What is Drybrushing?

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The meaning of drybrushing and how to master this technique

Author: Spotted Canary

Drybrushing is a painting technique where a softly-blurred edge is created between two colors using a dry brush and light dabs of paint. It can be used in different areas of a design, but it is always used for the same purpose—to soften the edges of a particular area.



Whether you use it to soften areas of a face, a snowy landscape, a calm lake, or a cloud-filled sky, the technique of drybrushing is always the same. After the areas on either side of the dotted line are painted, pick up a bit of the lighter color on your brush, then dab the brush on a paper towel until it is almost dry. Lightly dab the paint at the edge of the darker color. You want the lighter color to appear to melt into the darker one.
It seems complicated, but it really is not. Let’s practice a small area, okay? The best place to practice painting techniques is the back of your canvas board. Don’t worry—once you frame your design, these practice areas won’t show.

Step 1: Turn your canvas board over. If you’ve already started painting your design, be sure your board is completely dry. You may want to lay a couple of paper towels under the board to protect any areas you’ve already painted. Draw a circle about 1/2" in diameter.



Step 2: Now draw a semicircle next to it as shown here.



Step 3: Paint the semicircle with any dark color from your kit. Let it dry. In this case, we selected a dark blue.



Step 4: Paint the circle with any lighter color or white from your kit. Let it dry. We selected a lighter blue.



Step 5: Dip your brush once more into the lighter color. Dab your brush on a dry paper towel until almost all of the paint is gone and the brush seems dry.

Step 6: Dab your brush at the line between the two areas, spreading from the lighter circle into the darker semi-circle. On your practice circle, the line you drew is solid, but on your canvas board these drybrushing lines will appear broken to show you where to use this technique.



Before drybrushing



After drybrushing



You can create different drybrushing effects if you use strokes instead of dabbing your brush on the canvas board. Try straight strokes and curly ones for different effects.