Earthen Charcoal Sculpture

When pieces of charcoal are compressed between multiple layers of rammed earth the result is two blocks of embedded charcoal. Each block holding onto a few pieces of what was embedded. Visually reminiscent of the devastation of forest fires.

This art piece originally served as a moment intime for the land, however as earth is never truly still new life began to sprout.

The inspiration:

The Process

Site selection

1) Collect all your material (dirt and burnt pieces of wood) and supplies (wooden form, at least two clamps, a few tampers, and a shovel).

2) Find a spot. I am a strong proponent of the idea that there is no “perfect spot,” as each location has pros and cons, and what one might consider a con, another considers a desirable feature. Take, for example, the spot I chose. It’s shaded, it's lower down than foot level, and part of the structure I put is behind an already-present fern. The intent was for this block of earth with pieces of wood sticking out of it to look natural and belonging, as if it wasn’t just placed but intentionally crafted there.

Burnt wood layout

3) Arrange your pieces of burnt wood in your desired composition, taking depth into consideration.. Make sure that larger pieces, especially ones at harsher angles, are deeper down to anchor the piece strongly. Note how many inches from the top the largest piece will be situated and take a reference picture for later.

4) Prepping the ground. This process consisted of me digging downwards about an inch, loosening up the soil, and taking some of it out. This was done for stability, for the rest of the structure to be better anchored to the ground. The same reason why, when constructing a house, one must build down first before building up.

Setting up the wooden form

5) Setting the form up, I started on the first layer. For the earth to compact and stay compact, there needs to be the right amount of moisture in it. Dampen a portion of your earth and keep testing it before adding more water to get the right consistency. The “test” is essentially taking a clump of earth in your hand, making a fist, then releasing. If it remains in shape but can be broken back down, then you’re good to go.

6) Layer up the earth by scooping the dirt into the form to about 2–3 inches, which will tamp down to about 1/3 to 1/2 the size depending on your tamping aggression. Tamp the layer lightly first to even out the dirt, and then firmly all around. A good minute of tamping each layer should do the trick. Repeat this step until you get to the point you established earlier, where the bottom of the largest wood piece will need to be.

Start embedding the burnt wood

7) Place the piece of wood in and use your hands to pack in dirt around it. You may need to prop up the pieces in place. Continue adding the burnt wood need to be in that layer, adding and compressing the earth with your hands. Use your hands to even out the layer of earth and varying sizes of tampers to get to hard-to-reach spots. Continue adding the pieces of wood as well as layers of earth and tamping as you go.

8) Remove the walls. Give the structure at least 24 hours before removing the wooden forms. Tap the pieces outward until they fall to the sides. The earth will take a good week or so to fully dry.

The Final Product

Why Charcoal and Earth

Charcoal is what’s left after fire. Earth is what holds the memory.

By embedding charred fragments into compressed soil, I wanted to capture both the devastation of wildfire and the potential for regrowth. The contrast between burnt black and raw earth speaks to landscapes we often overlook—damaged, yet not defeated.

Got questions or want to try this at home? Drop a comment or DM me on Instagram @EarthenCanvas.