Sandcastles: Great Projects: From Mermaids to Monuments

by Patti Mitchell, Frankie Frankeny (Photographer), Living Earth Foundation (Contributor)

Sandcastles is the ultimate guide to the ultimate summer pastime--playing in the sand. Featuring the wonderful photographs of Frankie Frankeny (Snowmen), Sandcastles includes over 30 sand sculptures from the whimsical to the majestic, complete with easy-to-follow instructions. Adults and kids can work together to create gloriously impermanent structures by the sea--or even in a backyard sandbox. Pass the time with an ancient sundial. Sail alongside the seas in a sand schooner. Sunbathe with a mermaid. Put up a beach house for your lazy pup. Or for the truly ambitious, recreate some northern Spanish architecture with a rendition of the Gehry Bilbao Guggenheim. For sand sculptors young and old, this delightful volume is filled with the joys found in a summer day in the sand. Sandcastles is a joint project with the non-profit Leap Foundation, which hosts a sandcastle extravaganza each summer, where artists, architects, and kids of all ages construct inspiring sand creations.

80 pages, Spiral-bound

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 5 out of 5]

Building statues and animals from sand might sound a bit challenging for a laid-back beach day, but think of all the adulation you'll get when people see you building a 10' fire-breathing dragon or a working salt-water hydrant. Think too of that lovely moment at sunset when the tide comes in and there's you sitting with a pina colada in your hand watching as night draws in and your sculpture dissolves slowly into the sea.

Here's a great solution to a perennial problem: how to get the kids to leave the beach before Happy Hour when you want, need, that pina colada after a day of screaming kids who want ice creams, cokes, to show you how they can swim and and other mithering, attention-seeking behaviour.

What you do is you build a giant sundial. Sweep a large stick or 2x4 piece of wood in a circle to smooth the sand, pop it upright in the middle and tell the kids that 'magically' when the shadow hits the point you have marked, it's time to go. It will impress and astonish them all day long and they will let you know when its time to go. The younger the children the more it impresses. As long as you don't let anyone tell them about sundials your reputation as someone who can do real 'magic' is assured! (And then you can relax with a well-deserved happy hour drink, you've done your bit.)

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a dozen or so projects that could be used for deciding on a beach project for the completely un-creative minds. The sand sculptures aren't very detailed, and there isn't any proper discussion of technique or tools. This book seems more geared towards the young reader who needs some help and guidlines, or a 'vision' of what project to tackle, and who would be satisfied with a mediocre sculpture. This doesn't contain any technical sandsculpture information.

[Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

features images and the tools required to create some sand art.