This artist in Naberezhnye Chelny, central Russia, sculpts huge angel figures out of snow.

Anatoly Pashen is well known in the city for his impressive archangel creations he has been making for four years.

Footage from January 8 shows Pashen in the process of creating one of his snow sculptures.

Pashen is heard speaking about why he uses snow: "I need pure snow. Not yellow, not old, but pure snow. Why? Because one speck is not the same."

He added: "The most interesting thing is for four years I have been making sculptures here and not a single sculpture was destroyed until the month of May, until it melts."

Anatoly Pashen is a well-known artist from Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia. In the video, you can see his improvised outdoor workshop. Anatoly makes snow figures of archangels for the feast of Epiphany. He believes theybless us with faith, love and hope. The artist often sings while working because it makes him happy. He uses only pure snow, because the sculptures must be perfectly clean. Anatoly has been making sculptures for 4 years in a row and no one destroys them until they melt in spring. Anatoly considers himself a very happy man because he can make wonders with his hands!

Translation of the interview from the video:
[0: 01-0: 10]
(sings) – Here someone came down from the hill. Probably, my dear is coming!
[0: 11-0: 59]
– And so we arrived at the snow workshop of the famous artist Anatoly Pashin from Naberezhnye Chelny. As they say, Pashin always Plows! (note: wordplay in Russian)
– Anatoly, hello! Come on down!
– Here you cut off the excess with a spatula, only you need to feel the shape. Well-fed, I'm lazy.
– A gift for you, eat, you probably didn't even have lunch today?
– No, I'm eating work.
– What are your sculptures this year?
– Two archangels: one is a defender from evil spirits and the archangel with the cross, who blesses faith, hope and love.
[1: 00-1: 09]
– Last year there was thin ice - 55 centimeters. The sculpture crushed the ice and the water came out.
[1:10-1: 20]
– I need pure snow: not yellow, not old, but pure snow. Why? Because one speck is not the same.
[1:25-1:35]
The most interesting thing: for the 4th year I have been making sculptures here and not a single sculpture was destroyed until the month of May, until it melts.
[1:35-1: 43]
– In addition to being an artist, I am also an artist. Because each of my exhibitions is a one-man show.
[1:43-1: 53]
– When you sculpt, what do you think about? Do you sing a song or think about something good?
– Yes, I'm getting high! I think about what a happy person I am, that I can make a miracle with my own hands.



An artist from Naberezhnye Chelny sculpts figures of archangels out of snow