Beautiful landscape designs take the form of sand paintings in _[Sand Art Landscapes 4K](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94b6YTsEVBo)_, the latest video from visual artist and filmmaker [Joey Shanks](http://www.moviemagicnow.com/) and [PBS Digital Studios](https://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios). After dazzling the eye with [Ghostbusters photon beams](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/heres-how-to-make-an-irl-ghostbusters-photon-beam) and [phosphorescent bubbles](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/how-to-blow-a-really-really-photogenic-bubble), this newest piece manipulates a camera to make the minuscule movement of sediment look like a wide-angle shot of a real landscape.

In the video&#x2019;s [description](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94b6YTsEVBo), Shanks goes into detail about the three frames used in this project and their influence on the visual effect of each picture. Sand trickles down the frame, floating to the bottom like plankton or seaweed. Shanks has created a unique combination of mediums in what is essentially a really sophisticated, sand-based lava lamp, or an hourglass, but with water.

Shanks explains that the frames are filled with liquid, sand, and small pockets of air, sandwiched between two air tight panes of glass. When the frame is rotated the air bubbles rise to the top, creating an air pocket between the sand and the water. The sand then begins to slowly trickle down through the air bubbles, floating down into the frame&#x2019;s liquid center. Shanks can control the amount of air in the frame with a small blunt syringe needle, thus determining the speed and scale at which the sand moves.

Check out _Sand Art Landscapes 4K_ below:

A sand picture consists of two panes of glass glued together creating an air tight seal.

Liquid, sand, and small pockets of air live inside the glass.

Rotating the sand picture will cause the air bubbles inside the glass to rise. 

Creating an air barrier between the liquid & sand. 

The sand will eventually start to squeeze itself through the air bubbles. 

More air inside the glass = slower avalanche of sand.  
Less air inside the glass = faster avalanche of sand. 

Air can be regulated with a small blunt syringe needle. 

I used 3 different sand art picture frames.  

1)  
Pink Frame (3.5 x 6 inches) I purchased at the store "5 and Below" for 3 dollars a few months ago.  I went back there to see if they had more, but they no longer had them in-stock.  (worked really well, liquid was blue which actually helped sell the effect when adding in different backgrounds.)

2)  
Westminster Sandscapes (the one seen briefly that created multiple hills)  15-20 dollars 

3)  
Aurora Borealis Movie Sand Art, by Rainbow Vision 
8.5 x 13 inches , 75 dollars 
The larger frame made all the difference for allowing me to use my wide angle lens to help achieve a deeper focus. It came with a picture in the background.  I took picture out and then taped down the edges in the back so the glass would have support. 

I plan to make my own sand art picture frame in the near future. I searched the web for some DIY tutorials but didn't find any.

Let me know if you guys have any suggestions on building a Sand Art picture frame. 

Filmed with the Sony FS7 with Super 35 sensor 
Filmed resolution of 4096x2160 at 60fps

Music by: Big Fok 

In Association with: PBS Digital Studios

Sand Art Landscapes 4K  | Shanks FX  | PBS Digital Studios

See more of Joey Shanks' work on his [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94b6YTsEVBo).

_[Watch These Intricate Illustrations Come to Life Using Sand and Light](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/watch-these-intricate-illustrations-come-to-life-using-sand-and-light)_

_[\[Exclusive Video\] Creating Sand Castles With A Single Grain Of Sand](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/creating-sand-castles-with-a-single-grain-of-sand)_

_[How to Blow a Really, Really Photogenic Bubble](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/how-to-blow-a-really-really-photogenic-bubble)_

_[How To Make An IRL Ghostbusters Photon Beam](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/heres-how-to-make-an-irl-ghostbusters-photon-beam)_

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Joey Shanks creates picturesque landscapes using just sand, air, water, and pure camera wizardry.

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This story is over 5 years old.

Sand Paintings Are the New Lava Lamps

FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Sand Paintings Are the New Lava Lamps

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