painting

[McWho2]

Acrylic paint over carved/brushed plaster is showing elongated gaps, as though the paint is shrinking.  The paint is several years old.  Could this be the problem?  Should it be diluted more, for the first coat?  Or was it trying to anchor ground cover with cheap hairspray?  I'm distressed!  Any ideas??

[mobilman44]

Hi!

I assume your "acrylic" paint is from tubes (like artists use).  I worked with that on my previous layout to do rocks, etc., and found out two things rather quickly.  The first was the white plaster should be covered with something to hide all the whiteness (for want of a better word).  Folks use diluted latex paint, ink washes, and other coloring methods to accomplish this. 

The second thing I found out (not directly related to your question) is that lighter shades are much better to use as the paint tends to darken.  You can always go darker, but lighter is often difficult.

So, my recommendation is to cover all the plaster first with a light beige free flowing latex paint, let dry for a day or two, and then work in acrylics or whatever other type paint process you wish.

By the way, some folks often add paint or color to the plaster mix, so any chips or missed spots will not show up as bright white.

ENJOY,

Mobilman44

[McWho2]

Thanks - sure beats imagining that the whole thing is built on a chalk outcrop!   Steve

[dehusman]

Many of the painting systems (such as Bragdon) for rocks suggest painting the rocks black and then add lighter colors to that.

I have always painted them a base rock color (dark grey for my area).  I like to buy cheap flat latex wall paint in a tan color for generic dirt color and then use acrylic craft paints to shade that to whatever rock color I want.  That way I keep the underlying tones of the color throughout everything.  I even put some of the dirt color in the ballast glue mixture (a few drops) to add a slight "dirt' tone to the ballast and other scenery.  I figure it represents dust on whatever.  Even foliage.

[McWho2]

Thanks - removing basic ground cover with a wire brush added some nice texture; the whole thing is getting a latex undercoat, greyish for rock, and the local soil color for the rest.  Thanks for your interest!  Steve