It's amazing what can built from sand. I like your idea with matrix and I don't care if he looks like Keanu or not.. it's stunning anyway! The movement looks great!
I have always wondered.. what happens when it becomes windy during your work? Is there any way to protect your sculpture?
Lucky you with those girls! :)
Thank you and that's a great question. People usually worry about the rain but the drying out can be a worse problem as all the details can blow away. When finished carving we usually, but not always give them a light spray of dilute PVA/ kids glue. This holds the surface grains together just enough to stop the surface damage from the wind and it also helps with the rain dappling the surface.
Nothing happened that night with the girls, I cried myself to sleep alone yet again.
So this is the trick! I have always wondered how this works as there is so much wind blowing at the beach (normally) - or at least at the beaches that I have visited :) But I didn't think about the rain so thank you for including this one too.
Hahaha, you must be used to crying yourself to sleep alone then :) Try to fall asleep in front of TV.. it might help as then you won't feel that alone :D
I just wanted to stress that the spray doesn't add any actual strength to the sand sculpture Is is just to preserves it a small bit from the elements. It will breakdown eventually.
The compacting of the sand is the real trick and it can turn good sharp sand into a soft sand stone.
I got married and now have a 3 year old son so now my bed is rarely empty. I must confess that I enjoy sleeping alone sometimes.