As the name implies, this technique uses the minimum amount of paint on the brush, so that the colour only partially covers the paper. It is often used to create texture and broken colour (viz foliage, grass in landscapes or hair textures in a portrait.) However, it must be used sparingly and in combination with other techniques such as flat or broken washes. Opaque gouache and acrylic are well suited to the dry brush technique. In both cases, the paint should be used with barely enough water to make it workable. To use the technique to excess induces monotony, dullness and muddiness.