Dry brushing is an often maligned technique in the tabletop crafting hobby, but when it’s done right, it can enhance your tabletop terrain and really bring your D&D, Pathfinder, or other TTRPG sessions to life. (Plus, your party will be super impressed by the finished look of this incredibly easy technique!)
What is Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is a painting technique used to highlight raised surfaces and textures by applying a small amount of paint to a brush, then removing most of it before applying it to your terrain (or whatever surface you’re painting). It creates subtle yet striking accents that add depth and realism to your terrain pieces.
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Here’s what you need:
- An appropriate primer
- Terrain pieces (e.g., dungeon tiles, buildings, rocks, trees)
- Acrylic craft paints (earth tones work well for natural environments)
- A medium-sized, flat brush (preferably with stiff bristles)
- Parchment paper (or a paper towel)
- Palette or disposable surface for mixing paint
- Water cup for cleaning your brush
Step 2: Prime Your Terrain
Remember your terrain pieces need to be clean and dry before you prime them. A primer helps the paint adhere better and provides a uniform base for your colors. Choose a primer that complements your desired color scheme.
A Note on Priming
If you’ve made terrain from XPS or another type of foam, I’d suggest using a mixture of matte Mod Podge and craft paint. Choose a dark color that will complement your final color scheme – or just use black, which can be a good base for most terrain. Mix it into the the Mod Podge until it completely takes on the color of the paint. Mod Podge is basically PVA glue with a lacquer component, so it creates a nice protective shell on the outside of your foam pieces.
If your terrain is 3D printed or made from cardboard or another material, just use a spray primer. (Spray paint contains propellants that will melt foam, but it’s perfectly safe for other materials.) This is what I like to use.
Step 3: Choose Your Colors
Select the colors that best suit the environment you wish to depict. For forest or grass landscapes, go with shades of green and brown. For desolate wastelands, experiment with grays, browns, and hints of rust. For dungeon terrain, I like to use shades of gray and off white. Remember, the beauty of dry brushing is in its versatility, so don’t hesitate to mix and match to get the look you want.
Step 4: Load Your Brush
After you pour some paint into your palette, dip the tip of your brush into the paint. You don’t need much! Then, wipe the brush onto your parchment or paper towel to remove excess paint. You want to remove most of the paint, leaving only a faint residue on the brush. The key is moderation; you want just enough paint to transfer onto the raised surfaces without getting down into the crevices and overwhelming the entire piece. With practice, you’ll begin to learn exactly how much paint to brush off onto the parchment to get the desired effect on your piece.
It’s well worth it to use parchment instead of a paper towel because paper towels absorb much more moisture. Parchment gives you more control over the amount of paint that remains on your brush.
Other types of brushes can work better for dry brushing, depending on the piece you’re working on, but a flat brush is a good compromise, and you can use it for other projects as well.
Step 5: Apply the Paint
As lightly as humanly possible, begin sweeping the brush over the terrain piece, focusing on the raised areas and edges. The idea is to replicate the effect of sunlight over the terrain, accentuating its natural contours. Allow the brush to glide smoothly, allowing the texture beneath to guide your strokes. Less is always more in dry brushing. If you’re not seeing the desired effect, you can always brush more paint on, but you can’t take it off.
Step 6: Blend and Repeat
As you paint, periodically step back and assess your work. If the highlights aren’t evenly distributed or you don’t feel the terrain evokes the desired atmosphere, you can blend any harsh lines with a clean, dry brush. Don’t be afraid to experiment and refine your technique with each pass.
Step 7: Finishing Touches
Once you’re satisfied with the look, let the piece dry completely. Depending on the complexity of your terrain and the level of detail you’re going for, you may want to add washes, dry pigments, or flocking. Be creative!
I’d love to see your dry brushed terrain projects! Drop some in the comments.
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