IOWA CITY

If this were a sunny Florida beach, the red flags would wave, signaling danger. Powerful jaws lurk just below the waves; a dorsal fin could be the last thing a potential victim sees before they’re pulled under.

Instead, it’s Iowa. Iowa blanketed in a compact snow that’s perfect for snowmen.

Or sharks.

That’s what Iowa City artist Carlos Maldonado built. His kids wanted to craft a snowman, but Maldonado challenged them, saying “Let’s make something cool.”

Maldonado specializes in pet portraits and is a painter by trade. A snow sculpture is not his forte, yet the shark’s realism is in line with his realistic paintings, which render subjects in the most minute detail.

“I’ve been painting for about 15 years. Professionally, I started in 2019,” Maldonado said. “That’s when I quit my job and started doing it full time. I mainly do pet portraits and landscape paintings.”

The ice behemoth just outside the Maldonado’s front door took six hours to complete. Maldonado started by stacking the snow high and then sculpting the shark’s features.

He later painted it, helping cement the snow into a shark.

“I’m happy with how it turned out. The color is what made it pop,” Maldonado said. “We were just having fun. I think if I would have known the amount of attention it was going to get, I think I could have done a little better job. That’s [me] being my own critic.”

Maldonado spends time cleaning and spraying clear coats of water on the shark each day, helping it remain sturdy. With continued sub-zero temperatures, the beached shark could live a long time.

Maldonado joked that he would do more snow-sculpting in the future if there was a demand for it and he could be commissioned.

For now, Maldonado recommends everyone go out in the snow, safely, and try their hand at sculpting.

“I think that’s the most important thing, just creating some memories and spending time with your kids and family,” Maldonado concluded.

You never know, you could start with a snowman and finish with a shark.

Maldonado’s professional artwork can be found at www.carlosmaldonadoart.com.