In the previous post I built a new gaming setup for smaller games which I cobbled together a mat and a backdrop with materials I had lying around. I finished the backdrop after watching some youtube videos for ideas on how to add clouds and trees.

First I added thinned white to the backdrop using a piece of sponge. Its very subtle and quite hard to see. Most of the clouds were closer to the horizon. Next some low hills were added with an airbrush using a couple of different shades of green.

The third step was to use a thin light grey colour and airbrush across the backdrop where the hills and sky meet, to blend them together and create a hazy effect. I was really low on paint so my attempt was patchy but I planned to cover the worst of it with trees.

Also during this step I accidentally splashed some green on the sky and I had to cover it with some light blue paint using an airbrush.

Adding trees

To make the tree I tore off a piece of sponge and starting with a dark green, I lightly dabbed some paint onto the backdrop. I didnt want the trees to dominate the backdrop so I only added a few and kept them small.

Next went over them again with the sponge and a lighter green, and then a final dab of very light green. For this step I think less is more, as I was looking for a hazy far-away effect. Because it is for 6mm I didn’t want tall or large features.

Finished Backdrop

And a game setup for trying out IABSM rules. Its the first time I have attempted something like this so I’m very happy with how it came out as I wasn’t sure if I could create a reasonably realistic looking backdrop. But i think the backdrops are very good, however I could have made the hills and trees a bit taller, but this setup will be very useful for games.