Drybrushing should only be used on textured surfaces. The main use of drybrushing is for fur, hair, wood or other rough surfaces. Tanks can also be drybrushed since it helps to give them a well-worn look.

When drybrushing use the largest, preferably flat brush that you can get away with. The size mainly depends on the size of the surface being drybrushed. Drybrushing is hard on the bristles so you want to use older brushes that are too frayed for regular painting.

Dip the brush in your paint, then wipe the paint off on a rag or paper towel. Paper towels will quickly become saturated and make a mess. Wipe the brush back and forth until about 90% of the paint is out of the brush. When you think your ready to being, test the brush out on some scrap paper or the back of your hand. Lightly scrub the brush across the surface. The paint should be faintly visible after a few swipes. If you see any brushstrokes, you have too much paint in the brush. Remember that less is better when drybrushing. Its easier to build up from light drybrushing, but if there is too much paint in the brush and you accidentally get paint into the recesses, there is no way to fix it other than to repaint the area and start from scratch.

back