---
description: Going up in height and sculpturing with bioplastics
---

# Building scenery

## Intro

This week I will be focussing on creating scenery for the board. I will be sculpturing with bioplastics and paint them with natural dye, made from things around me.

## Making an earthy color palette with natural paint

In order to bring some life into my scenery I decided to make my own paint with things that are around me. For now, I am just concentrating on making some mountains and rocks. So the colors I would need are: black, grey and brown. Because I am going to cover my bioplastic sculptures with lime plaster, which is grey, I dont need to make grey anymore.&#x20;

### Black

I collected some very dark soil/dirt from outside next to the road so it may contain a bit of asphalt as well which will make it extra black.

![Soil with pieces of asphalt for black paint, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6KYbJYR5oRENnw4tEp%2F-M6KZgukV2vmn73PtTee%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-02%20at%2015.27.13.jpeg?alt=media\&token=951d0339-5156-4c9e-bc16-dd97437ad63c)

I then added about a spoon of water and some cooked coconut oil so. I cooked the coconut oil so that it would melt. When i mixed the oil with the soil it became more of a thicker paint texture instead of a water color, it was more concentrated. Some people put icing in it instead of coconut oil, but unfortunately I didnt had that in my house but coconut oil worked just as good.

![Coconut oil from action (about 2,- I think), Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6KYbJYR5oRENnw4tEp%2F-M6K_ila8RCD1zlnjFJG%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-02%20at%2015.31.14.jpeg?alt=media\&token=9fe6f865-b8db-4cf8-9835-e910c5716449)

This is how the black turned out on paper

![Soil/dirt paint, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6KYbJYR5oRENnw4tEp%2F-M6KbKU9SjTQZAcPB5dW%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-02%20at%2015.39.21.jpeg?alt=media\&token=deafe310-f43c-4f1c-8924-27204f0b187f)

You still see a bit of the soil textures but I don't mind it since I am making a landscape and it fits perfectly with it. You could eventual blow the dirt away or wipe it with a brush so that there is only paint left.

### Brown

I basically did the same with brown as I did with black. I made two shades of brown. One with cinnamon and one with coffee.

![Coffee, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6KYbJYR5oRENnw4tEp%2F-M6KcCYufEm-KZnEjn8V%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-02%20at%2015.42.34.jpeg?alt=media\&token=9b4d04f0-af8b-43a5-9912-8bd55542a87b)

This is just regular coffee, I opened up a coffee pad and poured it into a jar.

![Cinnamon, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6KYbJYR5oRENnw4tEp%2F-M6KcOfgxGuIkTyd_Po_%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-02%20at%2015.43.21%20\(1\).jpeg?alt=media\&token=15418d2e-92f0-4baa-94f3-5a10fd61d361)

This is the cinnamon I used, it is a lighter brown than the coffee. I wanted to have 2 browns so that I could create more depth in the mountains and hills I was going to make.

This is how they turned out on paper:

![Cinnamon paint, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6KYbJYR5oRENnw4tEp%2F-M6KdJJX5T7D0eIFpFRC%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-02%20at%2015.48.11.jpeg?alt=media\&token=ae7e2c07-d4cb-4f3e-b378-7bbcb3082095)

The cinnamon paint is a bit thick because I used quite a bit of coconut oil but I think this has a nice earthy texture and can come in handy when creating a base.

![Coffee paint, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6KYbJYR5oRENnw4tEp%2F-M6Kd_s0HeLanDH3fpZ6%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-02%20at%2015.46.53.jpeg?alt=media\&token=332ee247-46d2-4a1a-851d-d9476cf17fcd)

This is the coffee paint and is less thick than the cinnamon but can be used as shading the darker parts for the scenery.

![Earthy color palette, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6KYbJYR5oRENnw4tEp%2F-M6KeG9fO42xw55tPRou%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-02%20at%2015.52.23.jpeg?alt=media\&token=39d45f65-6da7-4bb1-8159-b1ae84f03331)

I am quite happy how it turned out, I might need to make some other colors later on if I want to make a river or grass texture for example so maybe I might need green and blue.

## Making the material

I was looking for something that was firm but something I could still take some pieces off for the sculpturing, so I chose the sawdust & dextrine recipe, found [here](https://materiom.org/recipe/56). Because I needed an insane amount of it I did al the ingredients x27.

| Sawdust  | Dextrin   | Water   |
| -------- | --------- | ------- |
| 81 grams | 100 grams | 94,5 ml |

\
The dextrine I bought at [van Beek](https://www.vanbeekart.nl/p/dextrine-100g/77328/) for about €3,60. For the sawdust I went to Vomar and bought 56 liters for about €2,50. It is 100% natural and recycble.

![Sawdust at vomar for 2,50, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6Ts1ogvUsvV5KXZIrZ%2F-M6Tu7evWYNccii9A2bX%2FSchermafbeelding%202020-05-04%20om%2010.57.48.png?alt=media\&token=0ef26507-d949-426c-ab62-7c79a059d398)

When mixing the dextrine with water tand then boiling it it was 1 big piece, but the longer you boil it the more liquid it became.

