Tide waits for no man: The amazing beach artist who starts every day with a new canvas




Artist Andres Amador has been at it again, carving intricate artworks in the sand – only for them to be washed away by the sea just hours later.



The American artist has been creating a series of new designs, spending hours painstakingly carving giant doodles on the beach, some spanning a massive 300 by 500 foot.



He uses Google Earth to pick out the best beaches for his designs. He then patiently waits for a full moon to make sure tides are low enough for him to complete his design before it is washed away by the sea.



Race against the tide: Andres Amador has just hours to draw out his designs on the sand before they are washed away by the sea

Mr Amador carefully sketches each pattern and geometric design in a sketchbook, before recreating the grand design in the sand using nothing more than a garden rake.



The 40-year-old from San Francisco said he has been using the beach as his canvas for the last 12 years and his artwork was originally inspired by the crop circles phenomenon in the UK.

He said: 'One day while on the beach and was explaining aspects of geometry to a friend, creating circles and triangles on the beach.



'It was then that it occurred to me that I could do these designs in the sand, that their size could be virtually unlimited and that the most perfect beach to work on was near to my home in San Francisco.



'My designs are inspired by patterns in nature, such as ripples in water, cracks in mud.



Disappearing again: Andres Amador's creation is gradually washed away - but the artist does not mind his work vanishing at the end of each day

Stretch canvas: Some of artist Andres Amador's creations span up to 300 by 500 foot, covering great swathes of the beach near his home in San Francisco

Making tracks: Andres Amador designs his works in a sketchbook, before calculating how best to get his designs on the shore

Inspired by nature: Andres Amador's designs are in keeping with their surroundings along the coast near San Francisco

Intricate geometric designs: Mr Amador's designs are inspired by crop circles that appear in fields in the UK

Simplicity: The designs carved in the sand range from intricate patterns to simple, striking images

'Some designs can take years to develop whereas there have been other times when I've sketched a possible design on the way to the beach.



'Once on the beach I generally give myself two hours to work. For more ambitious designs I'll bring together friends and fans to help me. '



Andres said he didn't mind that the sea washed away all his hard work; it simply wiped the slate clean for him to create a new design the following day.



Working in the fresh air and walking barefoot in the sand means there is never a bad day at the beach, he said, even if his design does not work out.



The artist took his rake to the UK to carve a design in a new setting in November, taking part in Jersey's World Beach Art Championships. Creators from across the globe gathered to draw temporary masterpieces on Britain's chilly beaches - at least until the tide washed them away.

Best of the rest: Mr Amador has been using the beach as his canvas for the last 12 years. This is one of his designs from 2009

Beach walk: Admirers take a stroll through 'Warped Fields', another one of Mr Amador's earlier creations

Sand man: The artist's designs cover great swathes of beach near San Francisco, to be glimpsed by passersby for just a few hours before they disappear again



