Disabled army veteran Jef Schobert has been drawing widespread attention for his artistic snow sculpting abilities over the months, and on Tuesday the Wisconsin resident opened up about his talent to USA Today.
"I look at it (a mound of snow), and think, what could I make out of it?" Schobert said. "That's what I like the most."
Schobert was left disabled in a motorcycle accident while on duty in 1986, according to his GoFundMe page.
He had been carving snow shapes since the late '70s but after his accident, he found solace through his art.
Schobert told the Post Crescent that the art form helped him cope with chronic pain, but more importantly, it made people smile.
Art is becoming a common feature in VA medical facilities, which use it as a form of rehabilitation to help vets cope with physical and emotional disabilities, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs noted.
There are dozens of art therapy programs springing up across the nation and the list of benefits are mounting.
"There seems to be a Zen quality to snow carving, challenging and changing at every turn," Schobert noted on his GoFundMe page.
His artwork can be seen on his front lawn, located near the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus, where the snow sculptures mesmerize residents, but Schobert also takes his art outside his front yard to share with the broader community.
He often volunteers at local events, either to build a snow sculpture, or to teach classes to others, and has set up a Facebook page to document his journey.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.