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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Bradley Stokes & Phil Norris

Artist recreates Gustav Klimt's The Kiss on beach using a garden rake

An artist has recreated a giant version of Gustav Klimt's famous 'The Kiss' masterpiece on a beach in time for Valentine’s Day.

Claire Eason, 57, spent four hours painstakingly carving the 40ft picture into the sand on Beadnell Bay in Northumberland using a garden rake.

The retired GP was inspired by the natural rock formations on the beach which she incorporated into her tribute to Klimt’s 1908 artwork.

The stunning images show the earthly coloured rocks surrounded by bold and delicate lines of sand to recreate the famous image of the two people kissing.

Claire, who has two grown-up children and lives in Sunderland, said: "Klimt, and that particular painting has always been a favourite of mine, I love the shimmery, dreamy effect of it.

"When I was walking down the beach, I caught the gold and green and rocks. The way the rocks were positioned put me in mind of the cloak of the male figure in the painting in that iconic picture.

"I simply got the idea from the rocks in the sand. An idea will just pop into my head.

An artist has recreated a giant version of Gustav Klimt's famous 'The Kiss' masterpiece on a beach in time for Valentine’s Day (Claire Eason / SWNS)

"I knew Valentine's Day was approaching, so I thought this would be an excellent idea to help celebrate it.

"With that, I got to work using a regular garden rake with a detachable head, which helped me get the fine detail of the facial features.

"I swapped it for a slightly broader rake for the thicker, bolder outline and shades of the image.

"This project took me about three to four hours to complete. I found a simplified version of Klimt's painting because you want something that is bold and graphic.

"I used a grid - 10x5 blocks of squares - with ropes on the sand to help as a guide. I also used a drone to help me with overall positioning.

Claire just had time to photograph her creation and video it using a drone before the tide washed it away on Sunday (13/2).

She added: "I usually start the work an hour before low-tide to give me a bit of wriggle room and then work three hours after low-tide. I only have a four-hour window.

"It will only last for a couple of hours before the tide comes in and eats it up. It also adds to the mystique of my work.

"It is very ephemeral; it is there and then it goes.

"Also, my work is not destructive it doesn't harm the environment at all."

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