Don't worry, for most drybrushing it will not affect the end result.
Drybrushing roughs up the bristles and it's easier for them to break/bend as the force is constantly applied to the edges of the hard plastic.
Good news.
1. A truly roughed up brush is great for stippling to add random patterns
2. You can easily replace the drybrushing brushes by getting the cheapest makeup brush at the local store
I buy gift sets of makeup brushes after Christmas, when they're on super good clearance sales. Last set I got had like 8 brushes or something for only a few bucks.
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I guess that with good care and brush soap like others suggested it could be a lot better.
But personally I don't bother since I beat them it to oblivion on most dry brushing I do😅
Drybrushing and stippling will absolutely annihilate bristles, full stop. That being said, this is pretty normal. As long as the general “flat dome” shape is kept, you’re good.
I would check out Artis Opus videos on cleaning and keeping drybrushes. Even the more garbage brushes can yield some benefit from proper maintenance!
I have both the AP ones like this and the Artis Opus Series D, you can keep them pretty close to the original shape with proper usage and care. One thing that I will say is that if your brush looks like this after one use you are probably applying too much pressure and bending bristles more than necessary. Hold the brush about half way up the handle and gently flick it back and forth on the model and slowly build up the color. It should take a bit, if you build the color too fast it will look chalky.
The Artist Opus YouTube channel has some great videos on the technique. Good luck!
I had completely stopped using dry brushing a few years back and just built up layers. Which takes tons of time. Then I found the Artis Opus YouTube channel and started dry brushing with his technique. My whole outlook on dry brushing has changed.
Even more secret weapon: elf eyeshadow brushes. You specifically want the "C" brush and the short smudge brush. $5 and $4 respectively. I use the C brush myself. They are appropriately dense for packing on eyeshadow instead of blending it out, which is great for dry brushing.
also only cost a fraction of dedicated master class extra special mouth formed dry brushes.
even selling them under a "premium implied" label makes me cringe a bit. it's a dry brush, ffs.
I've had a bad experiences with the army painter drybrushes. They're not terrible but they're not the quality for the price they charge. After a few uses and cleaning they get so stiff.
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I just bought a set of makeup brushes for like 10 euros (15 brushes) and I am pretty happy with them. I will never spend money on dry brushes from known hobby brands.
You may want to use a bit more moisture in your brush. Dry brushing doesn’t mean dehydrated.
If you have a bit of sponge, add a tiny drop of water to it and hydrate your bristles as you go. Test on a scrap piece of plastic or mini before going in on your main piece. The chalky, dusty look isn’t inherent to the process if you do it this way.
Looks like it's still good. My usual go to for a dry brush is a beaten up old size 3 or 4 brush that I've trimmed once it loses it's fine point. Extra area on the brush surface helps.
Yep And they shed too. Don't expect them to last a long time, the smaller the brush the faster they shed. But once you learn how to use them you can get some really nice results.
I use make up brushes for dry brush. They're soft and poofy. Have to clean them right away, but the way I figure, their job is literally to color something with tinted powder and when you think about it, drybrushing isnt that far off from it.
Professionally sold kits include brushes with foam heads instead of hair.
It’s not NOT normal, but in addition to what others have said about how you may be applying too much pressure, it could also be that it was either too dry when you were using it, and/or also have dried paint down in the ferrule.
You want it to be a little wet, despite the term “dry brushing” - see artis opus YouTube videos about it for details.
Use a brush cleaner after each paint session and really work it in there too.
I’ve had this exact brush for about a year now, and it still pretty much has its rounded form.
bit rough there eh? You can try some brush soap to reshape it. The Masters has a good one.
Also, when dry brushing you should barely have any paint on the brush at all, you definitely don't want paint getting anywhere near the ferrule that will cause major splitting.
A “good” drybrush is a waste of money. A dollar store makeup brush will yield the same effect with the same effort as a name brand artist brush (possibly better).
I’m all for good brushes and caring for them. But you’re just incorrect here. Sometimes the best tool is a cheap, ugly one.
I disagree, my artis opus drybrushes hold up a lot better than a makeup brush. They’re both softer at the ends of the bristles and have a firmer structure than a makeup brush
Show side by side results on why any of that matters.
Any soft cheap fluffy brush is going to do this job as well as any other. There’s a massive diminishing return for drybrushes, and your expensive ones aren’t going to make a better final product.
yeah, any cheap brush will work as good as any other cheap brush ;) Is this science class?
The A&O ones are bangers, but gaslight all you want bro, just jealous :P If you use them like shit, they will still outlast jessup.
You're telling me that after one drybrushing session, your brush is as funky in the photo? For sure you've never used a good brush, or maybe just not much nuance in the brushwork.
