Drybrushing miniatures

[sfgiants]

Hello all, I am curious about drybrushing. What is it? How do you do it? In what ways is it useful? Any ideas or info would be great.

 

[S'mon]

Hello all, I am curious about drybrushing. What is it? How do you do it? In what ways is it useful? Any ideas or info would be great.

A small amount of nearly-dry paint is left on the tip of the brush, which is usually an old, splayed one, and used to highlight the highest points of a figure - eg the lightest flesh tones on nose and cheekbones.

 

[Maerdwyn]

To get the amount of paint on your brush right, remove all the moisture from it after you rinse it out. Dip the brush in the (usually a shade or two lighter than the color you will be drybrushing over) paint, then apply the paint to a piece of scrap paper in a series of strokes until almost nothing is coming off the brush onto the paper. Now, when you move the brush over the mini, the last remant of the paint will automatically stick to the highest parts of the surface. You might drybrush a dragon's scales, for example, in order to highlight the top surface of the scales with a lighter color, while leving the darker color between the scales alone. This gives depth to the look of the dragon's hide.

Painting chainmail black, then drybrushing silver over also it produces a great effect.

 

[Storminator]

Let me just add that drybrushing is extremely easy to do, and pretty easy to well. Go ahead and try it! (spent most of the day painting minis...)

PS

 

[Henrix]

Remember, though, that the wordt mistake you can make is leaving too much paint on your brush!
Try to wipe of almost all paint from your brush at first. It is easier to add more paint on your mini through more drybrushing than to take away paint from it.

You should also be careful to use only old, or very cheap, brushes when you drybrush. It is very hard on the brush and leaves it almost worthless for any other kind of work afterwards.

 

[NiTessine]

Actually, the best brushes for drybrushing are the Games Workshop drybrushes. They are durable, and the bristles won't splay out.

 

[LcKedovan]

Here's a link some people might find useful, it discusses various techniques for painting etc.:

http://www.solis-media.co.uk/relocated/miniatures/index.html

I disagree about the GW brushes, my drybrush still splays

-Will

 

[mmu1]

The most effective dry-brushing technique for fantasy minis, where you're generally bound to have LOTS of armor, is to paint the armor black, and then dry-brush it silver or gunmetal.

 

[NiTessine]

I disagree about the GW brushes, my drybrush still splays

-Will

Strangely, mine has only developed a small hook in the end. Otherwise, it is as good as the day I bought it, almost a year ago...

 

[LcKedovan]

Strangely, mine has only developed a small hook in the end. Otherwise, it is as good as the day I bought it, almost a year ago...

Trade ya!

-Will