29 gallon build log

[HerpDerp]

Wow this is awesome! I really want to do something like this with my terrarium at some point. I really think that this thread should be a sticky so that everyone can learn from this!

[J Teezy]

Today i made up some thick grout to do some work on the edges where the pots are. I didn't paint that part because i need to sand it a little and add a little bit more in some spots. Then went ahead and did a base coat of black. I like to base coat with black so that i can get down in the cracks and crevices real good so that when i start detailing rocks more the black in the cracks gives an illusion that the rocks go back further than they really do. This is just a single coat of black that i hand painted with a small brush to make sure i got down in all the cracks. I'll most likely mix up some more in a dollar store spray bottle watered down some and spray over the whole thing in black one more time before i start using the grey tones for the rock



taking the picture also helps me to see spots i missed so that i can go back and fill in

[J Teezy]

think we are just about ready to start with the grey tones

[J Teezy]

ok well its done, it's just drying at the moment so i can't get the final pictures until i can stand it up.

So this is how i do my backgrounds

1st black was applied, i did several coats to try and cover every tiny spot of grout i could see

2nd i sponged on a dark grey color. These two pictures are how it looks after the grey. This is why i like to base coat in black, i think it really makes the grey show up. The pictures don't do it justice, you need to see it under 6500k lights to really see how the paint pops on this





Now this is not how it looks finished. The last thing i did was used a light grey to dry brush over the rocks. Really brings out detail and brings the rocks to life. You'll have to wait a few more minutes until its dry enough for me to stand it up and snap some pics

[Shibumi]

Wow, that paint job came out great!

[Nano]

Looking great! I loved watching the whole process! Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to see how it looks when you decorate it ;-)

I'm just finishing my second background too, but I did it a bit differently as I used Styrofoam base, then expanding foam, Pond Sealant and Coco Peat on top...

It's great to learn seeing how people use different techniques!

[J Teezy]

here it is with the dry brush done

I may add some green tones for algae growth but i'm not sure atm

[ctbradley]

If you do the green for algae growth water down a light green and put it in a spray bottle and put it in lower parts of the background.

[J Teezy]

i'm probably just going to leave it as is since i'm going to try and get some moss to grow on some of the areas of the background.