Article updated: 2/22/2013 7:05 PM

Moving picture: Elgin sculptor carves snow Jesus

Buy this photo Buy this photo
next prev 1 of 6
   
Gallery Image

Fran Volz has been creating snow sculptures in his yard for 25 years. This year, he moved from Arlington Heights to Elgin and created a neighborhood buzz with his first sculpture, a 7½-foot-tall Jesus. He spent the first day making blocks of snow and stacking them. Then the next two days were spent using his homemade tools to carve and sculpt the figure.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Volz also works in clay, bronze, cement, Styrofoam and other materials. For some of the more complicated snow sculptures, he first makes a 6-inch detailed clay model.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Elgin resident Fran Volz studies classic Greek art and current comic books to help him form true-to-life features. He studied paintings of Jesus before beginning his sculpting.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

All of Volz's tools are homemade. He makes them from specific items at the hardware store.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Volz saw the positive reaction from his first snow sculpture 25 years ago, and is motivated to create when it snows.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

People continue to stop and take photos after dark.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

About this Article

Elgin resident Fran Volz had Jesus in his yard. Until he melted, anyway. The well-known snow sculptor brought Jesus to life several weeks ago when there was plenty of snow to work with, and caused a sensation in his new neighborhood. The former Arlington Heights resident was a hit with his projects there, and now Elgin-area visitors enjoy his work as well.

Related Content

Snow sculptor Volz forced out of Arlington Hts. home