There’s really no middle ground with snow – you either love it or you hate it.

But even if winter isn’t your favorite season, you can no doubt appreciate the masterful sculpting skills of these artists and amateurs who made snow into something amazing.

These folks managed to take a fluffy white medium and turn it into solid sculptures that made us do a double-take.

1. Roasting marshmallows

We’re not sure what’s more impressive, the colorful fire or the fact that this guy managed to pack the snow so tight on that marshmallow that it can stay in place on a stick.

We hope he has good arm strength because that might take a while to roast.

2. Ice castle

This is clearly professional work. In fact, it’s a giant display at Japan’s famous Sapporo Snow Festival.

We can only imagine how much work it took to create a solid structure with all that detail.

3. Snow snail

The Bartz family of New Brighton, Minnesota is famous for its elaborate snow sculptures.

Slinky the Snail stood over 23 feet tall.

On their Instagram post they said it was all for a good cause:

“Our hope is that our creative use of water will raise funds to help provide clean water around the world. Enjoy our water so that countless others can enjoy water too. We welcome people to come by for photos beside the sculpture!”

4. Lady in white

The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is the largest snow festival in the world and takes place each year in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.

It’s a major tourist attraction and from this incredible sculpture we can see why!

5. Land shark!

While it’s not the work of art that some other sculptures we’ve shown you are, we love the effort and humor put into this giant snow shark in a residential front yard.

That’s some serious committment to winter fun!

6. Welcome to Hoth

A Tauntaun is the perfect snow sculpture!

In the depths of winter, it can definitely feel like we live on an ice planet.

7. Speaking of Star Wars

Snow sculptures are not limited to Star Wars characters that live on Hoth.

This Darth Vader sculpture is intimidating even in white!

8. Pepsi Bear

While it might not be as elaborate as some of the other sculptures, this one was done by committed amateurs and sat in their front yard.

We hope this family got some free Pepsi for their awesome effort!

9. Marshmallow madness

Other than a snowman, the Stay Puft Marshmallow man is the perfect idea for a snow sculpture!

Just be careful of proton packs or you’re going to have quite a mess on your hands!

10. Snow dragon

While this popped up on Reddit simply as a cool photo, Redditors were quick to point out that it was the work of students at Anadolu University in Eskişehir, Turkey.

11. Light as a feather

Kate Munro is an “ice practitioner” whose sculptures have appeared all over the world.

We believe this one is called “Drift” and appeared at the Kiruna Snow Festival in Swedish Lapland in 2004, though she’s sculpted other feathers in the past.

12. Snow dance

This icy couple looks awfully warm as they dance on the streets of Rostov-on-don, Russia.

13. Procrastination at its best

These University of Rochester students took a break from studying to decorate campus in the 1960s.

Then again, they were engineering majors, so maybe this is just applied learning.

14. Snow sweets

This is better than any sign a bakery could put out front.

It looks like they’re just as skilled with frost as they are with fondant.

15. Colossal classic

What would a collection of snow sculptures be without the classic snowman?

This is one of the biggest we’ve ever seen!

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Source: H/t Bored Panda