Forget about paint and pencils. Sand was the artistic medium of choice in Brooklyn on Saturday, as dozens of artists gathered on the beach for the 33rd annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Competition.

Competitors from all over the country tuned out the bustle of the beach and boardwalk and got to work, using sculpting tools, spatulas, and even an old MetroCard to carve out their masterpieces.

Each year , the contest draws dozens of artists and many more spectators. But even though sculptors are competing for a cash prize , for most, the day is pure fun.

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“We kind of wing it, usually,” laughed Dawn Henning, who has entered the contest four times. “But it’s

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