Indiana Jones Holy Grail Chalice

[Eric Ardros]

Hey all,

I've got a print of the holy grail on the way, and while I've done some research here into what techniques are used to get it looking like it should I'm a still bit vague on the actual process for getting the layered effect for the red-brown, gold and grey colours.

If going the spray paint route, should I be applying a gold basecoat first, mask off some areas then spray the red-brown over top, remove the masking then dry-brush the grey over that? Or should I be applying these paints by hand?

Or if going the gold leaf route, I take it I should be applying a red-brown basecoat, apply the gold leaf how I want then dry-brush the grey over that. Either way, hit it all with a matte clear coat afterward to seal it all in, of course.

Up until now I've only ever finished Star Trek props, which only ever consist of a single colour for the base coat and are typically finished with an "off the factory floor" aesthetic. This is my first time ever trying to detail a prop with layered colours and a worn, antique finish.

So, any and all advice those of you more experienced with such pieces would be very much appreciated!

 

[Crash752]

I just printed one off myself and in the process of looking for the exact same techniques found these two videos. I plan on trying gold leaf myself which i haven't used in 20ish years.
I printed in one piece and did bondo putty reduced with acetone to hide the vertical seam line and fill some layer lines, which in hindsight was a total waste of time. Because I applied acrylic paste horizontally with a dollar store chip brush to give a more "hand thrown" clay look, which dries hard and is easily sandable.
Its currently sitting on my work bench taunting me with a base coat of probably a too bright red terracotta.
VanOaksProps Holy Grail
Galaxy Built Holy Grail

 

[Lightning]

Or if going the gold leaf route, I take it I should be applying a red-brown basecoat, apply the gold leaf how I want then dry-brush the grey over that. Either way, hit it all with a matte clear coat afterward to seal it all in, of course

This is basically the order I did. I used Liquid Leaf rather than standard gold leaf. For the grey layer I used grey spray paint and sprayed it from far away, and let the cards fall where they may.

 

[Eric Ardros]

I just printed one off myself and in the process of looking for the exact same techniques found these two videos. I plan on trying gold leaf myself which i haven't used in 20ish years.
I printed in one piece and did bondo putty reduced with acetone to hide the vertical seam line and fill some layer lines, which in hindsight was a total waste of time. Because I applied acrylic paste horizontally with a dollar store chip brush to give a more "hand thrown" clay look, which dries hard and is easily sandable.
Its currently sitting on my work bench taunting me with a base coat of probably a too bright red terracotta.
VanOaksProps Holy Grail
Galaxy Built Holy Grail

Thanks for sharing those videos! They really helped to give me a clearer idea of how to achieve the antique finish I've seen others do.

This is basically the order I did. I used Liquid Leaf rather than standard gold leaf. For the grey layer I used grey spray paint and sprayed it from far away, and let the cards fall where they may.

How does Liquid Leaf work as opposed to standard gold leaf? Is it brushed on? This is all completely new to me.

 

[Lightning]

How does Liquid Leaf work as opposed to standard gold leaf? Is it brushed on? This is all completely new to me.

Its a gold paint that simulates gold leaf. its technically copper based, but the color is good. With a project like the grail, being able to paint the gold shapes directly, rather than painting the shapes in glue, is quite useful.

https://www.hobbylobby.com/crafts-h...encils/leafing/liquid-leaf-paint/p/5872?gQT=2

I also remembered that I gave the whole cup a wash of diluted gray acrylic paint as the final coat.



so it was a burgundy spray paint layer, a dusting of gray spray paint, gold leaf paint, then gray acrylic wash.

 

[Eric Ardros]

Wanted to share a couple pics of the grail print (just got around to picking it up this weekend):

Have to do a bit of clean up before I apply the acrylic burgundy paint I'm using as the base colour, but it feels great in the hand and being a solid resin print has a bit of heft to it which is nice.