Foam tree stump prop build - Part 3

Time lapse of painting it.
hackaday.io/page/4899
I used primer where I had a suitable primer color, flat or satin spray paint where I did not:
Flat black
Clean metal primer (flat ivory white)
Rusty metal primer (flat reddish brown)
Flat tan
Flat brown
Then the green mossy areas near the end were speckle and spray painted. Aka... hold down the nozzle just enough to get a spattering.
Those were done in fluorescent green/lime green.
Adding multiple colors while interleaving white gives the color more depth. Spraying some colors from one angle, and then others from another angle also helps give the existing texture more contrast.
I also enhanced the existing low spots first with black to make them stand out more.
Holding down the spray nozzle just a little causes the paint to dribble out as spots, which I use at the end to make the moss look more 'mossy'.

[@natestolgic1]

Thanks for these 3 videos. I used them to make a 16 foot tree that I am building for a production in AZ. Took about 23 cans of foam. Definitely going to subscribe so I can see more of the work you’ve done! Thanks again.

[@rattlecage666]

I watched all 3 videos. Superb concept, superb execution. Your layered shading technique. is very, very interesting. I look forward to trying it soon. Bark construction yielded fantastic detail, with little effort. Bravo. You are truly a master. Thank you so much for sharing these techniques.

[@roverman985]

This video has given me a great idea. Thanks for making these videos. That stump looks great.

[@yvonneclark6494]

Very informative thank you I learned do much from you.

[@CobwebsandCandlesticks]

Looks super realistic!

[@prettybird2588]

It turned out wonderful. Great job.

[@DarenSchwenke]

Thank you.

[@jcfsaiyan]

thanks for the video great looking project, for future reference instead of speed video could you explain the methods as you do them and the reason why, say, you would do lighter colors first or the order and reason for doing whatever techniques. thanks a bunch good job

[@DarenSchwenke]

Thank you. I had intended to go back over them and add a voiceover if anyone was actually interested. However, this project has sucked away all my available free time since then: hackaday.io/project/45404

[@BAVideography]

This looks great! Thanks for the tips about vinyl gloves and trash bags. You have some good materials insight so I have a question: I am going to use a cardboard concrete tube form to make an 8' tree, and I'd Iike to use it outside. Any idea if treating the tube with Thompson's Water Seal would have a negative interaction with the spray foam? Can you think of a better solution to weatherproof the cardboard?

[@DarenSchwenke]

After the foam is stable it probably wouldn't matter. Yes, the concrete tube will expand with moisture. No, I don't think Thompson's water seal would affect the curing of the urethane. Not much does. This reaction isn't nearly as easy to 'poison' as others I have invested time/research into such as silicone. It'll probably work, but I'm sure you found that but out 5 months ago. :)

[@BAVideography]

@@DarenSchwenke Thanks for the reply. Thompsons said the cardboard would probably just get mushy, so I just put several coats of spray paint and clear coat inside and out, then covered in foam. The top isn't open, it will probably degrade over time, but we'll see

[@SarahRubyK]

Would it be possible to hire you to recreate this for a high school production in TX?

[@DarenSchwenke]

Responded on HAD. Thank you for reaching out!

[@mkjmkj5391]

Hi. You did an amazing job. May I have a list off all the spray paint colors you used?

[@DarenSchwenke]

I believe I did that already.

[@badbovine7427]

Awesome videos! 2 questions: what are you spraying, and how heavy would you say the stump is?

[@DarenSchwenke]

The 409 bottle was filled with water (which fast cures the urethane foam). The paint I used was white (clean metal) primer, rust colored (rusty metal) primer, brown, black and ivory flat paint, and lime green/fluorescent green for the mossy accent. The fast moving spraying was just painting... the slower ones were the paint dribbling out to create speckles. Never weighed it, but it was easily lifted by a child. That was one of my two design constraints, the other being they could sit on it. My guess would be it weighed around 3-5 lbs.

[@badbovine7427]

Thanks so much:)

[@grizzle273463]

Will this method still work for me if I dont have any spray foam?

[@jershaus]

Nice job painting. It would be nice to know what you used ?

[@DarenSchwenke]

I used primer where I had a suitable primer color, flat or satin spray paint where I did not: Flat black Clean metal primer (flat ivory white) Rusty metal primer (flat reddish brown) Flat tan Flat brown Then the green mossy areas near the end were speckle and spray painted. Aka... hold down the nozzle just enough to get a spattering. Those were done in fluorescent green/lime green.

[@michaelbalbarin9678]

Amazing video and prop. Why did you spray 409 on the foam?

[@DarenSchwenke]

It was just water in a 409 bottle, although using 409 works too. :) That urethane cures by interacting with the moisture in the air, so spraying on water while you build it up greatly accelerates the cure of the urethane. You go from needing hours to possibly days for thick areas, down to about 10 minutes, and then it will still cure at any thickness provided you spray it in between layers.

[@michaelbalbarin9678]

Thank you for the quick reply. Impressive!

[@sleepwalkersneverland]

Amazing video i wish you would explain all the colouring steps i don't get the white sprey that you use in between the cokour layers. As far as i know the colour itself directly to the foam can melt it away but i am not experienced. I want to make exactly the same for my project and i would really appreciate if you could give me the details about how you coloured it and which materials are those ? Great job and thanks in advance 🤘

[@DarenSchwenke]

Adding multiple colors while interleaving white gives the color more depth. Spraying some colors from one angle, and then others from another angle also helps give it more contrast. I also enhanced the existing low spots first with black to make them stand out more. Holding down the spray nozzle just a little causes the paint to dribble out as spots, which I use at the end to make the moss look more mossy.. You can use any paint on urethane foam. It is styrene that reacts to solvents.

[@sleepwalkersneverland]

Thanks for your answer. I will try my best ;)

[@sleepwalkersneverland]

I had a question. I want to make some water waves and would you suggest me to use the high gloss colour or matt for watery effect ?

[@DarenSchwenke]

@@sleepwalkersneverland Translucence is hard to reproduce, but I would try adding some metallic blue and silver. Reflections fake physical depth to an extent. Good luck.

[@JohnCUK]

What colours did u use thanks in advance

[@antonios4926]

look one down he says the olours

[@ValrikJay]

i have to agree, i was very interested in this, but i wanted to nknow your method behind the painting. rather than just a quick timelapse

[@DarenSchwenke]

Hard to explain... I just winged it until it looked right. I will try to sum it up though: Spray some dark color first to bring out what would be the low areas and areas in shadow. Spray upwards to enhance this for the little details. Next, pick colors lighter and darker than your target color and interleave them. Again, spraying each color from a different angle will end up bringing out the surface features more. Finishing up, hold down the spray can nozzle just enough so the paint doesn't spray, but dribbles out instead. That, is how you can get a more uneven finish, speckled areas, and can generate convincing moss growth. Keep in mind moss only grows on one side of a tree. :)