Thread: new to here, new to the airbrush

Hi everyone.... I have had an airbrush for some time now, I have been messing with out of focus backgrounds with the airbrush, and painting wildlife on top with brushes.... these have been going OK, but I feel I could improve things with some more airbrush knowledge and skill.... they lack middle ground, and Im sure I could make them zing with more airbrush work... I enjoy painting conventionally, so would use the airbrush very minimally on the focal point.... my back grounds are ... to say a little clumsy would be an understatement.... I will post my most recent work, to let you see what I am achieving and for some constructive advice.... hope somebody can help... thank you in advance...
as for me... I am an actor ... I live in the uk.... married with 4 kids... have a dog 4 ferrets and a hawk...
enjoy wildlife and the countryside.... Paul

this is the robin... Paul

hunterpaul,

Welcome to the forum. You certainly do have artistic talent. That is very impressive. I can't draw a lick, but love using my airbrush. The colors in the background, I think, do bring out the main picture. Have you tried any pearlized paints? I use them to highlight areas.

Jan

wow man lovey back ground, I see what your saying but really put the focus on the main pic to me like you take a pic and bird was in focus the rest faded a way like dose in the cam.

here is a piece I finished today, this will illustrate how I am struggling with my airbrushed backgrounds.... its clunky and clumsy... Paul

Wish I was that clunky and clumsy!

Jan

I used the airbrush on both the bird and the branch for underpainting, this worked well for me and saved me a lot of time, and was great for the shadows.... I used a normal brush for the detail work and all the airbrush work on these areas is covered in one way or another.... I found my airbrushing got better as I progressed along, so hopefully my next background will benefit from this... Jan thank you for the reply, but it really is bad in the background... practise I suppose... cheers Paul

Paul,

You do great work my friend, but maybe my eye just isn't as discerning as yours. I thinks it very good. Practice till you're happy with what you're doing.

Jan

stunning work paul very, very nice
you are one very talented artist thanks for posting it

I agree completely, that is amazing work Paul !
The detail is just unreal.
I wouldn't worry to much about the background, as the foreground steals the spotlight anyway

Gio

I really appreciate the kind words guys, espescially after seeing some of the envy making work on here... but I really enjoy the airbrush, and feel I am not getting the best out of it, I also love painting conventionally, so this style suits my needs.. but I really want to excel in both fields... I know this takes practise, I cant find any classes where I live, but I have a lot to learn, hopefully my next background will be better... thanks for the comments again... Paul