For old rock formations I add a coat of house paint or ground goop to look like a little soil in places. For new rock cut. I paint straight on the foam. That does not smooth out any of the details of carving. My best sample so far.
SpaceMouse wrote: A very important thing: See what you are doing as painting rocks rather than painting foam, or trying to make rocks look like foam.
A very important thing: See what you are doing as painting rocks rather than painting foam, or trying to make rocks look like foam.
Do not try to bend the spoon; that's impossible. Instead only try to realize the truth: There is no spoon. --The Matrix
The Cedar Branch & Western--The Hillbilly Line!
whenever I paint rocks, either foam or plaster, I spray everything with black making sure you get into all the nooks and crevices. Nothing will find blue of pink like a camera.
Then I apply the base color with latex ala Art, but I'm not to quick to fill the holes.
I may use as many as 10 different colors on my rocks, many only a subtle shade different than one another.
It doesn't hurt to have a prototype picture to work from.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
All of the colors on my rock work are from washes. I started with a base of tan and added multiple washes of different colors. I use the brown tones, but you could do it with grays.
bearman wrote:I cover the Styrofoam w/plaster cloth, then finish off the plaster cloth with a thin layer of sheet rock joint compound. The compound can be sanded, or painted depending on the effect.
Thanks, Bearman, but that's what I'm trying to get away from. I've seen some great painting straight on the Styrofoam and wish to achieve that effect instead.
reklein wrote: Try priming the foam with a latex paint with the color of your choice. By Latex paint I mean interior wall paint. Works great,I actually use it exclisively. Check it out.
Wow, I really like that effect.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
Try priming the foam with a latex paint with the color of your choice. By Latex paint I mean interior wall paint. Works great,I actually use it exclisively. Check it out.
What I did when I painted straight on the foam without a gound goop layer first was:
1. Paint the base color with acrylic paints straight from the tubes. Let it dry. The leopard spot approach works with slight variations of color. This is also the time to put in stripes if the geology calls for such.
2. Paint black washes to get the shadows right. I like black acrylics better than India ink, but others will disagree.
3. Dry brush white to get the highlights right.
Several coats is always the key.
My dear fellow modelers;
I am using acrylic paints to make my rock colors. In the past, the rocks were plaster or castings which took the paint well. Now I'm trying my hand at painting straight on to carved Styrofoam. But, I can't get the colors right! Any help would be appreciated.
Here's the look I'm shooting for:
Any good tips?