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One of the bases were washed. I don't like what the wash does to the look of the lip of the base but I don't want to leave it unsealed and nicked up. I think the sand might look better washed though.

Does sand look better with wash?
What do I use to seal lip on base without the dirty look that agrax earthshade gives?

Why not just repaint the lip of the base before you seal it?

Just be a little more judicious with your use of washes. Apply it carefully and with more detail - more like paint than like a wash.

One of the things you can also do is to go back and re-paint the bottom ring of the base after you wash it.

I don't really want to say one is "better" than the other. With basing, it's not quite like it is with painting a miniature. There's simply different effects. Having that wash on there makes it seem more muddy, like it's in a wetter environment, and so if that's the look you're going for it's "better."

I also have to echo "Repaint the edges after the wash" bit before you seal it. It's not like there's detail to clog so as many coats as you need, have at it!

Lastly, I personally feel sand is better if completely painted rather than left to look natural. It just seems off, to my eyes, having something that's a natural real thing with my miniature. Makes them look like toys, in my opinion. A cool way to get a good effect on sand is to paint the whole thing black, and then just drybrush on several different browns, reds, and greys (depending on the look you want, of course.) Just an idea, of course, take it or leave it!

I did terrain that had painted litter on it once to look like wasteland desert. It looks great but I really kind of enjoy the way these grots are looking.

More care with my brush and paint mixing and hopefully I can be making good tabletop quality stuff. I like these grots.