There's not much you can do with just one toothpick - or so you would have thought.

Steven J Backman has managed to construct a detailed replica of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge out of a SINGLE wooden cocktail stick.

But in case that wasn't enough to impress you he has also constructed a 13ft-long version using 30,000 toothpicks, glue, and "a lot of patience". Amazingly it is suspended without any form of cable or wire.

Mr Backman has also created wooden representations of other American landmarks including a 9ft Empire State Building made from 7,470 toothpicks and a sculpture of New York's Freedom Tower made from 200 toothpicks.

If static structures aren't your thing, the nimble-fingered artist has taken to the water with a beautifully crafted four-and-a-half foot yacht. Created over a period of six months using 10,000 toothpicks, the craft has two electric motors to propel it along and is steered by toothpick rubbers.

The San Francisco-based artist's first experiments with toothpicks were in primary school when he made a science project DNA molecule model. Later at university he started to make local historical landmarks, including San Fran's famous cable cars.

Realising he had a talent for toothpick construction Mr Backman began work on his large-scale model of the Golden Gate Bridge. Since then he has gone on to build ever more ambitious works and exhibit his pieces across America.

"I love using my hands to create one-of-a-kind toothpick sculptures that have never been seen by anyone," Mr Backman explains. "Individually gluing each toothpick together, one by one, and painstakingly forming a unique creation is my specialty.

"Although it would be much easier to use a solid piece of wood to carve the intricate details I have been able to achieve with toothpicks, the fascination and unbelievable expressions found on the faces of many people who see my work is a reward to my hard work.

"Never before have I been so relaxed and at peace with myself while spending hundreds of hours sitting at a table."

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Story by: Dean Murray