How to Drybrush Miniatures

Drybrushing is the fastest highlighting technique in the hobby. By dragging an almost-dry brush over a textured surface, you catch only the raised detail - perfect for fur, cloth, rust, stonework, bone and bare metal. It is forgiving, quick, and ideal for batch-painting big armies.

What it is

You load a brush, then wipe almost all the paint off so it is nearly dry. Dragged over texture, the tiny amount of remaining paint catches only the highest points, instantly picking out every raised detail.

How to do it

1. Use an old or dedicated drybrush - the technique is hard on bristles, so don't use your good detail brushes.
2. Load a little paint, then wipe it back and forth on a paper towel until almost no paint comes off.
3. Drag it lightly back and forth over the textured area. Build up gradually - it is easy to add more, hard to take it back.
4. Go lighter in stages for a smoother result on larger areas.

Where it works best

• Fur and cloth - a heavy drybrush is often all you need.
• Metal - a silver drybrush over a washed dark metal catches every edge.
• Bases and terrain - stone, rubble and dry earth come alive in seconds.
• Necrons and other metallic models - the bony, mechanical forms are perfect for it.

Tips and common mistakes

• Less paint than you think. If it looks dusty or chalky, you had too much on the brush.
• Wreck cheap brushes, not good ones. Drybrushing splays bristles fast.
• Build up gradually. Several light passes look smoother than one heavy one.