Let\'s Debate on Drybrushing

[GreenOne]

Hi Y\'all, saw some great artwork here today:flip:

Hey, as you probably know, I\'m a newb right...
When you get started that drybrush thing seems really great, like magic!

But, now I\'m getting used to seeing such great pieces, I\'m starting to see the downsides of it. I\'ve seen some comments and advices against overuses of drybrushing, of the dusty effect, some even saying to stop using this technique altogether.

All good, but what to do instead ? Is drybrushing good for nothing at all ?

So I ask this question to you CMONERs: What dou you think about drybrushing ? Is it still good at some places ? Is there a way to fight the dusty effect ? What can be done instead and how ?

I don\'t think this subject is too redundat, so please don\'t just tell me it as been discussed before...

 

[airhead]

I\'ll bite.

Drybrushing is great for terrain. Pretty good for hair and fur on minis.

Larger and/or smoother areas (fabrics and metals) do not do well with drybrushing. Layering is the tool of choice there (unless you can wet blend).

 

[Shawn R. L.]

If you can accept and use the fact that it accentuates texture it\'s a great tool. I love it.

 

[Wolf Fang]

Originally posted by airhead
I\'ll bite.

Drybrushing is great for terrain. Pretty good for hair and fur on minis.

Larger and/or smoother areas (fabrics and metals) do not do well with drybrushing. Layering is the tool of choice there (unless you can wet blend).

yeh... what he said

 

[Legacy Account]

Drybrushing is a very useful technique and one that I still use a lot.

Who needs zenithal primering when you can do it far more subtly using drybrushing...

 

[Orb]

loved drybrushing when I first got into models - especial tanks and stuff, but drifted asway from it and even got slightly snobbish against it - drybrushing looks like drybrushing.

HOWEVER, ive come full circle now - it\'s a great technique when used appropriately.
And who\'d have thought that drybrushing was a major technique used to paint this? (by Calvin Tan. 1/35 scale):

I suspect Spacemunkie is talking about using D-brushing the same way Calvin does on this

 

[QuietiManes]

Yup yup. Drybrushing like all techniques has its place. %99 of the \"snobs against drybrushing\" dont do it right. Drybrushing doesnt have to go on in one coat, it doesnt have to look patchy, splotchy, with tonnes of little lines cross hatching the entire surface either. Once you figure out the DRY part of drybrushing it becomes a much finer/smoother application.

It reminds me of the whole NMM movement. You can get great results with metallics too.

Anyway, I think Orb summed it up well \"it\'s a great technique when used appropriately\"...my ever so humble opinion agrees!

 

[Trevor]

I use this weird hybrid technique that is part drybrushing (but with wetter thinner paint) and part feathering/blending. Also still use \'normal\' dry brushing where appropriate.

 

[Legacy Account]

@Orb: Yeah, it\'s excellent for establishing directional lighting on a mini. The camo on those trousers is superb.

I also use it to give a slight texture to NMM, especially on blades and stuff I want rusty.

 

[Modderrhu]

Everything that\'s already been said before; drybrushing works for highly textured surfaces, but not smooth surfaces.

I thin the paint before drybrushing, somehow (even though the brush should be dry) it makes the drybrushing smoother, if more time consuming. That seems to get rid of the dusty effect.

 

[GreenOne]

That all good people, thank you for \'highlighting\' me

I\'ll keep it a little longer then, and try to find a substitute for smooth surfaces.
To thin drybrush paint makes sense to me, somehow.

 

[Talion]

You will go through loads of different phases (and I recommend you do so) of painting minis.

Inking, Drybrushing, Deep shadows and highlights.

but as the other have said, it\'s only when you\'ve pratcied at these that you learn to pull all the different techniques together, and use them to your advantage.

I used to only drybrush hair and fur, now I give the fur or hair a very,very light drybrush to allow me to see where the paint falls. I then paint and blend the individual pieces of hair.

use it, but don\'t abuse it :duh:

 

[Naukhel]

I say if you get a piece that you\'re happy with, and you used drybrushing, then ignore the comments.
You\'re painting to please yourself, first.
If you\'re painting just for the ratings, or the praise, you\'re probably in the wrong hobby.
I get 5\'s and 6\'s, usually.
I drybrush. But I still suck, on the whole.

If your mini makes you happy, then be proud of it, no matter what the comments or scores. And if you feel a comment given has merit, take it to heart, and work on improving that aspect of your painting.

And if you don\'t think a comment has merit, say \'screw it\', and move on with painting as you\'re content to paint.

 

[GreenOne]

Those to last comments really made sense to me...
I\'ll stick with \'experimenting and having fun\' and keep track of what does it and what does not, both for myself and the \'critics\'.
Guess I\'m being too impatient...

And yes, I do paint primarily cause it\'s a wonderful enjoyable hobby, though I also enjoy the community side.
My last mini ( Shameless plug) is currently overing in the mid 5...
So I guess I\'m now \'tabletop certified\' lollol