Hi!
Here is my first picture posting, and is a test. Hopefully it works! The picture is of Lake Patricia, part of the backdrop of the new HO 11x15 layout under construction. Assuming this works, I’ll post more on the Layout portion of this Forum - showing the 2 percent incline and lower level staging/storage area.
Here goes… 
Mobilman44
It worked perfectly! [:)]
Nice backdrop…I especially like the formation of geese flying over!
Working well so far!
That background is really good! Did you go off a picture, or freehand it? Keep us posted on your progress.
MadSinger
Nice clouds.[tup]
Thanks for the positive comments! The entire backdrop was painted using latex paint for the sky/clouds, and tube acrylics for everything else. I used a number of colors and applied with a “stipling” of 1/2 inch brushes. Everything was freehand, and I certainly had some “do overs” in the process. The “ducks” were my wife’s idea, and I did them in two places (see the posting in the layout section).
Funny thing, I have done a lot of house painting and spray painting in my time, but this is only the third backdrop I have done. I’m happy with the results, but can honestly say I am very surprised that it came out like this.
Thanks again,
Mobilman44
Hello 
mobilman44
Very nice start. I suspect you will be posting more. Good idea to have different albums in your Photo Bucket account.
Rich
Outstanding. I look forward to more photos.
Larry
That looks awesome. Wish I could paint like that. Wanna paint one for me, I’ll install some decoders for you in exchange [:D]
–Randy
What kind of fish are stocked in the lake? [:)] Looks good!
Very nice work. Could you describe your painting methods in more detail and how you got the very realistic sky and clouds?
Bob
Randy,
I sure do wish you lived nearby so we could “trade skills”. I haven’t done any decoder work yet but the locos I have - from what I have read - tend to be fairly simple installations. Sounds like “famous last words”, but the locos w/o decoders are mostly Stewart F units, P2Ks, and some “plug ins”. I do have 4 (or 5) Atlas Alcos that may or may not be a challenge, but we will see when the time comes.
Regarding the backdrop, I used to watch the fellow on PBS (forgot the name, nice guy with beard) and he took a lot of mystery out of the process. I actually used a palette when doing the groundwork, and dabbed the brush back and forth between the colors to blend them as I stipled the paint onto the wall. In other words, there are few areas where the paint was brushstroked on - most all was “dabbed” on. And while for some things you had to have a clean brush, most of the time it just didn’t matter.
I’ve also read that the MR backdrop should not have detail on it (unless you are a true artist) as you want the backdrop to be the stage - and not the star. Also, the trick is to make the backdrop blend into the layout itself, using foliage & trees and “view blocks”. Ha, I’ve got a lot of woodwork, wiring, roadbed and trackwork to do before I get to that.
Thanks!!!
Mobilman44
Beautiful. Not only does it look great, but it also gives you the feeling that it is clouded over…well done.
David B
Bob Ross??? I watch him all the time… Goofy guy!!
Umm…wow! Looks great. Can’t wait to see more.
Nick
Bob Ross? I used to watch him too. Sure made it LOOK easy, but I’ve never exhibited the slightest bit of artistic ability. Thankfully, most of the grade school art projects that my Mom saved have disappeared. Take the art part of it out, like the pyramid and house I made in 6th grade, and then you have something. Draw a house freehand? HAHAHA. Gimme a CAD program - ok. Doesn’t really bother me though, I realized a long time ago we all have out own specific skill sets, mine just happen to be in track laying, model building, and electrical things, not scenery. In the meantime I’ll just admire the skills and talent of those that can paint such things freehand and make sure I have at least one friend who can do something I can’t.
–Randy
I like very much
Wish I had done my own rather than ready made
I am switching some time down the line
It was Bob Ross on PBS. I taped several of his shows when he did mountains, lakes and trees. As I recall, he used artist oils for his paintings which stay wet longer than arcylics and thus can be more easily blended. Sad to say, but I believe that I heard that he died several years ago.
I’ve heard the suggestion about using a water spray bottle with a very fine spray to keep the acrylic latex paint wet while you’re doing the blending with a wide brush. I’ve not yet tried this method myself, but I’ve been told it works very well.
Bob
Hi,
To keep the paint wet, I originally would dab the brush in Matte medium. But I soon found just plain water worked as well or better. One “trick” I learned from years ago from MR was when finished, to do a LIGHT overspray of flat white spray paint over everything. This helped dull and give an illusion of “atmosphere” in the air. Oh, ventilate the room properly during this process. One more thing, I put 4 coats of clear Gloss medium over the two bodies of water.
Ha, now that I finally got the picture posting process down, I have to get back to wiring all those staging tracks - a feed for every 3 feet!
ENJOY,
Mobilman44