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Technique Guide

Wet Blending vs Drybrushing: Which Technique to Learn First

The two fundamental colour-blending techniques in miniature painting. Learn which to master first, how each actually works, and when to use them on your models.

Both techniques produce smooth transitions between colours — but they work completely differently and suit different situations. This guide breaks down when to use each, how to do them properly, and the tools that make both easier.

Our Picks

1

Redgrass Games Wet Palette

Essential for Blending

The community standard wet palette for blending work. Keeps paint workable for hours, reduces waste, and is essential for wet blending. The Evomini and Studio versions are both excellent — choose based on desk space.

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2

Kolinsky Sable Brush Size 1

Technique Essential

Wet blending requires a brush that holds enough paint and moves it smoothly. A quality sable brush — da Vinci Maestro or Windsor & Newton Series 7 — makes the difference between muddy blends and smooth transitions.

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3

Lahmian Medium

Wet Blend Aid

Extends paint drying time for wet blending. A drop of medium in your palette keeps paint workable for longer, giving you more time to work the transition. Also useful for glazing and layering.

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4

Drybrush Set

Drybrushing Essential

Dedicated flat brushes for drybrushing. Using a proper drybrush instead of an old round brush gives more controlled results. The Citadel Drybrush range or similar flat synthetics work well for this technique.

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5

Contrast Medium

Diluting Contrast paints with medium creates glazes — perfect thin colour layers for blending without obscuring detail. A glazing approach bridges the gap between drybrushing and true wet blending for beginners.

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