Month: November 2017

Hello again! Here I like to share with you one of the main crafting parts of “Dark Woods of Gajen”, which are the Trees. There is a number of them. And each got its own nature, shape, fill.

But to the point! You will need few nice parts of foam. Since we like to have trees standing on 2×2” base you should find styro. with around 2” thick.

Cut those into cuboids with height between 2” – 9” – depends on how big tree you like to have.

And now quick jump. I will show this in more detail on my video. In general you have to cut foam to shape tree. So first shape a cylinder keeping in mind that you will cut a hole at the bottom to put LED light.  Then use some kind of chisel and punch bark texture. This should rough so no worries, it can’t go wrong.

And here how it looks from back side…

I’ve added white sticks with hot glue to emphasise old age of those woods. Don’t try to have very similar looking tree faces. I’ve good once with horned kind of head and many different.

How to shape the face? I’ve got no idea.

What I did it was very simple quick decision that I like to have something looking like old thinker. What is good here, those are trees, right? So it really doesn’t need to look like perfect cute face.

Keep in mind you will also need some pure trunks. Maybe with hollows and mushrooms. So cut them as well.

So you should end up with a number of those kind of sculptures.

Here you should try to put LED light inside of those, which may be enchanted. One important thing – do not glue LED light inside of tree! You will need first to put base paint inside. Then you can glue.

I strongly recommend to use burnt umber as base coat.  It looks very nice. And even without additional layers it is already playable – at least for me

You will need to wait some time until base paint dry. Then suggest to use dry brush technique with lighter version of this brown color.

Keep in mind to put a bit of a paint inside of tree holes. It will look very nice later.

And basically here you have it! Enjoy!

In dark woods of Gajen there are places when shadows fills the air. In the night strange things moves between the trees and you pray to make the campfire long. Just to don’t go into the darkness. Don’t go to meet eyes of nightmares.

Let’s build a safe place for our heroes! Lets light the campfire!

We are starting with common LED lights, which you can find in markets. First you have to remove the cover of light. If you’re lucky, it will be easy. I was and it has been very quick job, so I could start dealing with foam and glue.

You will need a number of small polystyrene foam blocks – those will work as stones around central fireplace. Try to glue them leaving little space around LED diode.

 

During stones cuts you will probably find some foam trashes laying around – don’t throw them away! Take you hot glue gun and create nice layer around LED. Then drop those small bits around. This will show up later as embers and ash.

Now you can also take some nice and very small sticks. Glue them over embers to shape central part of your campfire.

Time for base paint!

I decided to paint everything (except the diode of course) with black base. You could try to use burned umber as base on sticks, but really you can add it as a layer on black base later – no problem at all.

Now make a coffee, take a walk, find optional quest in local bar.

When you’re base paint is dry, take dry brush. For stones I’ve used two layers of grey – first dark one and a little bit later lighter version. It was almost white to be honest. For planks / sticks I’ve took burnt uber with a little drop of white paint.

The very crusial bit, was regarding warm yellow highlight. And you definitly should try do the same. So when you stones and burnt wood looks nice take a little drop of warm yellow color and apply it with dry brush. Do that on LED diode, central part of sticks and even on stone edges exposed to light outbreaks.

You will end up with something like this…

Happy? I hope you are! And your players will enjoy campfire in Dark Woods of Gajen!

Trick or threat?

I definitely prefer trick. And in next couple of days I like to share with you my fantasy setting called The Dark Woods of Gajen. Welcome to the evil forest, where anything you see may turn into your worst enemy.

I like to start with crafting tutorials, so you will be able to find out how to make your own campfire and evil wood. I also got some marshes bits and the central stone of ancient force hidden inside of it.

After ages broken force circle caused this ancient dream creature to wake up and bring Raktahalm nightmares again to this old forests.

Yes adventuress, your enemy is an ancient stone hidden deep in to cursed woods. Beware! And be brave! Fight is coming!