Charred remains and ash

[MaliGn]

I'm looking to add a bit of a narrative feature to the base of my heldrake in the firm of a smoking pair of boots and a small pile of ash denoting the remains of a rather unfortunate guardsman. I'm just not quite sure how to build the pile of ash. Should I just use fine sand or would using textured paint be easier?

WIP. (Boots only tacked in place, I intend for one to be fallen over and to add wisps of smoke rising from them)

[Bung]

For the smoke you can use q tips. Dip them in thinned wood glue and use a needle to stretch it.

For the ash sculpt a small pile with sand and then use finer pigments.