help for blending earthtones on brown leather boots

[zombiepaints]

I am working on a crazy pete the prospector from Reaper and i need help with blending the earthtones on his boots (which are brown leather) to gett the effect of mud. i have read a few articles but nothing pertaining to mud on brown.

would i be better off to just get the effect by putting my basing dirt on the boots?

 

[Dragonsreach]

From miles of walking experience getting mud on boots means that the underlying leather is wet and darker than normal.
Mud from rivers caking your boots comes in several categories:

Silt: Light almost slimey stuff seen a lot in movies around "Gold panning sites", tending to be paler and close to a dark sand colour.

Gloop: Consistancy of spilled PVA Glue mixed with sand. Mid Brown.

Farmyard: Dark Brown Smelly Cr*p, squirts out from under your foot and no matter how you put your walking gaiters on still gets inside your socks and up your trouser legs.

Clarts: (Brilliant Geordie word) Thick semi dry Clay which clings to your boots and acts as the best anchor know to creation. Guarenteed to pull off a loose boot at the first attempt. Varies in colour from Gingery Red-Brown, down Cornwall way, to Cheviot Hills Black Brown. Dries like concrete and is an absolute bastard to get off a dogs fur.

 

[zombiepaints]

well i gave it a whirl and overall my mud came out... ok. went with a light sandy tone for the mud, but it just doesnt look quite right think i got a bit too close to my leather highlite color but overall for first attempt im happy. thanks Dragonsreach very helpful as always very appreciated.

 

[Einion]

Were you aiming for fresh (wet or damp) mud or mud that had had time to dry?

Einion

 

[zombiepaints]

mostly fresh wet mud with a bit of old dried mud like hes been out working the gold fields for a while

 

[Einion]

Well wet mud is darker and maybe a little glossy as well (if you're not going for an all-matt finish) and dried mud is generally much lighter in colour.

Obviously there are many colours of earth but I like to use fairly typical umber colours for mud. If you want any of the mud to be caked on see this other current thread.

For the dried mud spatters I just use a light mix of white and the same brown used to make the mud itself.

Einion

 

[zombiepaints]

thanks Einion i think i may try to do some caked mud on him just for a little something xtra. am about halfway done thus far cant wait to post the finished piece.

 

[Einion]

Welcome, glad to try to help :good:

Einion