If any of you out there can assist me with tips on painting landscape I would appreciate it. I am making a new layout and I have constructed my hills and landscape with the usual cardboard and plaster cloth. I tried using paint pigments from Woodland Scenics to color them but I just end up with a bunch of soggy plaster and terrible color. Does anyone have a recommendation on what color regular paints I can use to color the hills reddish brown like the Grand Canyon or desert landscape. I am hoping one of you veteran Dial Roaders can help me out. I dont have enough skills to handle an air brush either. Any and all help will be appreciated.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
How about cans of spray paint?
Bob C.
Any color or brand recommendations?
1) A can of the cheapest available flat black
2) A can of Rustoleum Desert Bisque
3) Cheap hobby acrylics from Walmart:
a) Raw Seinna
b) Burnt Umber
c) Bright white
--Paint the whole thing flat black. Don't be afraid.
--Dust fairly heavily with the Desert Bisque. Spray from the top so that the black base pokes through in the places where shadows should be.
--Drybrush moderately with the Raw Sienna and Burnt Umber
--Drybrush lightly with the Bright White to simulate the glint of sunlight. Don't overdo it.
I used the colored pigments from scenic express. Maybe the type of plaster used affects the coloring. I used Gypsolite and then used the colors mixed four parts water to one part pigment. I dabbed the different colors on then I finished with a very dilute black. This was my first attempt at the leopard spotting technic. here is a pic.....Paul
Attachments
I feel your pain... I'm not an artist either. I watched a lot of video's on YT on how to paint rocks, mountains, etc.
In the pic below I put on a heavy coat of grey. I let it dry a day and then I came back with white. But I dry brushed it on. In other words, dip your brush and wipe off and much paint as you and dab and stipple it on. After that dried I kept doing the same process with other colors like brown, red and black. With some of the colors I would also water them down and then try to dry brush. It would create a kind of runny blotchy pattern that I liked when it dried.
With your project, I would assume you would use reds, brown, tan and black to get the color you desire.
I would add some paint in small sections and then just step back and look at it to determine if I needed more. It comes down to whatever you like. And if you don't like it... paint over it. For paint, I used the Home Depot sample paints. I love them and always stop by the paint desk to see if they are selling and oops paint. The samples cost .50 for oops and $2 for new.
Good Luck!
Ron
Attachments
I have most of those paints. I will give it a whirl it cannot get any worse.
I used the colored pigments from scenic express. Maybe the type of plaster used affects the coloring. I used Gypsolite and then used the colors mixed four parts water to one part pigment. I dabbed the different colors on then I finished with a very dilute black. This was my first attempt at the leopard spotting technic. here is a pic.....Paul
Hey Guys,
the 3 Stooges only painted in black and white!
Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!
Mike Maurice
Hey Guys,
the 3 Stooges only painted in black and white!
Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!
Mike Maurice
Sorry it did not work. I watched the woodland scenic video on how to do it. I redid my scenery using the plaster wrap then covering that with Gypsolite. Then I mixed the colors and applied them to the plaster with foam applicators. In one section the had the plaster I was working with which was drywall compound. When I applied the color to that it did not go on very good so I covered it with the Gypsolite and it worked better. But as with everything you have to go with what will work for you...........Paul
acrylics….. don't use drywall compound it won't match plaster colth and does not handle acrylics that good…….. mix with water and do test. play with it you will get it….
Attachments
acrylics….. don't use drywall compound it won't match plaster colth and does not handle acrylics that good…….. mix with water and do test. play with it you will get it….
That's OK, I plumb like Larry, Moe, and Curly painted!!
Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo.....!
KD
1) A can of the cheapest available flat black
2) A can of Rustoleum Desert Bisque
3) Cheap hobby acrylics from Walmart:
a) Raw Seinna
b) Burnt Umber
c) Bright white
--Paint the whole thing flat black. Don't be afraid.
--Dust fairly heavily with the Desert Bisque. Spray from the top so that the black base pokes through in the places where shadows should be.
--Drybrush moderately with the Raw Sienna and Burnt Umber
--Drybrush lightly with the Bright White to simulate the glint of sunlight. Don't overdo it.
Glad it's working out for you. Post some pictures.
1) A can of the cheapest available flat black
2) A can of Rustoleum Desert Bisque
3) Cheap hobby acrylics from Walmart:
a) Raw Seinna
b) Burnt Umber
c) Bright white
--Paint the whole thing flat black. Don't be afraid.
--Dust fairly heavily with the Desert Bisque. Spray from the top so that the black base pokes through in the places where shadows should be.
--Drybrush moderately with the Raw Sienna and Burnt Umber
--Drybrush lightly with the Bright White to simulate the glint of sunlight. Don't overdo it.
Attachments
Yea!!! Can we see some pics?
Ron
Mr. Stephen C. Puntar,
That's one heck of a good start on your layout. Please post more photos in the, Photo Album Section.
God Bless,
"Pappy"
Thanks for sharing the techniques and products/colors used. I am not there yet but I am intrigued by the method of starting with the flat black spray paint and building up the colors from there.... I have used the WS scenic blends, and the inexpensive acrylic dry brushing, but as others have pointed out they can be challenging to work with. I don't always use pure plaster or plaster cloth for the substrate, so the building a base flat black latex or spray paint is attractive on carved foam bases.