While working on my sand sculptures I am often asked about my tools. So I wanted to put a little post together to talk about what I use and what for. This list is in no way the only ones I use, as I am always experimenting and looking for new ways to shape and texture sand. The ones listed below are what most carvers would have in their tool bag and have become the standard toolkit.
There are not really any purpose made tools, most are just repurposed from what is available in a hardware or art shop.
Lets take it from the bottom
1. Sunscreen
This of course isn't a tool although the bottle itself can be a great object to smooth the sand. It's content however are very important. Working on the beach can give you alot more sun than you think, as the sand and water will reflect the light giving you effectively twice the amount of sun burning fun. There is no point looking like a lobster or a leper while you carve. If there is one piece of advice I could give, 'wear sunscreen'. (I think I know a song about that)
2. Large Trowel
There are many to choose from in hardware shops and the shape comes down to personal choice. I favour this one because it has nice straight sides and comes to a pointy end. I don't know what it is exactly called but it is great for roughing out and getting in the basic form quickly. Also great for flattening large areas and for measuring proportions.
3. Wooden clay tools and lollypop sticks
May not look the most professional but wooden tools are great for modelling the sand. They can cut, smooth and push the surface around when you are finishing the sculpture.
4. Credit Cards
The best use I have ever gotten form them. They are nice and flexible and can be cut into different comb shapes to add texture patterns. Your flexible friend, they also only charge 0% APR.
5. Mini shovel
When you need to rough out and get rid of large areas of sand. This one a modified from a large garden spade to make handle shorter and can be taken apart to fit in my travel bag. They wear down with use which makes them sharper and more useful.
6. Wire tools
I really love these and they are great to make when you need a special tool. The large on on the right is a hole saw handle my father gave me and I bend metal strapping into the desired shape for different cuts. On the left are ones I made from the spring in a windscreen wiper blade. Great for smaller detailing.
7. Pallet knives
Usually used for painting they make for great carving tools like little trowels. The varying shapes each have their uses. From larger rounded ends ones great for cutting and smoothing to tiny sharp pointy ones for making eye balls and precision carving.
8. Trowels
The mainstay of carving, the right one is a Marshaltown 56. Every carver has one. They begin life as a square blade but through use erode perfectly to the carvers hand becoming personalized by each carvers individual cuts. I have gone through many in my career each worn down to the nub with use. The left is a really large stainless steel pallet knife which also works well. I will usually be seen working with these one in each hand. I do this for speed, it's not that I can carve accurately with both hand. I would give my right arm to be ambidextrous.
9. Brushes
Always good to have on hand to brush away loose sand. The bristles should be quite soft so as not to brush away the detail. A fluffy duster is great for the final touch.
10. Flexible rubber pad
A recent addition from Bruno Macdonald, a Danish carver. This was some silicone rubber he had left over in a bucket when mold making. It is great for rubbing large flat areas to a smooth finish.
As I said this is in no way all the tools you can use to fashion sand, just a collection on my favourite. I am always on the lookout for a new tools to increase speed and take away the feeling I have of sometimes fighting with the sand to make it submit to my ideas.
If people are interested, one day I will do a step by step of how to make a sand sculpture. It is a very easy material to begin testing your sculpture skills with and I am happy to share any knowledge I have. Just reach out to me below in the comments or on Steemit chat.
For now you can check out any of the other posts in my blog to see what is possible.
Signing off
@ammonite
Photo Damon Langlois