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Ice Illusions Studios

@iceillusions

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National and International Award-Winning Ice Sculpting Studio
Two Generations. One passion. Crafted in Ice.
📍San Francisco Bay Area and 📍Philadelphia

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Winter is coming! Typically all our sculptures start off using a chainsaw to remove the "meat" from the massive blocks. For this live demo, we were only allowed to use hand tools since it was inside The San Jose Museum of Art. The standard ice block is 40" high x 20" wide. This particulare sculpture stood over 6' tall and required over 20 separate fusion points. Can you spot them all?

#iceillusions #icesculpture #bayareaevents #bayareaeventplanner #caterer #foodies #ice #art #sculpture #design #sanfrancisco #sanjose #bayarea #cocktails #celebration #winter #museum #live taken in San José Museum of Art by @iceillusions

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8 years ago

The Barbarian King for Clash of Clans.
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#clashofclans #war by @iceillusions

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a year ago

Happy 15th Anniversary to the team at La Mar Peruvian Restaurant. Chefs from La Mar restaurants all over the world were flown in to showcase their best dishes. Quite possibly the foodie event of the year, thank you to the wonderful team @lamarsf and @lopezsabinov for your vision. by @iceillusions

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3 years ago

She sketched it. We sculpted it. ❄️💍

One of my favorite parts of being an ice sculptor is receiving a client's hand-drawn sketch. I love seeing their creativity and personality come through.

For this beautiful wedding in Carmel, we worked closely with the bride to bring her original sketch to life. Sometimes it's the small details, like the little stick figure in her drawing cheering "Go, go, go!" that make me smile.

Every sketch brings its own unique challenges. Our clients share their vision, and we figure out how to make it work in ice.

Here, that meant incorporating two functional racing drink luges into the seal's flippers. We had to carefully consider their placement and angles so the drinks would flow properly during the race, while preserving the natural shape of the flippers as the ice gradually melted with each pour.

I'm grateful for the trust our clients place in us when they give us creative freedom. It inspires us to go the extra mile and make each piece special.

Hearing from the bride the following day about how much she loved the sculpture made it all the more rewarding. 🥰

Congratulations to the happy couple! 🥂

From Ideas to Ice — Episode 1 🧊
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#IceIllusions #IceSculpture #IceLuge #wedding #carmelwedding IceCarving Cocktails Weddings WeddingInspiration WeddingDetails LuxuryWeddings DestinationWedding CarmelWedding CarmelByTheSea CaliforniaWedding BayAreaWedding MontereyWedding WeddingPlanner EventProfs WeddingIceSculpture taken in Carmel, California by @iceillusions

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4 days ago

Celebrating my Dachshund, Daphne’s 10th birthday with this EPIC ice sculpture!

I’ve been curious about David Fong’s story and when we were planning a visit to his Ice Illusions freezer, he asked if I needed a sculpture. Since my big book tour events happened already, I told him my weenie dog was turning 10 this year.

A couple weeks later, I found myself in David’s VERY COLD freezer world to watch him work with chainsaws, chisels and rotary tools.

He learned the craft from his dad Kim when he was just 13, and the two have even competed in ice sculpting competitions around the world.

But here’s the crazy part: David says there are only a few ice sculptors left in the Bay Area, and despite training a bunch of people over the years, he STILL hasn’t found someone who wants to become his apprentice and carry on the craft.

So…who wants the coolest job ever?

Happy birthday to my favorite dachshund/sausage/weiner dog/ice queen ❤️

PS: yes I am wearing a @thombrowne dachshund dress to make this occasion!

#dogsofinstagram #aapi #shopsmall #weenierdog #iceicebaby taken in Santa Clara, California by @iceillusions

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24 days ago

Repost @m.woods.art !
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From set design concept to load in - total of 10 days! Only achieved with the wonderful vendors of Los Angeles and San Francisco! Great team, wonderful client and a sustainable vision! 🤙🏻🔥💕🎥 #productiondesign

Backdrop: @jcbackings
TV and Foam sign build: @foncostudios
Custom Neon: @neonflamingo.art
Resin Rocks: @jackson_shrub
Ice block carving: @iceillusions
Sod: @eastbaynursery
Snow: @rosebrandinc

Production Design: M Woods
Art Direction: @jeresallee
Set Dresser: @tedsorensen
Stage: @cielcreativespace
Agency: After Image
Client: AVEC

#productiondesign #icesculpture #behindthescenes #setdesign by @iceillusions

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2 months ago

Throwback: One of my favorite projects from the 2019 Dr Pepper TEN "Mountain Man" national ad campaign. 🧊

The art department first created a molded glove to capture the actor's exact hand shape. Our job was to transform that mold into ice.

We hand carved four identical ice gloves, each one meticulously matched to the original mold. That alone was a painstaking process, but it was essential. Film productions require continuity, so if one glove cracked, melted, or failed during a take, an identical replacement had to be ready without anyone noticing.

Here's a fun detail: the first glove you see in this reel isn't ice at all—it's the molded version created by the art department. The very next shot is one of the hand-carved ice gloves. Most people never notice the switch.

What I love most about projects like this isn't just the carving—it's the planning, the execution, and collaborating with incredibly talented creatives who all share the same goal: creating the best shot possible. It's amazing what can happen when every department brings its expertise together.
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#BehindTheScenes #IceSculpture #FilmProduction #PropMaking #CommercialProduction taken in Lake Tahoe, California by @iceillusions

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3 months ago

by @iceillusions

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3 months ago

ASMR Ice Sculpting Work Flow. Kentucky Derby Ice Luge for a great cause.
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#event #ice #art #kentuckyderby #bts by @iceillusions

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5 months ago

Wedding season 2026. We are noticing more are more clients/planners requesting nostalgic hand carved designs. These are typically priced much higher due to work time but if it's in the budget, it's worth every penny.

Had the pleasure of working with Melanie from Honeybee Rentals to bring one small piece of her vision to life. Exceptional team, we can see why brides are going crazy right now.

Co-hosts: @bonafide.ca x @honeybee.rentals
Planning & design: @honeybee.rentals
Venue: @filoliestate
Florals: @thewildfleur_ca
Stationary: @blushtype
Rentals: @honeybee.rentals
Draping: @vanessas_decorations
Linens: @mglinens
Ice sculpture: @iceillusions
team 1: @maruha_hair x @makeup_by_regina
team 2: @gennaellisbridal x @stylesbyalisher
Dresses: “Batiste” by @annagulbe_
“Grande Fleur” by @midwestgowns
“Odette” by @dalliancegownrentals
Models: @sophianazarchuk @vvickyy__ by @iceillusions

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6 months ago

Custom designed gemstone cut snail ice
sculpture. 🐌 Abstract work can be a delicate balance. Push the design too far then you lose the subject matter, keep it too realistic then you lose creativity. This little guy stole the show that day. Thank you to our amazing clients who always trust our creative process. ❤️ by @iceillusions

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7 months ago

Unfortunately this is all we are allowed to show you. 😅 Please tag @iceillusions if you see our work at the NFL Superbowl events throughout the city.

Which team will win it all? by @iceillusions

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8 months ago