How to Clean a Drybrush
Drybrushes can be used for different techniques, such as highlighting, stippling, and pre-shading, but to achieve the best results, they need to be cared for properly. To maintain your drybrushes, they should be cleaned after a colour has been applied to your models using a dry palette and at the end of each painting session with brush soap. This article will explain how to maintain your drybrushes to extend their life and maximise their performance.
Between Paints
To clean a drybrush when changing paints, remove the paint using a texture palette, as you would when dry brushing. The paint should be wiped onto the texture palette using both circular and criss-cross motions to ensure all paint is removed from the brush. The edge of the palette can be used to remove any stubborn paint by flicking the bristles across the corner of a texture palette.
Do not use water to clean your drybrush at this stage because the bristles will be too wet to paint the next colour. Water should only be used at the end of a painting session so that the bristles have time to air dry before its next use.
After a Painting Session
After you’ve finished a painting session, you should clean your drybrush as described above when changing colours.
Then dip just the tip of your drybrush in water, where the paint is on the bristles, then shake the drybrush from side to side with just the tip of the bristles in the water.
Afterwards, wipe off any excess water onto a paper towel and ensure the brush remains damp for the next step. Then open your brush soap and pull and twist your damp drybrush towards you through the brush soap.
Then, work up a lather by moving the drybrush in a circular and “X” motion across the back of your hand to work the brush soap into the bristles. Afterwards, wash your hands to remove any brush soap and rinse the top half of the bristles in a cup of water.
Finally, pull and twist your drybrush through the soap twice or thrice. Then, use the same motion to wipe off excess brush soap from the brush and leave the drybrush to air dry until your next painting session.
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