![Boiling the dextrin with water, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6Ts1ogvUsvV5KXZIrZ%2F-M6TvJuRkLVR4SYPOY-m%2Fezgif.com-rotate.gif?alt=media\&token=9f188875-4f31-4528-bd3a-e1ede4efe950)

When the dextrin was ready I mixed it up with the sawdust in a bowl. After about two days, this is what it looked like (this was just a piece of the mould I poured it into).

![Dextrin and sawdust after 48 hours +-, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6BEtiP6P_vlIaPXj2a%2F-M6BH9rL8uJkv1g0SyU5%2Fezgif.com-gif-maker-2.gif?alt=media\&token=a97319f7-6341-417f-aee2-c3e458760637)

I then stacked them up a bit to get the form of a small mountain.&#x20;

![Dextrin and sawdust after 48 hours +-, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6BEtiP6P_vlIaPXj2a%2F-M6BHZ-zob_p8JKwy63V%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-04-30%20at%2020.12.18.jpeg?alt=media\&token=2995ef30-8a0e-46ff-9f03-d8022a03982f)

I needed something to make it more firm and give it another texture. I needed something that I can connect different parts of the sawdust with. That is why I bought this [lime plaster at gamma ](https://www.gamma.nl/assortiment/knauf-snelgips-2-5-kg/p/B102611)(€2,- for 1 kg). I actually wanted another kind of plaster, the model plaster one but unfortunately this one was sold out. With the 'snel gips' it dried very fast (15min) so I had to work quickly.

### 100% natural plaster

![Knauff/gamma lime plaster, Gamma, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6BEtiP6P_vlIaPXj2a%2F-M6BHmcm_Z0zddHBE1-2%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-04-30%20at%2020.03.39%20\(2\).jpeg?alt=media\&token=c8b6bdd0-c90b-4732-98cd-459a5c1d057e)

The gypsum of Knauff is actually a 100% natural product. It is in certain places in the earth. Knauff's fabrics are located at gypsum quarries. Knauff's policy is: _what we get from nature should also be given back to nature._ Gypsum quarries that are no longer used are set up as new nature reserve. This involves collaborating with universities to achieve a more diverse growth of flora and fauna than there was before the qurarries and this resuts in beautiful new nature reserves.\
\
Sources:\
[https://knauf.nl/gips](https://knauf.nl/gips)\
[https://www.highlandinteriorfinishes.ca/eco-friendly-plaster/](https://knauf.nl/media/download/MRPI-blad_Knauf_NBVG_Gipspleister_1-2-2021.pdf)

### Giving it a more ground texture

I then just covered the sawdust/dextrin pieces with the plaster so that it became more one whole.

![Sawdust/dextrin covered in plaster, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6BEtiP6P_vlIaPXj2a%2F-M6BHtultQijx9yJ2KJf%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-04-30%20at%2020.03.38.jpeg?alt=media\&token=d62ec810-eae1-4bd4-a920-6eb35896fdfd)

I then painted this piece  only on the flat., horizontal surfaces with my cinnamon paint.

![Sawdust/dextrin/plaster piece painted with cinnamon, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6BEtiP6P_vlIaPXj2a%2F-M6BJaDU9D3g_AtKLTND%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-04-30%20at%2020.03.38%20\(1\).jpeg?alt=media\&token=f4b551e3-3e3c-4ac9-a92e-3c23635d5979)

The vertical surfaces I painted with the soil/dirt paint and the coffee paint.

![Painted with my natural dyes, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6BEtiP6P_vlIaPXj2a%2F-M6BJiHSTyvtcGmrsJK3%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-04-30%20at%2020.03.35.jpeg?alt=media\&token=c82eb6ef-7b01-4712-93a4-8cac70402ef3)

I then added some stones and grass that I found on the end of my street to make it more nature looking.

![](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6BEtiP6P_vlIaPXj2a%2F-M6BJqVQGSmSf5LcJnAU%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-04-30%20at%2020.03.32.jpeg?alt=media\&token=a41a0f66-418c-4fbf-8279-285c9eb500e7)



## Finished result

I made a couple of other ones, and basically did it in the same way.

![Bioplastics landscape, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6Ts1ogvUsvV5KXZIrZ%2F-M6U3YMNDiD6LagXCvh4%2Fezgif.com-video-to-gif-5.gif?alt=media\&token=81c9a13d-a8c2-4fb4-a505-00ab862ed975)

![Bridge made of branches, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6Ts1ogvUsvV5KXZIrZ%2F-M6U4Xv9B8Y3I-jch3ta%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-04%20at%2011.45.52.jpeg?alt=media\&token=694003b4-b419-4e6b-854b-233efe429639)

![Bioplastics landscape, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M6Ts1ogvUsvV5KXZIrZ%2F-M6U4d-sRdBVjea0YDK-%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-04%20at%2011.47.45.jpeg?alt=media\&token=75570e94-82a0-4328-9e39-f2b1e214f79a)

### Reflection

I'm pretty satisfied how the landscape turned out. I do feel like I need a lot more scenery and different kinds of scenery, so not only hills but maybe also some woods, a river etc. But I think that is a nice opportunity to try out different bioplastic recepies.
