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WIP Critique 1/16 Ground work

Discussion in 'vBench (Works in Progress)' started by sam b, Jul 20, 2012.

  1. sam b Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hi all, at the risk of sounding like an idiot I thought I'd share a WIP with you on how I do ground work, Ive read on PF a few time how some people find it challenging!
    I find sharing things like this a little odd as you don't know if people read this thinking " what a d&$k" and would rather I shut up. But here goes ........

    Firstly I find the right size and shape base/plinth for the figures , in this case an round wooden fruit bowl about 2" deep and 6" across, this means there is no real focal point , i.e. as it is round, there is no front or back and can be looked at from any side. Because the bowl was so deep and I wanted the effect of the ground overlapping the edge, I masked off the outside of the bowl and then sprayed expanding foam into the bowl and cut the top off .
    ground01.jpg
    Next I used 'Magicsculp' to make the ground hard , then I mixed PVA glue , sand , small stones and polyfila to make a paste which is smeared over the hardened 'Magicsculp' and left to dry. DON'T forget to push your figures into the wet 'Magicsculp' so they are pressed into the ground rather than floating over the groundwork at the end.
    ground02.jpg
    Next I chose the foliage I am going the use. The log is a piece of bog wood that has been cut to side and its roots are made from 'Green Stuff', as for the rest of the foliage it just stuff I've picked up from model shows over the years.

    Then I start glueing the hotchpotch of foliage into place, starting with the bigger pieces first then working my way down to the static grass - this will make it look dense.

    Once this is all done I then spray everything matt black. Then, I over spray of white. This makesthe shadows darker and the high lights brighter giving the sense of depth when you get around to painting the plants etc. The smaller details such as leaves, ferns and other detailing are added after the block work has been completed.
    ground04.jpg
    I hope this has been of some help and I have not bored you silly or come across as patronising....I just enjoy this part of figure painting a lot!!!
    Thanks, Sam (Boring Brayne)
    billyturnip, Joe55 and tiberius57 like this.
  2. 1969 A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Excellent little SBS Sam and I wasnt bored at all, I love doing groundwork and am always collecting stuff for using as foliage, I have about 40 plastic containers containing lots of different dried foliage of varying types, mixed together you have hundreds of options for groundwork cover.

    I hope you are going to do a follow up with the painting process (y)

    Steve
  3. Ventress Well-Known Member

    Country:
    England
    Great SBS, very inspirational.
  4. Tecumsea PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    England
    Hi Sam, much appreciated, interesting technique to spray an initial Black, not something I have ever done on groundwork. Thanks for posting,

    Keith
  5. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Great SBS Sam , like the expanded foam solution and over work with M/S good idea with the round bowl too.

    Ron
  6. bagelman1952 Well-Known Member

    Country:
    England
    Thank you. Also interested in the concept of the black/white spray.
  7. tiberius57 A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Thank you Sam for this very interesting SBS!!! :)
    Did you apply the black/white with an airbrush?
    Hope that you will continue with the painting and add the other elements.
    Cheers,
    Zeno
  8. sam b Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hi all im glad you like it , i will do a stage by stage with the painting as well .

    Zeno sorry the paint was applied with a stray cans , ill use an airbrush on the next phase.

    Thanks sam
  9. billyturnip A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    Very good Sam, thanks.... definitely not boring. (y)

    Roger
  10. sam b Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Thanks Roger Im glad you found it interesting .
    sam

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