"cobblestone street - dark to light or vice versa?" Topic

Hey all-
Periodically I have tinkered with accurately painting cobblestones in 20mm and/or 1/72 scale (roughly). I have read tutorials suggesting to start with a tan/khaki, then drybrush black/dark grey, then finish with weathering powders to tone down. essentially a "light to dark" approach. I have also seen people start with dark base and lighten. Both look pretty good to me when others do it, but I seem to favor the dark to light approach when I try.
What do you do and why? Also, what colors do you use? I am tempted to use beige/light grey cobbles, which I know exist, but dark grey/dull black also are prevalent.
I am concerned with the Normandy region if that helps !!
Thank you for any input !

I haven't painted any cobblestones. So my advice may not be worth much. But I have been painting brick structures for some years. I would say experiment if you just can't decide. Try both methods you mentioned and see which you like best. I would start with black and lighten with shades of grey myself. This is because the cobblestones I saw the most were very dark grey. I've not had loads of experience with such. But I was around them a lot while serving in the Army in Germany. And I had an 'opportunity' to get up close and personal with them after a little driving incident. As in replacing them.

I start dark and lighten in progressively lighter layers.

The light to dark? Is that to give an impression of the mortar between the stones? That's legit. For the stones themselves I go dark to light.

thanks for your responses gentlemen – I will continue to tinker! and I think there is a difference between brick and cobblestone streets, but clearly I'm no expert!