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I have been using resin lava bases for a long time and now I decided to do my own and save some bucks in the process. Please tell me if there is something that is out of place or that I can do better. I'm relying on you for help and tips. I used cork sheets and wine cork for rocks and polystyrene balls for lava bubbles and gloss varnish at the end. Last picture is a WIP and the top one is a ready sample

They look great. Perhaps the lava could be more yellow. It looks like it's cooling at the moment.

Bottom picture is work in progress. Or you mean top picture?

I like the effect you have get on the stones with the cork, but for lava bases I use modelling clay (das pronto or similar) in order to give a flowing effect on the liquid lava.
I agree with corpuschain, you may try to do the lava from black on the coldest sides, up to yellow/white on the hotest sides.
But I think it's a good work.

Hard as nails glue or equivalent can be lightly teased out while wet for a lava effect and then painted when hard.

While not bad i feel some areas are way to baron compared to others.

technique is fine just composition ya know?

If you want to get quick bubbles, a VERY quick way is to use Half dome beads. just glue it on before priming.

It looks like your styrene balls melted. (for good or bad)

 Desubot wrote:


It looks like your styrene balls melted. (for good or bad)

To be honest I was after bubbles building up to a burst but after the 1st dark red dry brush they just broke off so I adapted on the fly and used them as blown bubbles of magma. Will post pictures later once more yellow is added and sealed with gloss varnish

Here is some progress
Added more yellow and varnish
Still need to clean up with black on the lip and ready
Should I dry brush some black on the red areas to show cooling lava?
Then I guess it will need to be matt varnished....

Those look great! I like the popped bubbles.

Maybe very lightly dabbing black with a chunk of sponge? Not a lot of paint on it, mind.