Conversations with Ray Scucchi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray Scucchi.

Hi Ray, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey into sand art really started by chance. One day at the beach, my son picked up a small rake and began doodling in the sand. He had a great time with it, so on our next trip to the beach I gave it a try myself. It didn’t take long for me to discover my creativity, and my excitement about what I could do with it instantly grew. I live with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD), a neurodegenerative disorder that affects my body, mind, and emotions. In addition to the fun I was having with sand art, I quickly realized it was also incredibly therapeutic and eased (or at least distracted me from) many of my symptoms. While YOPD makes small, detailed movements difficult, drawing large sweeping patterns with a rake suddenly gave me a whole new way to express myself. It helps me focus, stimulates my mind, and helps keep my body moving, all of which are important in slowing disease progression and helping me just feel better.

Over time, my designs became larger and more elaborate as I learned more about what works and what doesn’t. Each piece is temporary, erased by tide and time, but for me, every creation is an expression of purpose. And beyond that, and most importantly, I’ve seen how it connects with people. Strangers often stop to ask questions, take photos, and share their own stories. That sense of joy and connection has become just as meaningful as the art itself.

Now, I share my work through team-building events, classes, and custom designs. There is nothing better than watching other people experience the joy excitement that comes with drawing in the sand. I’ve learned that for many people, it is the first time they have felt that kind of creativity and freedom of expression in many years.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has definitely not been smooth. I have never been an artist, so I’m learning so much along the way. Coming up with designs, and then actually being able to execute those in the sand can be quite a struggle sometimes. Sometimes I will draw something out in my sketchpad and think it will work great in the sand but then find that it just doesn’t quite work.

The fact that the beach is my canvas also presents challenges. I have to work around the tide and crowds, which often means I am up as early as 4am to make sure I get the perfect conditions. It can also be somewhat nerve-wracking to have so many people watching me create my art. There are no sand erasers, either, so once something is raked, there’s no going back. Fortunately, all of these things have helped me learn to be adaptive and to really pay attention to what I’m doing. And as somewhat of a perfectionist, I’ve also learned to accept that the art will never be perfect, and even when I see mistakes, nobody else does.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think there are two main things that make my art unique: the canvas and the size. While many of us have probably picked up a stick and drawn in the sand at the beach, very few people have ever taken that to the next level. I, for one, had never really considered the possibility of a public beach being an art canvas until I started experimenting with a rake. After doing so, I also recognized that the bigger the art, the more awe-inspiring it is. There’s nothing more exciting that walking along the beach and coming across a massive and beautiful design drawn right into the sand. And if you can get a glimpse of it from the bridge above, it truly is special to see. I have found a few other sand artists around the world that share my passion for raking in the sand, but I think I am different even from those artists because I like to step outside the box and try different things. I love mandalas and flower designs (which are quite common among other sand artists), but I also enjoy quirky and fun things, like cookies, mushrooms, and spooky halloween designs. If I get excited about an idea, I try it, and no matter what, I always have fun. It seems like aside from the large-scale designs that people have come to know and love, it’s also my love for life and my determination to stay positive that stays with the people I get to interact with while creating my art.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Parkinson’s disease has given me a new perspective on life, ever since my diagnosis in 2022. While I have always been a big adventurer and risk taker, being diagnosed with a disease that I know will severely impact my quality of life has made me even more determined to live life to the fullest, and I don’t believe you can do that without taking risk. While sand art was just a really fun hobby for me, I wanted to take it further and hopefully help others who might be struggling with YOPD or other health problems. I don’t like talking about my disease or how it impacts my life because I don’t want people to pity me, but I realized it was important to do if I really wanted to help others and share the joy and fun that I get to experience everyday with other people who need that too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sandandsoulcreations.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandartsd?igsh=aXRjY2E0and3cTN5
• Other: https://linktr.ee/SandartSD