Mod Podge

This is Mod Podge.

As is this.....

...and this.

Which Mod Podge did you use? Gloss?

I'm envious. Your scenes look great.

Yes, it was gloss and I used a mop brush to apply it. The "ripples" are what reflected the light and made the surface look dusty. BTW, I found out, too, that if the brush was a little damp, I didn't get too many bubbles.

I use it straight up and don't worry about the bubbles, they tend to disappear as it sets up. The water may be what's making it look "dusty".

I also use Mod Podge Glossy and find it the premier water maker frankly. Prep the base color appropriately and apply the MP....water doesn't get better than this IMO.

I'll join the chorus.  Here is mod podge applied to ordinary window glass:

Hmmm. I must be doing something wrong because my results didn't look anything like that. If you don't mind my asking, what kind of brush did you use and how did you apply the MP? Thanks.

Been awhile, so I'm not 100% on the brush, but I'm sure it was nothing special--some kind of medium-sized artists brush.  I often use those cheap single-use brushes that mechanics use for grease (with bristles, NOT the foam things).   I just glop it on fairly heavily and use the brush to sculpt the wave pattern I like. I prefer mod podge to shower glass precisely because it gives control over wave patterns.

I've really always found this to be pretty easy.  Not sure what your problem is.  I wonder if maybe temperature or humidity matter?

I also use a cheap brush perhaps 1 inch wide and I dab it up and down several coats, gets better each coat...not sure where your method went bad but this is a seriously fanatastic water method beyond the usual and no smell and inexpensive....the only ones who don't like it are those who have not used it properly. That really dark water I needed for the situation under the trestle was colored using a little cobalt blue, and a little more mars black acrylic mixed in the MP and slightly thinned with water...not watery thin either, still with some body to it to allow for the dabbing. get back into it until you get it...use a sample area until your doing better.

Bob

Note that the famed Troels Kirk (a professional painter and the creator of the Coast Line RR -- the mother of all water-themed model railroads) does his water using gel gloss medium, which is very similar to mod podge:

You can read about his technique starting here:

Coast Line RR

If you are not familiar with this project, be prepared to be amazed.