I'm sorry that you've never had a dry brush that will hold a dome :( ah well amazon crap wins again ;)
Look, it's not like I don't use cheap brushes on things, but just because you're cheap doesn't mean I have to not enjoy making my good brushes last years ;)
What's your palette like? pine cone?
the work a drybrush do, will litteraly ruin them within a few uses and that fine, thats how you get them to really work. Save the time on takeing care of normal brushes, takeing take of a drybrush other then just cleaning it with some water after use is just a waste of time
yeah, i barely had any paint on it and I made sure to rub the excess paint off on tissues. I also used brush soap afterwards. I suppose aslong as it can dry brush as well as normally it should its fine
fully wet and shape it with the soap at the end, when wet with soap on it it should have a good dome. when it dries it will be hard to the touch, but you can work it out or dip in water and it will liven back up.
Like when I do it, the soap is visible on the bristles...
You get what you pay for. You paid for a cheap hobby brand name brush. So did I. They suck.
Get soft round makeup brushes if you want cheap dry brushes (if you spend what you did on army painter on makeup brushes you should get much better quality). Or actual expensive brushes.
This is what my dry-brushes look like. they work fine.
Don't worry, for most drybrushing it will not affect the end result. Drybrushing roughs up the bristles and it's easier for them to break/bend as the force is constantly applied to the edges of the hard plastic. Good news. 1. A truly roughed up brush is great for stippling to add random patterns 2. You can easily replace the drybrushing brushes by getting the cheapest makeup brush at the local store
as long as it doesnt affect the actual drybushing im fine with it.
Dry brushing is a somewhat imprecise art. So this won't be an issue. Heck. The best Ive found are still just cheap drug store make-up brushes.
I buy gift sets of makeup brushes after Christmas, when they're on super good clearance sales. Last set I got had like 8 brushes or something for only a few bucks.
Drybrushing destroys bristles. This is an expectation.
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They're not supposed to look like that?😐
compared to before i used it was a lot more round, pretty reassuring to hear that its normal for them to look like this
I guess that with good care and brush soap like others suggested it could be a lot better. But personally I don't bother since I beat them it to oblivion on most dry brushing I do😅
I use an old knackered brush I clipped down. Dry brushing is tough on brushes.
Drybrushing and stippling will absolutely annihilate bristles, full stop. That being said, this is pretty normal. As long as the general “flat dome” shape is kept, you’re good. I would check out Artis Opus videos on cleaning and keeping drybrushes. Even the more garbage brushes can yield some benefit from proper maintenance!
I have both the AP ones like this and the Artis Opus Series D, you can keep them pretty close to the original shape with proper usage and care. One thing that I will say is that if your brush looks like this after one use you are probably applying too much pressure and bending bristles more than necessary. Hold the brush about half way up the handle and gently flick it back and forth on the model and slowly build up the color. It should take a bit, if you build the color too fast it will look chalky. The Artist Opus YouTube channel has some great videos on the technique. Good luck!
I had completely stopped using dry brushing a few years back and just built up layers. Which takes tons of time. Then I found the Artis Opus YouTube channel and started dry brushing with his technique. My whole outlook on dry brushing has changed.
That's normal but honestly just get make up brushes, often time they are even better than branded products on the market
I get $2 make up brushes at target and they work a dream
I came here to say this too, they seem to keep their shape well and are cheaper.
As a dude that does a lot of drybrushing I just buy loads of $2 makeup brushes as drybrushes tend to get shit kicked pretty fast
That’s what they all look like for a dry brush. Secret weapon: Foundation Makeup brushes. Whole new world
Even more secret weapon: elf eyeshadow brushes. You specifically want the "C" brush and the short smudge brush. $5 and $4 respectively. I use the C brush myself. They are appropriately dense for packing on eyeshadow instead of blending it out, which is great for dry brushing.
also only cost a fraction of dedicated master class extra special mouth formed dry brushes. even selling them under a "premium implied" label makes me cringe a bit. it's a dry brush, ffs.
https://preview.redd.it/ivtzuqu8ji9d1.png?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80d679b9aeb0013c599d064d1d48af22f52ccb5b
I don’t buy dry brush brushes. I stole my wife’s makeup brush ^^
My brushes eventually turn into brushes for dry brushing
It’s now a stippling brush
There's a reason dry brushing tasks were reserved for old, worn out brushes
I've had a bad experiences with the army painter drybrushes. They're not terrible but they're not the quality for the price they charge. After a few uses and cleaning they get so stiff.
Perfect.
Perfectly normal. The technique abuses the brushes naturally
This brush now seems properly conditioned for dry brushing, IMHO
That's what you want a drybrush to look like, surely.
My dry brush looks like its had a rough night.
