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So I'm working with a sculpted tree. I had started with a brown base then washed black but It looks messy. Any tips on getting a good tree like look? I'm trying to keep with the brown overall color but not sure what colors to work with. I'm having a hard time finding examples to work off of. Here is a pic of what I'm working with, I have since finished the branches.

Try to make the base and lower down on the tree darker browns. Get lighter browns as you go up. Tree's are way easier if they have leaves but I am not sure how you would add leaves.

Alright sounds good ill paint it up tonight. As far as leaves I was going to use moss, I already mocked it up and I though it looked pretty decent. I can post a leaf pic as well. Thanks for the feedback.

Wow, that's a beautiful armature you made. Is it clay around wire?

Should be a fantastic tree once it's all done. I'd love to see a leaf pic, and a finished pic.

Instead of washing black, try washing with a darker brown, then drybrushing with a lighter brown (preferably lightened with gray - tree bark is very rarely brown brown, just brown-ish).

Also, +1 on pics, both with the moss mockup and to see the results of your painting.

Ok so here it is finished. I plan on drilling a hole in the back, inserting a rod then mounting that to a board so I can hang it on a wall. I'm not super happy with the paint job but overall its ok. I did a dark brown then blended up with a khaki and brown mix, highlighted with pure khaki then brown washed the whole thing. This isn't for play but and art project for the wife. She has a floating island tattoo and I figured it would be cool if I did a 3d interpretation of it.

I wanted to add some roots popping out of the rock which i may to later, also I plan to build a 2nd satellite island to go with it at a later date.

I love floaty island terrain. The tree looks great by the way.

Have you considered adding any field grass to the island? Perhaps some roots trailing out of the bottom of the rock?

I know it is a representation of a tattoo, but still

Yes root trailing would look really good. I'm stuck at the office though currently and don't have access to my wire or clay but I agree it would look really good. I'm going to give it to her tonight but I will prolly make some modifications afterward. I do have some flocking that I can add to the rock to give it a moss look, just not sure how I want to do placement.


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Anyone want to help out with paint? Hows this for moss placement. Too much? Fewer bigger patches or what? Thanks!

Wow, that's really nice. I'd say add a little more moss where the armature is poking through. The trunk looks great painted. Maybe give it a light-ish grey drybrush to tone down the brown and make it a little more weathered. Other than that it's a job well done!

I think the places you have coloured would be suitable for moss

I don't know if you have thought of adding some flowers and so on to the top of the rock? There are a number of companies that do ready made "tufts" of grass and flowers etc which look pretty cool.

It's beginning to look a lot like a 'Yes' album cover.

(not a dig. They did the floating mountains thing long before Avatar).

Nice tree though.

The tree looks great

Ok still need to add roots but here it is mounted on the wall.

Whoaho, beautiful work man. Love it

love it you should def check out http://www.terragenesis.co.uk/ a forum much like dakka but it is specific to terrain making and most of the master terrain makers can be found lurking there

Thanks everyone for the kind words, and thanks Orikl for the link some really great stuff in there!