How to Paint Dwarvenite Stone Floors With Olive and Terracotta
By Dwarven Forge - Miniature Terrain for the gaming community | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: How-to Guides
Learn a two-stage drybrush method for unpainted stone floor tiles using Olive and Terracotta Pokorny Paints. Includes surface prep, layering order, and common mistakes to avoid.
Quick answer
Use Pokorny Paint Olive Drybrush as your first drybrush layer over a dark base, then follow with Terracotta Dry Brush on raised edges and high-traffic areas to add warmth and depth. Both are pre-mixed for Dwarvenite, so no priming or thinning is required.
Why two drybrush colors work on stone floors
Stone floors need variation to avoid looking like flat plastic. Olive Drybrush gives a cool, mossy undertone that reads as aged stone, while Terracotta Dry Brush adds a warm, dusty highlight that suggests wear and exposure. Layering them lets you control the final tone: more olive for damp dungeons, more terracotta for sunbaked ruins.
Because both paints are water-based acrylics formulated for Dwarvenite, they grip the surface without a primer. That means you can focus on brush technique rather than surface chemistry.
When to choose one color over the other
If your dungeon setting is underground or damp, lean on Olive Drybrush for the dominant tone and use Terracotta sparingly on edges. For desert, volcanic, or ruined surface settings, reverse the ratio. The Stone Floor Add-On Pack (Unpainted) includes stairwells and trapdoors, so you can test both color schemes on spare pieces before committing to a full set.
Step-by-step: painting stone floors with Olive and Terracotta
- Start with a clean, dry surface: Wash the unpainted Dwarvenite pieces in warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and let them air-dry completely. Common mistake: painting while any moisture remains, which can cause the acrylic to bead or flake. Check that no water droplets remain in recesses before moving on.
- Apply a dark base coat: Use a dark gray or black Pokorny Paint (or a similar acrylic) to cover the entire floor piece. Work the paint into the texture with a medium brush. Common mistake: applying the base too thickly, which fills in the stone detail. Thin coats are better than one heavy coat; two thin layers preserve detail.
- Drybrush Olive over the surface: Load a drybrush with Olive Drybrush, wipe most of the paint off on a paper towel, then lightly drag the brush across the stone surface in multiple directions. Build up the color gradually. Common mistake: using a wet brush, which creates streaks instead of a subtle highlight. The brush should feel almost dry to the touch before you touch the terrain.
- Add Terracotta highlights on edges and raised areas: Switch to a clean drybrush and apply Terracotta Dry Brush to the edges of tiles, stair treads, and any raised stone patterns. Use a light touch and focus on areas that would catch light or see foot traffic. Common mistake: overapplying terracotta, which can overpower the olive base and make the floor look rusty. Step back frequently; terracotta should be an accent, not the main color.
- Seal and cure: Let the paint dry completely (usually 20–30 minutes), then apply a matte varnish if you want extra durability for gameplay. Common mistake: handling the pieces too soon, which can rub off paint in high-touch areas. Wait at least an hour before stacking or storing painted tiles.
Products used in this guide
- Stone Floor Add-On Pack (Unpainted): This set contains 10 pieces: 2 Stone Floor 4x4, 2 Stone Stairwell Floor 4x4, 2 Stone Trapdoor Floor 4x4, 2 Steep Stairs, and 2 Ladders. The variety lets you practice the two-color drybrush on different textures before tackling a full floor layout.
Stone Floor Add-On Pack (Unpainted) - Pokorny Paint - Olive Drybrush: Pokorny Paint Colours are water-based acrylics formulated by Stefan Pokorny for optimal viscosity on Dwarvenite; they require no dilution and no priming. You can skip prep steps and apply the paint straight from the bottle, saving time and avoiding inconsistent thinning.
Pokorny Paint - Olive Drybrush - Pokorny Paint - Terracotta Dry Brush: Terracotta Dry Brush is part of the same Pokorny Paint line, designed for drybrushing Dwarvenite terrain. Its thicker consistency loads well on a dry brush for controlled highlights without dripping into recesses.
