Build: In the end you walk alone

I always start by setting up the ground. Usually a layer of putty - in that case DAS Modeling clay to remove the evenness of the ground.

The path has been spared out for now as it’s usually a bit deeper than it's surroundings as they are literally trampled down.

Then I built the stairs with some plaster leftovers. The good thing about plaster is, it easily breaks in a natural shape which makes a great stone layer on top of the cork.

Design Changes

In the next pictures, you’ll see another very important design change.

Check the size of the cork grave compared to the grandma in the sketch: It doesn’t match and looks more than a child’s grave in comparison. But a full fledged grave would dominate the scene ( and need a bigger plinth ).

Now, there is a common trick to handle these issues: let the item reach out of the scene and let the viewers mind extend it to proper size. You’ll see the effect even more in the top view.

Planting

As the main elements were set, implementing the shift of vegetation was next.

Fortunately my bitz box is full of great plants from epic basing. Succulents, aloe vera, spikes for the desert and roses, grasses or monstera for the green part.

I even added a little pond with reeds in the back as a strong contrast to the desert as and as a symbol of live.

Gavel, dirt and stones for variation finish up the ground work on the ground. Further details came up in the process like the little birds nest as another symbolism of life. The emphasis the greener “life full” area to the right further, I planned to add some tufts later.

Meanwhile I did experiments on how to add leafs to one half of the tree with a leftover one.

1. Just sea moss
2. Sea moss with glued flock (dark green)
3. Flocking Floor ( light green)

Option 2 looked best to me, but it would require to the painful road of  glueing fiddly pieces of the sea moss individually to the branches.

So I passed the decision to future me - he’ll better know the level of engagement for the project by then.

The final details should be the walking stick for the grave as clear indication on who is buried there. Now the first milliput creation was very clumsy and also I had the feeling it would visually destroy the shape of the cross and didn't invest on further builds. 

So I just created the clock from wire, milliput and plastic card. Quite a fiddly job.

Prime Time

After priming I didn’t have a clear idea of the lighting for the scene, but a kind of sundown as symbolism of the end should dominate the piece.