Brush Techniques
📋 What it is
Different strokes do different jobs — a smooth basecoat covers, a wash flows into shadows, drybrush catches raised edges.
🗣️ Coach says
One brush, many tricks. A flat basecoat lays down colour; a thin wash sinks into the cracks to make shadows; a nearly-dry brush skims the top to highlight edges. Match the technique to the job and your work jumps to life.
🧠 Memory hook
Basecoat covers · wash = shadows · drybrush = highlights. Match stroke to job.
😂 Giggle
Why was the primer always picked first?
Because it laid the groundwork for everything else!
😲 Whoa!
Drybrushing — wiping most paint off first — is one of the fastest ways to make texture like fur, stone or chainmail pop.
✅ Quick check: What does a “wash” (very thin paint) do when you brush it over a model?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
It flows into the recesses and cracks, darkening them to create shadow and depth.
Knowing which technique creates shadow vs highlight is core painting skill.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Name which technique you’d use to (a) cover a big area and (b) make cracks look shadowed.