What Exactly is Drybrushing?

If you are looking for the absolute fastest way to pick out details and add highlights to heavily textured miniatures, drybrushing is your best mate. Drybrushing is one of the oldest, most reliable, and frankly, most satisfying techniques in miniature painting. It involves loading a stiff-bristled brush with paint, wiping almost all of it off on a paper towel (until it’s practically dry), and then lightly dragging the brush over the raised textures of a model. The remaining pigment catches only the highest edges, creating an instant, natural highlight that brings fur, stone, and chainmail to life.

Using Citadel Dry Paints

While you certainly can drybrush with regular Base or Layer paints, Citadel Dry Paints are formulated specifically for this technique. They have a thick, almost clay-like consistency that makes them less prone to streaking, running, or chalkiness. Because they lack excess moisture, they won’t flood the recesses of your carefully shaded models.

Best Uses for the Drybrushing Technique

• Fur and Hair: Quickly highlight the texture of animal pelts, Space Wolf cloaks, or Skaven fur with colours like Tyrant Skull.
• Chainmail and Armour: A quick drybrush of Necron Compound over a black basecoat creates instant, weathered metal that looks incredibly realistic.
• Bases and Terrain: Bring out the details of rocks, dirt, and rubble effortlessly. It’s the secret to fast, great-looking battlefield terrain.

You can explore our full range of Citadel Dry Paints right here. Pair them with a dedicated drybrush from our brush collection, and you’ll be churning out tabletop-ready models in no time.