Dry brushing for mixed media portraits
March 6, 2017 2023-05-09 21:51Dry brushing for mixed media portraits
![slice-of-life-sisters-600-pixels](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Slice-of-life-Sisters-600-pixels.jpg)
Dry brushing for mixed media portraits
If like me you like drawing as well as painting, you might be interested in trying out the dry brush technique. Basically a way to draw with brushes.
This technique works well in mixed media paintings and is quite easy to learn.
You will need:
- Winsor and Newton water mixable oil paint (I am using the watermixable oil paint because I find it dryer for this technique and it makes the rushes easier to clean as well)
- A few stiff brushes
- A few soft brushes
- Clean rags
- Erasers
- Acrylic paint
- Indian ink
- Dipping pen and ink
![2016-11-05-00-25-49](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016-11-05-00.25.49-600x400.jpg)
The dry brush technique consist in painting on paper or canvas with a very dry brush that holds very little paint. So you can start by spreading a bit of paint on a piece of canvas that you will use as a palette:
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
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Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colors, 337 Lamp Black, 200 mlEconomical, genuine oil colors clean up with soap and water. Use with 5 non-hazardous mediums allows all the traditional oil painting techniques and styles. Tubes and sets. |
![2016-11-05-00-26-47](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016-11-05-00.26.47-600x400.jpg)
Then you can rub brushes against that “palette” and use them to draw on the canvas
![img_4545](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_4545-600x400.jpg)
My palette
![img_8980](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8980-600x400.jpg)
You can use soft brushes for light areas and smaller stiff brushes for details.
![img_8910](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8910-600x400.jpg)
Small stiff brush on details
![img_8913](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8913-600x400.jpg)
Amazingly you can erase very thin layers of oil paint.
Here is a video that shows a time lapse of the whole painting process:
When I was done with the portraits I started working on the background:
![img_8916](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8916-600x400.jpg)
I used a simple pattern on the sweater with fluid acrylic
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
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Golden High Flow Acrylics
Incredibly flexible, Golden High Flow Acrylics have an ink-like consistency that lends itself to a wide range of techniques painting, drawing, staining, glazing, inking, hand-lettering, airbrushing, and more. – High Flow Colors, Set of 10
![img_8921](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8921-600x400.jpg)
And a dipping pen and India Ink
![img_8943](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8943-400x600.jpg)
I added patterns on the background with fluid acrylics and markers
![img_8928](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8928-600x400.jpg)
![img_8938](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8938-600x400.jpg)
![img_8946](https://paintingdemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8946-600x400.jpg)
The last step was to apply a layer of varnish to the painting.
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
​
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Gamblin Gamvar VarnishGamvar is a synthetic resin gloss varnish developed by conservators at the National Gallery. It can be used on acrylic paintings as well as oils. Gamvar is a synthetic resin varnish with a high refractive index similar to that of natural resins. Â |
Comments (12)
aino.shperber61046200
Your work is always amazing and inspiring! Wow!~
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks aino.shperber61046200! I am glad you enjoyed this post and the artwork 🙂
Susanne
You have inspired me to try a portrait with this technique! Gorgeous painting, Sandrine!
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Susanne, I am very happy to hear that 🙂
Judy Brass
Hi Sandrine
I just wanted to say how inspiring I find your website and your work. I love just about everything you do and I feel I’m learning lots from your examples and demos – now I just have to find the time to put some of them into practice! I’ve never painted a portrait before but I just love the results you have achieved here so I will be giving it a go hopefully. I have your watercolour book and hope to do one of your online courses when I can find the time! Thanks for everything. It’s so kind of you to be so sharing.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Judy! I was very happy to read your comment 🙂
Deborah Babin
Is this done on raw canvas? If so, the oil paint will eventually make the canvas disintegrate. I love the look though. Hoping it is on primed canvas because I would like to try it.
Sandrine Pelissier
Yes, I am always using primed canvas 🙂
Barbara Atwater
Sandrine,
I so appreciate your sharing! It is always so inspirational .
This is beautiful.
Thank you. Thank you!
Barbara
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Barbara, I am very happy you liked the post 🙂
Lisa Gibson
LOVE how this turned out, Sandrine – it’s beautiful! Even though I’m not a portrait painter, this gives me ideas for my own subjects. Thank you for posting.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Lisa !
Feel free to post a link to your work if you end up using this technique on a different subject, that will be interesting to see 🙂