Drybrushing

Drybrushing is done by loading a brush with paint, then wiping almost all of it off on a paper towel or palette until the brush looks nearly dry, and then dragging it lightly across the surface of a miniature. Because so little paint remains, it only deposits color on the highest points, raised texture, fur, fabric folds and rocky bases, leaving recesses in the original darker color underneath.

This technique is valued for speed, a single pass over a whole model can pick out dozens of small details that would take far longer to highlight individually with a fine brush. It is especially popular for texture-heavy bases, fur, and large armies where painting time per model needs to stay low.

A slightly stiff, worn brush actually works better for drybrushing than an expensive detail brush, since a soft new brush holds paint too well. The most common mistake is not wiping off enough paint, which leaves chalky, opaque patches instead of a light dusting of color, and drybrushing before the underlying wash or basecoat is fully dry, which smears the layers together.