Art Beat with Rosalie Crawford

For those like me, who doodle 3D visual cubes from a simple square with a pencil on paper while chatting on the phone, what local artists Jamie Harkins and Constanza Tagini Nightingale are doing takes this to a whole new level.

Their amazing anamorphic illusions have been quietly etched out on the sandy beach around the side of the Mount, opposite Matakana Island, delighting passersby.

Crevices, staircases into the ground, skateparks, and whimsical drawings – their imagination is transforming a sandy cove into stunning works of art. Known as 3DSD (3D Sand drawings), they pair say their goal is to have fun, to entertain people and to captivate their attention by playing with optical illusion to create three dimensional drawings.

Constanza and Jamie met about three-and-a-half years ago through a mutual friend, who knew they were both artists. They formed a group that experimented with light; taking photos at night with long exposure. It was a fun way to enjoy time with people, and one night during conversation the idea formed about doing 3D drawings with the sun.

Using only a garden rake and a couple of sticks, they usually create one sand drawing per week, sometimes two.

Jamie Harkins, Constanza Tagini Nightingale and David Rendu make a 3D sand drawing on the beach at the Mount, opposite Matakana Island.

Mostly, they are out drawing on weekends with friend David Rendu, and have found the spot on the side of the Mount very good to use because of the elevated view and the tide. They start about two hours before low tide and continue on into the two hours after low tide, with drawings taking two-three hours.

The human eye can deceive the mind, forcing you to believe in the scope where it does not exist. Jamie and Constanza use the principle of anamorphic, playing with light, shadow and perspective. The eye can trick the mind, making you believe there are dimensions that are not really there.

Jamie Harkins, directing Constanza Tagini Nightingale and David Rendu to make a 3D sand drawing at the Mount.

'The connection with nature is essential for the creation of our art,” says Constanza.

'The sun, the wind, the moon and the tides make our creations temporary and give us a challenging time for realisation. The use of simple tools is allowing us to create different textures, shades, contrasts and perspectives.”

These ephemeral drawings are respecting the environment, leaving no trace after the following high tide. Photography is the medium to record this moment. The beach and a stick certainly provide infinite possibilities, with our imagination making them a reality.

To find out when they'll be creating their next 3D sand drawing, check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/3DSDart

A 3D sand drawing, which a trio of tauranga residents make at the Mount.

A 3D sand drawing, which a trio of tauranga residents make at the Mount.

Constanza Tagini Nightingale makes 3D sand drawings at the Mount with Jamie Harkins and David Rendu.

Jamie Harkins has been making 3D sand drawings at the Mount with Constanza Tagini Nightingale and David Rendu.