Dry Brush Painting Basics with Matt Harber

Posted onAuthorTurner 70

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Dry Brushing Basics - Home Page
Dry Brush Set
White Jesso Paint

Brushes and Supplies:

  • Almost any brush will work, but some work better than others.
  • Softer, more rounded brushes seem to work best.
  • Makeup brushes work very well.
  • Recommended set: Dry brush miniature painting set, 5 sizes.
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDBWXLK7/
  • It would be useful to have a trash can within reach.
  • I usually have a small glass of water nearby, to help with clean up.
  • I make small throw-away cloths to clean up things with by just cutting up some paper towels.
  • I use little plastic palettes to put out and mix paints.
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078SRR7ZF/
  • Background paints: black acrylic paint, matte/flat. I have also successfully used white gesso, thinned with a little water.
Dry Painted Bowl

Techniques and Notes:

  1. Gently dip brush into paint, wipe off paint.
  2. Using paper or paper towel, continue to gently wipe off paint until almost no paint comes off the brush.
  3. Gently apply tip of brush repeatedly to surface, until desired level of color is reached.
    • Paint is built up slowly, softly, gently, a little bit at a time.
    • More paint can always be added to darken, lighten, or add color.
    • Paint can be darkened by adding black, lightened by adding white.
    • Paint can be lightened or changed in gradients by progressively adding one color to another.