Dry brushing is a technique where very lightly loaded brushstrokes are used to tint a piece in gradual layers. A stiff synthetic brush is best for this technique.

Loading the Brush: work the brush into the color, and then wipe the excess color onto a paper towel until the bristles feel almost dry. Work the brush back and forth several times on the paper towel until little color remains in the brush.

The brush is worked in a soft back and forth motion until an evenly blended coat of color is achieved. In dry brushing, the color is slowly deposited, building up in layers. Some people describe this motion as “tickling,” “dusting” or “dancing” the color onto the surface. A heavier pressure of the brush will distribute more color onto the ware. A gradual building up of color is the desired effect. As you paint, the brush may or may not be cleaned in between colors to give a better mixture of colors. If the brush is cleaned between colors, all moisture should be removed by squeezing the brush in a paper towel before again loading the brush with color. It is better to let the brush dry completely, as the added moisture from the brush will affect the dry brushing technique. Allowing a couple of minutes of drying time to pass before the next color is applied works best. Working too fast between color applications can cause the previous color to be lifted off the piece. The general technique for dry brushing can vary depending upon the base coat color that is applied to the piece. Some techniques call for a dark color, such as black or dark brown, to be applied first to the entire surface of the ware. Then dry brushing of various colors in sequence is done to achieve the final effect. Other techniques call for you to apply a dark hue and then slowly apply lighter shades of that hue. Either technique is acceptable as long as the desired effect is ultimately achieved.