I have being working on painting my plaster rockfaces. Some areas, I am really happy with. Others, not so much. I am wondering if I can paint over the areas with some sort of white primer that I can recolor again with my stains and dusting powders. I really like the way plaster works with stains, so my fear would be that I could lose that effect if I cover the plaster with some sort white cover. Any thoughts or previous experience?
In a nutshell, yes. However, I would approximate the base colour that I want to change them to, and just paint over the surface colours that you currently have. In fact, to make your paint go further, water less of it down just a few drops, and slather that on your rocks. Let it dry, and then do the weathering washes. Additionally, using acrylics straight from the bottles runs the risk of covering some of the finer fissures and edges on your rocks. A watered solution will be absorbed that much more and less of the pigment will cover up the finer details. That is why washes are so great.
Thanks for your advice.
Crandell is correct on the losing detail with ‘thick paint’ point, and his advice is, as always, very sound.
When I was ‘unhappy’ with my initial rock colouring I repainted the plaster casts back to white with Kilz latex primer. I did this 4 or 5 times till I was happy with my results.
How does that saying go ? “…try, try, and try again…” well I did [:)]
Have fun & be safe
Karl.
Once the plaster has been painted, it will not accept stains the same as before it was painted. As in one of the previous messages, using a white latex primer might allow you to do the plaster again. BUT, the plaster will NOT accept stain since the primer has sealed it! As in the same previous message, you may be able to get yourself out of trouble using the primer plus “washes” until the coloration is suitable. Bob Whitten
Bob, perhaps your not familure with this techniqe and it was new to me, found using Bragdons Geodesic scenery and it also works on plaster after it is painted with Gesso, Gesso indoors and Kilz outdoors.
Gesso is what artists apply prepping thier canvas to accept the best color.The gesso actualy elauminates a bit thru the washes, weird but effective, my picture is not correct, it looks better and no Im not bragging, its just the way it is…
While applying gesso watch those cracks and pull paint out of detail areas, then let dry.,
For highlight black tempra is dabbed and brushed into the cracks and crevices, wet water misted, and wiped of with a sponge, leaving a very light greyish tint on the rock body, dont wash out the tampura in the crevices., let the black in the crevices dry. .
Then very light washes are applied in a camo pattern, then overlayed with more washes untill the effect is desired. The Key is trasparent washes as this method is not to stain in only a few coats.
Note the back wall of the canyon above. The sides are a tad darker compaired to the back (center) gives the impression of depth, gave more washes to the side.
I have tried the black washes on plaster, what I enjoy with the Bragadon method is that one doesnt over paint it, but if one does is easy to correct as Ukguy stated above.
Give it a try on a small area Bob, I think you will like it…John