What is sand sculpting?

_Elsa_

Tiffi is unsure exactly what sand sculpting is so she looks for some pictures and more articles.

‘Sand sculpting is an art form which uses sand as its primary and only material to create pieces of art. Only fresh (tap) water or salt (sea) water may be used to compact the sand and give the sand its required hardness.

The right type of sand – in general, beach sand is not suitable for sand sculpting, because its grains have rounded due to trial wash and wind, and it contains no silt and clay. If you want a semi-permanent sand sculpture, then professional use sand originating from fluvial deposits (river sand) that has angular grains mixed with a fraction of silt and clay. These characteristics enable the sand to bond better, if a beach is situated near estuaries, the sand is constantly replenished with new fluvial sand. In that case the beach sand can be suitable for sand sculpting.

Quality of the sand – the sand used for sculpting must be guaranteed free of toxins and environmentally unfriendly elements. Either beach sand can be used or (pre-produced industrial) river sand, which is processed and washed clean before use. Sand sculpting is only considered as such when it is fully compatible with the environment and when it does not deteriorate the quality of the sand in any circumstance. No dyes, no additives, no decorative materials, no artificial colouring, no paints, no flour, no sugar, no cement and no adhesives may be used. After use, the sand should be delivered back to nature as clean as it was before use. This makes the art form completely sustainable and friendly to the environment.

The lifespan of a sand sculpture – the lifespan of a sand sculpture mainly depends on the quality of the sand used to create these pieces of art, as well as the weather conditions, location and climate. When using the right type of sculpting sand, the sculptures can stay intact for at least 4 to 6 months in moderate climate conditions, like the weather in Europe and Northern America. The sand sculptures can withstand this type of rainfall and wind.” (Source)

“Wow those people are so talented!” Tiffi thinks. “I wonder if they have anything on sand art.”

Let’s continue - What is Sand Art?

Start at the beginning - Let’s build a sandcastle!