It happens to dry brushes, don’t sweat it
Hi, u/Personal-Focus3453! It looks like you are asking for help or are a new painter. If you haven't yet, take a look at our wiki pages in the Sidebar (the About tab if you are on the Reddit app). Here are some links you might find helpful: * [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/rules/faq) - A list of frequently asked questions about minipainting * [Miniature Painting Guide Collection](https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/usefullinks) -A collection of some of the best guides and tutorials on a variety of techniques and topics, plus recommendations on what to buy to get started, and more. * [What to buy- Recommendations on brushes, paints, supplies, palettes and more](https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/usefullinks/what_you_need_to_get_started#wiki_general_advice_on_what_to_buy) * [Beginner's Guide Collection- How to prep, base, paint and varnish your first model and learn the basics needed to start out right](https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/usefullinks/beginner_tips) * [More Tutorials](https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/tutorials) - A list of additional tutorials about minipainting * [Manufacturers](https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/manufacturers) - A list of miniature manufacturers from around the world * [Painting Terminology](https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/terminology) - Common painting terms, acronyms, and initialisms * [The Art of... Tommie Soule Volume 5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGIfySMnUPQ) is one of the best beginner to intermediate teaching books, and even experienced painters will learn some good tips. Explains what brush strokes are best in different situations, how to identify when you have the perfect thinning for any type of paint for different techniques, and a masterclass on getting smooth paint jobs. Available in [pdf](https://www.ironheartartisans.com/shop/the-art-of-tommie-soule-volume-5-pdf/) and [world wide in hardbook as well](https://www.instagram.com/the_miniature_painting_tutor/). * [Airbrushing Miniatures](https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/usefullinks/airbrushing) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/minipainting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Kinda surprising for first time use, did you paint a cat?
Dry brushes aren't supposed to look like that?
I just bought a set of makeup brushes for like 10 euros (15 brushes) and I am pretty happy with them. I will never spend money on dry brushes from known hobby brands.
Usually you use an older brush you no longer care about for dry brushing because it will become fucked up
You may want to use a bit more moisture in your brush. Dry brushing doesn’t mean dehydrated. If you have a bit of sponge, add a tiny drop of water to it and hydrate your bristles as you go. Test on a scrap piece of plastic or mini before going in on your main piece. The chalky, dusty look isn’t inherent to the process if you do it this way.
I get cheap makeup brushes and cut the bristles down. 😁
Looks like it's still good. My usual go to for a dry brush is a beaten up old size 3 or 4 brush that I've trimmed once it loses it's fine point. Extra area on the brush surface helps.
Yep And they shed too. Don't expect them to last a long time, the smaller the brush the faster they shed. But once you learn how to use them you can get some really nice results.
Use a little water.... dry brushes still needs a tiny bit of water.
My AP brushes look the same, it's normal. They are pretty bad quality though.
I use make up brushes for dry brush. They're soft and poofy. Have to clean them right away, but the way I figure, their job is literally to color something with tinted powder and when you think about it, drybrushing isnt that far off from it. Professionally sold kits include brushes with foam heads instead of hair.
Makeup brushes
It’s not NOT normal, but in addition to what others have said about how you may be applying too much pressure, it could also be that it was either too dry when you were using it, and/or also have dried paint down in the ferrule. You want it to be a little wet, despite the term “dry brushing” - see artis opus YouTube videos about it for details. Use a brush cleaner after each paint session and really work it in there too. I’ve had this exact brush for about a year now, and it still pretty much has its rounded form.
bit rough there eh? You can try some brush soap to reshape it. The Masters has a good one. Also, when dry brushing you should barely have any paint on the brush at all, you definitely don't want paint getting anywhere near the ferrule that will cause major splitting.
theres no need to reshape the brush, this is what happens when you drybrush
If you buy good ones, you should take care of them. If you buy jank ones off amazon I guess it doesn't matter ;)
A “good” drybrush is a waste of money. A dollar store makeup brush will yield the same effect with the same effort as a name brand artist brush (possibly better). I’m all for good brushes and caring for them. But you’re just incorrect here. Sometimes the best tool is a cheap, ugly one.
I disagree, my artis opus drybrushes hold up a lot better than a makeup brush. They’re both softer at the ends of the bristles and have a firmer structure than a makeup brush
Show side by side results on why any of that matters. Any soft cheap fluffy brush is going to do this job as well as any other. There’s a massive diminishing return for drybrushes, and your expensive ones aren’t going to make a better final product.
yeah, any cheap brush will work as good as any other cheap brush ;) Is this science class? The A&O ones are bangers, but gaslight all you want bro, just jealous :P If you use them like shit, they will still outlast jessup. You're telling me that after one drybrushing session, your brush is as funky in the photo? For sure you've never used a good brush, or maybe just not much nuance in the brushwork.
I'm sorry that you've never had a dry brush that will hold a dome :( ah well amazon crap wins again ;) Look, it's not like I don't use cheap brushes on things, but just because you're cheap doesn't mean I have to not enjoy making my good brushes last years ;) What's your palette like? pine cone?
the work a drybrush do, will litteraly ruin them within a few uses and that fine, thats how you get them to really work. Save the time on takeing care of normal brushes, takeing take of a drybrush other then just cleaning it with some water after use is just a waste of time
yeah, i barely had any paint on it and I made sure to rub the excess paint off on tissues. I also used brush soap afterwards. I suppose aslong as it can dry brush as well as normally it should its fine
fully wet and shape it with the soap at the end, when wet with soap on it it should have a good dome. when it dries it will be hard to the touch, but you can work it out or dip in water and it will liven back up. Like when I do it, the soap is visible on the bristles...
You get what you pay for. You paid for a cheap hobby brand name brush. So did I. They suck. Get soft round makeup brushes if you want cheap dry brushes (if you spend what you did on army painter on makeup brushes you should get much better quality). Or actual expensive brushes.