NEGRIL, Westmoreland — In a world where art is often confined to canvas and paint, Michael Liviston has mastered the delicate skill of creating stunning visual masterpieces from sand. He’s called Michael The Sandman, and prefers to go by that name.

His pieces include intricate sculptures, vibrant wall art, and decorative souvenirs. They capture the essence of Jamaica’s natural beauty and cultural spirit. Every grain tells a story, every texture evokes the laid-back magic of island life.

“A mere accident”, is how The Sandman describes the commencement of his journey into sand art. A visual artist who has been in the business for more than 33 years, he is known for a variety of art forms. He has done painting, sculpting, carving and now sand art.

“I use to have my artwork on the beach,” he explained to the Jamaica Observer. “I usually use dye and shoe polish to colour the work. When I put [the art piece on the sand to allow it dry], the wind [would] blow the sand into the grooves and I always say, ‘That looks good.’ But I never get around to doing it.”

It was not until years had passed that The Sandman decided to purposefully create art using sand as an additional design on one of his wood carvings. He eventually evolved into creating art from 100 per cent sand.

Many people have advised him not to share his knowledge with others but for The Sandman, the true joy of his art lies in not just creating but in teaching. In his eyes, his most significant achievement is his passing of the baton to young talents. Understanding the importance of preserving and passing on creative traditions, he dedicates much of his time to training youth in art. Through community workshop and school programmes he introduces children to the magic of creativity.

The Sandman’s impact goes beyond his own work. Driven by a deep passion for nurturing creativity in the next generation, he leads an apprentice programme through the Social Development Commission (SDC). Under his guidance young people get a rare opportunity to learn the intricate craft of sand artistry while gaining official certification after just three months of hands-on apprenticeship. In addition, he teaches art at Green Island High School and hosts an annual visual art competition for youngsters in Negril.

“Mi deh yah fi teach! When I die someone can carry it on — they can even be better,” he posited. “They [educational institutions] not teaching them [students] a skill, they teaching them to go work in the hotel. My focus is to get people to depend on themselves for income.”

The Sandman’s most recent apprentice was a disabled man who graduated from the programme as a certified visual artist skilled in sand art and wood carving.

Michael The Sandman has always welcomed anyone eager to learn, even youth who simply walked in because they were curious about his craft. One memorable incident involved a young boy who, perhaps a bit bored, kicked down one of Liviston’s carefully arranged art displays on the beach. Instead of reacting with anger, The Sandman saw it as a teaching moment. He took the time to engage the boy, who eventually became an art student. The youngster, who lives within the Negril area, visits Liviston’s shop every weekend and is currently learning how to do wood carving. He will later learn sand and other forms of art, free of cost.

Through this programme The Sandman doesn’t just teach techniques, he instils discipline, patience, and a love for craftsmanship. His students leave not only with new skills but also with the confidence to pursue artistic careers of their own. For many, especially in a tourism-driven economy, this certification opens the door to new opportunities in the creative and entrepreneurial sectors.

A common practice is for beachgoers to take home a little sand in a bottle as a keepsake, to remember a beach visit. With The Sandman’s art, his customers are not only taking home sand from Negril, but from various parishes in Jamaica.

“I started with Negril sand only,” he explained. “Now, I have seven different shades. Every shade a dem sand yah come from a different area of Jamaica. A lot of people surprised to know that… we have so many different sand. We have a lot more different shades but some of the shades are close. We may can find about 12 different shades — or maybe more.”

Michael The Sandman’s art contains sand used in construction; sand from Milk River, Clarendon; Green Island, Hanover; Bull Bay, on the border of St Andrew and St Thomas; Little Ochi, St Elizabeth; Black River, St Elizabeth; and the whitest sand in his art kit is from Negril’s Seven Mile Beach.

Unlike many traditional artists, The Sandman’s medium is ephemeral by nature, but through his skill and ingenuity he transforms the fragile material into lasting treasures. Tourists and locals alike marvel at the fine detail and striking designs of his sand-based creations.

As Michael The Sandman continues to sell his one-of-a-kind sand art in Negril he’s also shaping the future — one young artist, one masterpiece at a time.

“Michael The Sandman” at work on the Seven Mile Beach in Negril where he does sand art using seven different shades of sand collected from various parishes across Jamaica.

A visual art student concentrates on his work at the outdoor beach studio of “Michael The Sandman”.

This Sun and Moon wall décor by “Michael The Sandman” Liviston, blends detailed wood carving with the unique texture of sand, creating a striking interplay of natural elements.