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So I have come up with (not saying I'm the first) an interesting way to make choppy water.  You need a sheet of the blue foam insulation board available at Lowes or Home Depot.  You can make this as big or small as you need.  Here is the technique I use.  

Cut out the approximate size you need and lay it down.  Now, dig into the foam using a flat head screwdriver a few mm or whatever you feel, just don't go all the way through!  I find about a quarter to half way through produces the best results.  You aren't cutting out the chunks of foam, you are breaking them off.  When done right this produces what I think is a very realistic water look!  Now, some chunks will be a little bigger and others smaller, just practice and don't worry about uniform results as choppy water is not uniform!  Generally keep doing this in the same direction each time.  

20170813_17253820170813_172550motion

Once this is done you can cut out the areas boats or items will go to create a partially submerged look.  Now for painting just mix up your colors of blue or blue green.   Then you can use a brush with white on it, just a little paint on a large brush, and swipe it over the sheet of foam so that it really only hits the peaks and it creates a wonderful whitecaps look!

IMG_20170212_145620

!!!WARNING!!!!

You might want to wear gloves using this method as I got blisters both times due to the repeated steps from the screwdriver and the foam board.  

20170816_095357[1]20170816_095400[1]

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Last edited by tackindy
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tackindy posted:

So I have come up with (not saying I'm the first) an interesting way to make choppy water.  You need a sheet of the blue foam insulation board available at Lowes or Home Depot.  You can make this as big or small as you need.  Here is the technique I use.  

Cut out the approximate size you need and lay it down.  Now, dig into the foam using a flat head screwdriver a few mm or whatever you feel, just don't go all the way through!  I find about a quarter to half way through produces the best results.  You aren't cutting out the chunks of foam, you are breaking them off.  When done right this produces what I think is a very realistic water look!  Now, some chunks will be a little bigger and others smaller, just practice and don't worry about uniform results as choppy water is not uniform!  Generally keep doing this in the same direction each time.  

20170813_17253820170813_172550motion

Once this is done you can cut out the areas boats or items will go to create a partially submerged look.  Now for painting just mix up your colors of blue or blue green.   Then you can use a brush with white on it, just a little paint on a large brush, and swipe it over the sheet of foam so that it really only hits the peaks and it creates a wonderful whitecaps look!

IMG_20170212_145620

!!!WARNING!!!!

You might want to wear gloves using this method as I got blisters both times due to the repeated steps from the screwdriver and the foam board.  

20170816_095357[1]20170816_095400[1]

Great idea!

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800-980-OGRR (6477)
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