Our pre-painted terrain might look fancy, but they're actually one of the easiest (and most fun) looks to pull off on your own! With just a few paints and some quick dry brushing, you can turn our unpainted rocks into snowy or barren battlefield stars in no time. No stress, no perfection required! Just quick, forgiving steps that look great on the table.
Supplies Used:
Paints
-
Vallejo Game Color – Electric Blue
-
Vallejo Game Color – Foul Green
-
The Army Painter – Matt White
Primer
-
Rust-Oleum Spray Paint– Flat Black Primer
Tools
-
Large flat brush (for base coating)
-
Dry brush (medium or large, stiff bristles work best)
Prime
Make sure your unpainted terrain is clean and dry before priming with a matte black primer.
Base Color Mix (2:1)
Mix: 2 parts Vallejo Game Color Electric Blue to 1 part Vallejo Game Color Foul Green
Apply this mixture over the entire piece, getting into all the recesses. This cool blue-green tone gives your snow a frozen, glacial look.
White Dry Brush
Once the base coat is dry, we lightly dry brushed with Army Painter Matt White, focusing on raised edges, rock faces, and natural ridges.
You can build up the dry brushing to your desired level of snow coverage. From a light dusting to a heavy winter coating. Several light passes will look more natural than one thick layer.
If snowy hills are cool and icy, barren hills are their sun-baked cousins. This quick paint job gives you rich, dusty rocks that look right at home in deserts, badlands, or post-apocalyptic tables.
Supplies Used
Paints
-
Pro Acryl – Burnt Orange
-
Vallejo Game Color – Scrofulous Brown
-
Vallejo Game Color – Bonewhite
-
Vallejo Game Color – Desert Yellow
Primer
-
Rust-Oleum Spray Paint– Flat Black Primer
Tools
-
Large flat brush (for base coating)
-
Dry brush (medium or large, stiff bristles work best)
Prime
Make sure your unpainted terrain is clean and dry before priming with a matte black primer.
This gives you strong shadows in all the cracks and makes the warmer colors really stand out once they go on.
Base Color Mix (2:1)
Mix: 2 parts Vallejo Game Color – Scrofulous Brown to 1 part Pro Acryl – Burnt Orange
Brush this mix over the entire piece, letting some black stay visible in the deepest recesses. This creates a rich, earthy foundation that already looks rocky before highlights.
Dusty Dry Brush
Once the base coat is dry, we lightly dry brushed with the following mixture: 2 parts Vallejo Game Color – Bonewhite to 1 part Vallejo Game Color – Desert Yellow
Once combined, lightly dry brush across the raised areas, edges, and texture.
You can build this up to your desired level of dustiness, from subtle highlights to a sun-bleached, sandy look. Multiple light passes will give you the most natural result.
And that’s it! Two fast terrain styles, zero stress, and a table that instantly looks more alive (or more desolate!) Whether you’re building out a frozen battlefield or a dusty wasteland, these techniques are easy to tweak, hard to mess up, and perfect for experimenting.
If you’ve been on the fence about painting your own terrain, this is your sign to jump in. Grab a brush, have fun with it, and don’t overthink it!
Happy painting!
