...
By that, I mean that we're usually working on a project while we catch up on our Hulu shows. She has been crocheting the exact same blanket for 12 years while I usually take the time to work on my painting.
Today I was putting some snow bases on a commission project when she looked over and said "Can you mush the snow down a little?"
"Huh?"
"It's too smooth. Can you mush the snow down a little so it looks more realistic?"
"I dunno. I'm not really comfortable with that."
She knows I'm hesitant to try something new on a commission piece that could end up being irreparably ugly, so we continued on with our projects.
"Are you sure you can't mush them down? It just doesn't look right."
Sorry men, but I had to admit my wife was right [and as an apology for ever doubting her, I let her name today's post]. It looked like snow, but it was too still. Wind hadn't touched it, there were no dents from where animals may have walked across it a few snowfalls ago. It was pristine, and that's not very fitting of Warmachine! So I tried something new on snow bases, which is something I'm still not overly familiar with anyway.
I put my snow mixture on the base, which is:
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp glue (or what looks to be the equivalent of it when I squirt it next to the baking soda)
- 1/2 tsp water
- 2 drops white paint
Mixed together it makes the consistency a bit thicker than the glue itself, but is still easy to dab on the base and can be pushed around without losing its shape.
The great stuff about this compared to just plain glue is that it's easier to get it to the edge of a model's foot without accidentally getting it in the wrong places. From there I stick it in my snow flock and pile it on. This step isn't as necessary, but I like the dusty, textured look of adding it on top of my piles. Plus the smooth snow reminds me of those yummy sugar cookies with that hard sugar frosting, and I don't need to crave cookies while working on my models!
Were I a stubborn man I'd stop here and call it good. But since I often value Amanda's opinion on how my work looks, I decided to get my "mush" on and see how it looked. I used the rounded back of a sculpting tool, but anything that won't create a harsh dent should work. Brush handles, a toothpick with the end clipped off, a rolled piece of paper... the item itself isn't nearly as important as the pressure you apply. I like using a very soft touch to give the idea of unevenness, and then making a more firm line behind the feet to indicate that the model wasn't teleported to its location.
The effect is subtle, but I think it's worth taking the extra time. I really like how the shadows lightly play across the snow's surface and give it a worn-in feeling. It's not dirty or well-traveled, it's just something you might see in the untouched forests of Khador.
Give it a try next time you add snow to your bases and see what you think. I know I'll never again do snow without mushing it down!
See you tomorrow!
Remember to follow me on Facebook. I'm doing a blog post every single day for 2013, and Facebook is a great way to stay up-to-date as well as take part in my monthly giveaways! This month's giveaway is for a hand-made dice bag from Greyed Out Productions!
The views expressed in the post are my own and are in no way efforts to earn brownie points with my wife. The fact that my birthday is coming up in now way affected how flattered I wanted her to feel by today's post.