Dry brushing is a technique that is often used when painting miniatures and models. It helps to highlight raised details and make the model look more textured or realistic.
It is a good technique for beginners to try, as it doesn’t need perfect brush control or technique. It’s actually best to dry brush with a small amount of paint on the brush.
What Is Dry Brushing Used For?
Dry brushing is commonly used on:
It is often used on raised surfaces, where raised areas very easily catch paint.
How Does Dry Brushing Work?
A basic method for dry brushing involves:
- Dip your brush very lightly into paint.
- Wipe most of the paint off using tissue, kitchen roll, or cardboard.
- Gently brush over the raised area of the model.
- Build up colour slowly.
The brush should be almost dry and should not leave streaks of paint on the model.
Why Do People Use Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is a useful technique because it adds depth and contrast to models and figures. It works well to contrast light and dark colours. It can also be used to deliberately make models look more worn and ‘used’.
For complete beginners, dry brushing is one of the best ways to make a model look more finished without having to resort to advanced techniques.
What Brush Do You Need For Dry Brushing?
You can use either a dedicated dry brush, or an old or cheap paintbrush. A brush with short, firm bristles is great for giving you control over textured areas.
The important thing is to avoid using your fine detail brushes to dry brush. This will wear out the brush and bristles much faster.
Is Dry Brushing Good For Beginners?
Yes, dry brushing is great for beginners. It is easy, quick and works well on quite a lot of beginner figures.
The biggest pitfall for beginners to avoid is probably using too much paint. Your brush should be almost dry, not wet with paint.
Common Mistakes in Dry Brushing
Common beginner mistakes include:
- Using too much paint
- Pressing too hard
- Using a good brush (don’t damage your best brushes!)
- Choosing a colour that is too bright
Dry Brushing vs Highlighting
Dry brushing and highlighting are both help details to stand out, but ultimately they are different techniques. Dry brushing is very quick to do and catches edges or details automatically. Highlighting is more controlled and involves painting specific areas or details on by hand, with less of a freeform technique.
Dry brushing is the easier technique for beginners to try, whilst highlighting edges takes more patience, control, and experience.
Some Final Thoughts
Dry brushing is a simple way to bring out the texture and detail on miniatures, models, and terrain. It is a quick, very beginner friendly technique that doesn’t need specialist tools.
Dry brushing is a good technique to try after you have applied a base coat. Start with a very small amount of paint, and build up the effect bit by bit.