Groundwork

[mikec55]

Hello all,

I've been working on an Imrie/Risley Union cavalry figure & decided to mount him on a base. As you can see from some of my gallery pics, groundwork (occasionally figure painting) is not my strong suit so I'd appreciate any comments you want to throw at me, 'good , bad , blecchhhdon'tquityourdayjob ' or anything in between. Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[mikec55]

Hello all,

I've been working on an Imrie/Risley Union cavalry figure & decided to mount him on a base. As you can see from some of my gallery pics, groundwork (occasionally figure painting) is not my strong suit so I'd appreciate any comments you want to throw at me, 'good , bad , blecchhhdon'tquityourdayjob ' or anything in between. Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[mikec55]

One other view.

 

[mikec55]

One other view.

 

[Jason W.]

Hi Mike, what did you use for your groundwork? I like the texture.

Not sure where Portage is in Indiana. How far a drive to Michigan? The reason I ask is cause the Michigan Toy Soldier Company hosts a figure show at a Holiday Inn in Detroit every January. It's small but held in conjunction w/ the toy soldier show which is HUGE.

The show this year was very nice, about 60 entries and the quality is getting better every year. It's not Chicago but great people and a good time none the less.
You and everybody from pF are more than welcome to come up/down/across/under/over, next year.

 

[Jason W.]

Hi Mike, what did you use for your groundwork? I like the texture.

Not sure where Portage is in Indiana. How far a drive to Michigan? The reason I ask is cause the Michigan Toy Soldier Company hosts a figure show at a Holiday Inn in Detroit every January. It's small but held in conjunction w/ the toy soldier show which is HUGE.

The show this year was very nice, about 60 entries and the quality is getting better every year. It's not Chicago but great people and a good time none the less.
You and everybody from pF are more than welcome to come up/down/across/under/over, next year.

 

[Guy]

Jason, I believe you have the right texture and if it were me i would take humbrol flesh and drybrush accross the surface and you will be surprised at the result. See the article "Back to Basics - Groundwork" in our Articles section. It will take you right thru the procedure.

 

[Guy]

Jason, I believe you have the right texture and if it were me i would take humbrol flesh and drybrush accross the surface and you will be surprised at the result. See the article "Back to Basics - Groundwork" in our Articles section. It will take you right thru the procedure.

 

[Pete_H]

Humbrol flesh may be too stark a contrast to the already dark groundwork. Perhaps a medium brown of some sort would work, such as flat earth. Then use the flesh to pick out the highest highlights in some spots.

 

[Pete_H]

Humbrol flesh may be too stark a contrast to the already dark groundwork. Perhaps a medium brown of some sort would work, such as flat earth. Then use the flesh to pick out the highest highlights in some spots.

 

[JCOX]

Mike, what did you use for the bushes/shrubs? It's really hard to tell from the photos, but they appear a little 'thick leaved' (ala rail road styrofoamish). Could just be that they're a bit blurry in the pick.

-jim cox

 

[JCOX]

Mike, what did you use for the bushes/shrubs? It's really hard to tell from the photos, but they appear a little 'thick leaved' (ala rail road styrofoamish). Could just be that they're a bit blurry in the pick.

-jim cox

 

[Guy]

Mike, Here is an example of flesh drybrushed over a raw umber washed with acrylic black and then as you can see, flesh drybrushed over top giving contrast to make the ground appear realistic. When Dennis Levy, from Philadelphia suggested years ago to use flesh, I mentally questioned it but went ahead and tried it..........and stayed with it too.

 

[Guy]

Mike, Here is an example of flesh drybrushed over a raw umber washed with acrylic black and then as you can see, flesh drybrushed over top giving contrast to make the ground appear realistic. When Dennis Levy, from Philadelphia suggested years ago to use flesh, I mentally questioned it but went ahead and tried it..........and stayed with it too.

 

[mikec55]

Jason,

Basically, much to the entertainment of a few of my neighbors, I went out to the curb & filled an empty bottle with gravel & small pebbles. I sprinkled some on the still-wet sculptamold & voila. Thanks for the invite to the Detroit show. I live about 3 hours or so from Detroit & have always wanted to attend but it's difficult to convince my wife that driving thru the Ind/Mich snowbelt in January is a good idea. Maybe some day...

Jim...The green stuff really isn't quite a leafy as the pic makes it look. It's 'Create-A-Craft floral moss', still with tiny embedded clumps of dirt, found in the hobby section at Walmart. It's real use seems to be as filler when making wreathes. I tried using some long grass from Woodland Scenics but managed to glue more grass to my thumbs than anywhere on the base. I'll need to experiment a bit with that.

Guy...The only flesh color I have is Citidel Elf Flesh which worked pretty well but maybe I should give it another shot. I used all the same colors you recommend in your groundwork article. Kinda funny, after I painted, washed, & dry brushed, the larger pebbles were the exact same color they were b4 all that. If nothing else, I've turned into a very realistic painter of rocks. My thank to all for the help & advice .

 

[mikec55]

Jason,

Basically, much to the entertainment of a few of my neighbors, I went out to the curb & filled an empty bottle with gravel & small pebbles. I sprinkled some on the still-wet sculptamold & voila. Thanks for the invite to the Detroit show. I live about 3 hours or so from Detroit & have always wanted to attend but it's difficult to convince my wife that driving thru the Ind/Mich snowbelt in January is a good idea. Maybe some day...

Jim...The green stuff really isn't quite a leafy as the pic makes it look. It's 'Create-A-Craft floral moss', still with tiny embedded clumps of dirt, found in the hobby section at Walmart. It's real use seems to be as filler when making wreathes. I tried using some long grass from Woodland Scenics but managed to glue more grass to my thumbs than anywhere on the base. I'll need to experiment a bit with that.

Guy...The only flesh color I have is Citidel Elf Flesh which worked pretty well but maybe I should give it another shot. I used all the same colors you recommend in your groundwork article. Kinda funny, after I painted, washed, & dry brushed, the larger pebbles were the exact same color they were b4 all that. If nothing else, I've turned into a very realistic painter of rocks. My thank to all for the help & advice .