Backdrops with stencils - has anyone tried it?

[tbdanny]

Hi all,

I'm finally ready to start painting the backdrop on my model railroad.  I was at my local art store recently picking up some supplies, and I showed the people who work there a photo of the effect I'm after (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u9fBQ5rIjOQ/TwN5TqZb9KI/AAAAAAAAAJM/I6F_nixHcQQ/s280/IMG_1949.JPG).  They suggested that I use stencils and layer the paint.

Given that my backdrops are 70cm (~2'3.5"), I'll have to do the stencils myself, for the mountain and tree shapes.  I was just wondering, has anyone else used this approach?  If so, how did you go about it?

[mlehman]

Sure, you could. I think that this approach works well for doing clouds. But it may be overkill for mountains. Here's an example I drew on in another thread in GD which might be worth a look: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/259287.aspx

I free-handed these with acrylics and didn't sweat getting a second coat on, because the "failings" in the first coat actually help make the silohouettes more believeable. Just three colors and you're done. The actual painting took maybe 20 minutes split over three sessions. I may have used a pencil line to help, can't recall right now.

[wickman]

I agree with Mikes idea. I have painted my backdrop in the past and the first time which ended up being a background set of mountains for the forground mountains were done the Darryl Huffman technique using blues and paynes grays.