finished piece included ice dolphins that swam in front of Neptune; these were completed while the Museum was open, giving visitors an extra icy treat! (photo courtesy of Jim Ottens)
A male torso, a la Michelangelo, is on display at the 2010 Ice Museum. This is one of Mark's signature ice sculptures and represents his commitment to an expertise in sculpting human anatomy.(photo courtesy of Jim Ottens)
A goldfish piece sits partly complete at the Carving Ice studio. On the wall behind the sculpture, you can see the detailed drawings that Mark was working from. Mark is also known for his use of detailed templates while sculpting so that the final ice art will reach the its design potential.
The finished goldfish piece sits on its window pedestal in the 2011 Museum. The Museum featured elaborate LED lighting aimed from the ceiling and all the ice sculptures where colored and illuminated.
For the the 2010 Ice Museum Mark sculpted a recreation of his signature angel piece titled "Harmony" (photo courtesy of Jim Ottens)
This was Mark's double block ice sculpture at the 1993 National Championships in Youngstown, Ohio. An innovative ice representation of the Titan Atlas, it was titled "Bearer of the Heavens." It was awarded the highest point total for the first day of competition.
This version of "Harmony" from the 1993 National Championships, gave Mark his 3rd straight sanctioned National Championship.
Here's a backside view of "Harmony," again from 1993 in Youngstown, Ohio. Note the carefully tailored silhouette and the delicate support structure of the sculpture.
Here's a third of "Harmony" from 1993. Although difficult to see, the sculpture features an almost impossibly delicate ice harp, cradled in the angel's left arm.