Modelling the water

Having experimented with techniques it was time to make a start on the river and stream. I'd chosen to use Modge Podge as it seemed to work well, but would require lots of layers, and a suitable brown tint. 

This time I mixed the acrylic paint in a separate jar, a thin watery mix of a colour to match the river in the photos. The paint was added to the Modge Podge (in the yogurt pot) to give it a slight tint and to thin it slightly, maybe 20-30% water/paint in the Modge Podge. The other vital substance is IPA (alcohol) in the spray bottle. 

The first layer was applied with a pipette, this could be relatively thick (about 1.5mm to cover the stones, although it will be thinner once dry) since it can dry from both sides, the scenery absorbing the moisture from below. However, there is a slight problem...

It looks like someone put bubble-bath in the river!

Fortunately a couple of sprays of the IPA kills the bubbles. The yogurt pot was then covered with cling film and it was left 2-3 days. 

Many coats followed, applied more thinly (0.5mm or so) with a brush, and using a toothpick to push the edges of the "puddle" up to and between the rocks. It can't be applied too thick or it doesn't dry clear, there are a few places where there is a slight cloudiness, though it isn't particularly noticeable. 

Every couple of coats I added more Modge Podge to the yogurt pot, and occasionally a little more paint, but though adding more Modge Podge (and possibly a little evaporation despite the cling-film) gradually the mix got thicker and the colour a little weaker. 

I lost count of the coats having added a couple a week over several weeks, but it must be at least 10. By now the mixture is thick enough to leave some texture like a burbling stream - well that's what I hope. 

So now I think the stream is just about deep enough, and looks pretty good. The colour and opacity seem about right to me, and the surface texture realistic. 

The river along the river bank could maybe do with a little extra depth.

I'm thinking of using the Deluxe Materials Aqua Magic as a final layer as the experiments suggested it might have a slightly more gloss finish, and I have it anyway. First though I'm wondering if more texture/ripples should be added.