Easy realistic terrain foliage using washes

[@GrawlysLair]

That technique really made a difference to the realistic feel of the ground cover. Thanks for sharing a great tip Mel :-)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

You'll love it mate, no worries on sharing, that's what I'm here for ;o)

[@Stormx2233]

great idea if you only have the one type of static grass, also if you want to do a burnt look to your grass a dark black wash works really well.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Exactly mate, you don't need loads of different flocks and grasses to get great effects.

[@ColourOfTheGods]

That is a really really good tip there mate!!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

The simple ones all are matey, cheers!

[@gazmulligan3917]

Nice one! Looking better each time I see it.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers mate, there's a few more tutorials in it yet

[@wrath2612]

Another simple but yet effective idea. :-) Happy crafting :-)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

A bit like me, cheers mate ;o)

[@Jeffahtabletop]

Awesome stuff, never would of thought to do that. Thanks for the tips!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

No worries mate, give it a go, you'll love it, it works on model bases as well ;o)

[@jamesevans886]

Cheap artists water based ink broken down with a bit of water can be used as it settles in the cracks. Broken down cheap artists acrylics act more like glasses evenly coating everything. So you have done the bottom but what about the top? Static grass reacts well to light drybrushing. This takes it to the next level adding local conditions and the seasons. You can drybrush a bright yellow green for new spring growth. A deep green next to walls and in depressions were water collects. A khaki can be used on the tops of ridges and on the edges of path ways and roads. A ochre or ivory can be used winter grasses while an ochre and brown earth mix can be used for high summer. You can use a khaki and light grey mix can be used for dead grass, you can drybrush black over this mix for burnt grass. Drybrushing saves you from needing many shades of static grass. It also looks more realistic as many grass leaves start at the base one colour with the tip being a different shade. By applying a second even lighter drybrushing of a different colour or shade can give you even more control and depth. The main trick is to just tickle the tops of the statistic grass while never creating brush makes that cover up your wash. Cheap artists acrylic paint with it glazing effect works very well in this role. You will need to break it down to a liquid using water. Each brand of acrylic paints behaves a little different so make a test piece to experiment on first. By drybrushing you have great control over blending the edges of two different grasses so you don't end up with that stark divisional line that turns it into a golf course rather than nature. I hope this adds to your work with washes

[@TheTerrainTutor]

James Evans some cracking tips there mate

[@unkhter]

great tips and tricks, the result does indeed make it a lot more realistic, great vid, thx :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

No worries mate, glad you found it useful

[@gazmulligan3917]

Just done this on the Battle Board, only we used a spray bottle. In all fairness, whilst it looks good, the bottle did start to clog which led to some drips and splatters, so be careful if you try it.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I'll have to check it out, never applied it with a spray bottle mate, post pics on fb!

[@waterloo745]

good tutorial mate,great effect

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks matey

[@33claydog]

Awesome mate, great tips. I will be using that.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cool mate, let me know how you get on

[@437cosimo]

Super great Idea.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks mate

[@shotgunincblaste1806]

Fantastic tip mate but when are ya gonna do another live one, i have missed the others by minutes, would really like to join ya

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Not sure, hopefully it won't be too long matey

[@GregBoneHuff]

great tip, thanks for this very useful!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Excellent mate, glad to hear it

[@SeekingKnight]

Now I want to make a swamp type terrain piece. I think the camera did a fair job. Excellent video Sir!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Love swampy terrain, cheers mate

[@Dervan]

That is a great tip, thank you

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers mate

[@modelingmaster8938]

thanks! very useful vid Ian

[@TheTerrainTutor]

No worries, cheers mate

[@TheRunesmythe]

Okay, first; is it bad that when I was watching the "boots of speed" footage I had the Benny Hill theme running in my head? Now onto my thought; you could try using the washes in your airbrush to make the process faster and diffuse the colors a little more. I've seen videos of other people using various types of inks and washes in their airbrush, ranging from acrylic to enamel. Of course I'd recommend you take it with a bit of salt since I'm not sure what model airbrushes they had and how/if they thinned the washes, but as I was watching the idea sort of hit me and I figured I'd share it.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

First, no because that's exactly what I imagine when I watch it.You could use an airbrush but it's the patchiness of the dabbing process that makes it look realistic, an airbrush would probably be too even and subtle of a covering mate. Worth a try to see though, so I'll give it a go matey. Thanks for sharing.

[@ktowndriftking]

very nice work man, and I love your videos, I'm doing a series of dinosaur dioramas that will connect one day and run along the wall about 30 inches out, I'm using Papo dinosaurs they are 1-20 scale, all these tips really help out! I was wondering who makes the wash your using?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+brandon thomas Check the back to basics playlist mate, there's a load of videos on making washes in there :-)

[@ktowndriftking]

Ok thanks man, I'll send you pictures as I get sections done.

[@mailperson]

So how come there are no weeds growing inside the church and on the path, or are you adding them later?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+mailperson Added them later, it's a demo piece that's been used in loads of different tutorials mate

[@joayan64]

4:08 what made you think of the "the great escape" theme?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

joayan64 No idea matey lol

[@Jedijim252]

I agree, good results, but using GW washes on terrain is pricy, even lightly with a large brush...I wonder if there is enough pigment in the cheap scenery paints to come up with a more economical wash for terrain purposes...hmmmm...going to have to play around with that...thanks again for the vids, buddy...Jim.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers matey. There's definitely cheap washes out there mate or you could make your owns, it's not hard. I tend to use things gamers/hobbiest would have already when building terrain, and to be honest, because it's about dampening the flock rather than washing it, it uses very little wash. This piece took less wash than I'd use on a squad on ten models mate. Give it ago, it's really surprising mate.

[@DerMartexus]

Looks good but why didn't you use some shades of green?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I don't have any shades of green and you don't really need them, a basic brown wash works fine matey.

[@DerMartexus]

Yes, if you want a "muddy" look. ;)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Mate, I live in Britain, muddy's all we do! ;oD

[@DerMartexus]

One point for you. ;)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Lol'd

[@mrmu6501]

great guy heap of help "wtcha call it"

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Bradley White Glad it did mate