This guide is a work in progress. New chapters, images and video will be added at regular intervals. I have been considering this project for years and the latest site update has provided a ripe opportunity.

With that, I can think of no better way to open this venture than with a short course in sand...

Sand Sculpture Basics

1. Sand (or the hearding of the cats)

You will never be able to convince a given sand to do anything it doesn't want to do, so it is key to find yourself a friendly sand to begin with. Beginning with a good-natured sand allows you to do much more and prevents much of the "sand-frustration" that can nip a budding sand artist's interest prematurely.

The general rule is,
1. Finer sands and angular grained sands are best.
Pretty simple

Assuming you intend to play on a beach, look for beaches that feel packed hard when you walk along the waterline. And make sure you walk for awhile. Beach sand can change drastically in a matter of feet, especially around rivers, jetties, or any obstacle to the prevailing ocean currents. Look around, and dig down occasionally too. Many times the surface sand looks course and unusable when in reality it is an inch or two of bad sand on top of fine creamy smooth butter-sand. Also, try to avoid any sands that contain large quantities of rocks, shells or other debris as these items tend to lead to colorful language during the sculpting phase

A quick effective sand test is to simply pack a golf ball size wad of wet sand into a ball. Flatten your palm with the ball of sand in the middle and carefully move your hand in a circular motion allowing to ball to roll. If the sand hangs together, you have found your spot.

NEXT: 2. Stack 'n Pack