Welcome to How To Airbrush on this web site you will find free airbrush basic lessons, free airbrush videos, how to articles, tutorials,tech tips, our airbrush forum and more covering airbrushing and custom painting.
I try and add new articles, tutorials to this web site as often as possible so please book mark the site and come back often.
The goal of this web site is to make learning "How To Airbrush" and or learning new airbrushing skills as easy and fun an experience as humanly possible.
If your goal is to learn how to airbrush on any these surfaces: motorcycles, Harley's,illustrations, models, T-Shirts, leather, fingernails, crafts, batting or motorcycle helmets, goalie masks, canvas, wood, tanning, temp tattoo's, etc. you'll find this web site to be one of your best resources of instructional information.
If you will be using any of these products: Iwata, Paasche, Badger, Aztec, Badger, Master Series, Grex airbrushes, Createx, Auto Air, Golden, Com-Art, Aqua Flow, House of Kolor and other paints I think you'll find this web site helpful.
Should you have any airbrush, custom painting related questions or would just like to talk about airbrushing with other airbrush artist please feel free to register on our new airbrush forums here at howtoairbrush.com.
For airbrush related problems, paint related questions check out our Airbrush Help Desk on Airbrush Technique.com AIRBRUSH HELP DESK
This web site is owned and operated by airbrush artist Don Johnson; publisher/ editor of Airbrush Technique Magazine . You can check out my attempts at airbrushing if you like Airbrush Artist , T Shirt Artist , Helmet Paint Jobs on those web sites.
*Need some inspiration check out the over 2000 airbrush paintings posted by hundreds of airbrush artist in our other airbrush gallery CHECK IT OUT
Yes you can learn to airbrush!
Q:Can I learn to airbrush?
A:"I can't even draw a straight line", I'm not an artist", I can't learn how to airbrush", "I'm just not artistic", "I never could draw".
I hear things like this all the time from folks; if I had listened to myself saying these types of things years ago I might not be here today doing what I love to do, AIRBRUSHING . I hope you will stop using these types of excuse's also, pick up an airbrush and give it a try.
It's only paint if you make a mistake so what you simply start over or better yet figure out how to turn a mistake into a positive element in the painting. Don't pressure yourself NO ONE was born knowing how to airbrush, NO ONE it's a learning experience, relax and enjoy it, have fun . If I can teach myself to airbrush you certainly can. It's just paint, relax, have fun.
Q: But I can't draw a lick can I still learn how to airbrush?
A: Using an art projector, stencils and or templates anyone can learn to airbrush. Don't kid yourself some of the best airbrush artist, artist make use of these tools there's no reason you shouldn't. Start out using these tools and before you know it you will no longer need to use them.
Drawing is learning to look at an objects proportions and how its proportions relate to surrounding objects, perspective in other words. How large is an eye in relationship to the nose, where do these objects line up in relationship to each other.
Using a projector will help you understand these relationship's while you practice both airbrushing and drawing. It's just a matter of learning, practicing the basic skills until you gain confidence in your airbrushing skills. The trick or magic after all is not in the ability to draw but in taking a simple line drawing and painting it so it seems to jump right off your painting surface, adding life to your drawing. Using airbrush stencils or templates is a great way to enter the world of airbrushing and custom painting that does not require much in the way of drawing skills, for more information on stencil use for airbrush applications click on :AIRBRUSH STENCIL BASIC'S
Q: OK I want to learn to airbrush where do I start?
A: First thing is to determine exactly what it is you want to airbrush; auto art, motorcycles, T Shirts, crafts, models, fine art, finger nails, murals, helmets? With that determined you can set about researching airbrushes and related supplies for your chosen medium.
On this page AIRBRUSHES you will find basic information about airbrushes; on this page AIRBRUSH PAINT you will find basic information about airbrush paints.
I have another great resource I hope you will use in your research and that's my AIRBRUSH PRODUCT REVIEW. Here you can read the product reviews of many different airbrushes, paint, airbrush related accessories posted by airbrush artist who actually use the products. Become an informed shopper and we'll save yourself not only money but a potentially big headache if you purchase the wrong products.
If you are having a airbrush related problem let us try and help you post your questions on our AIRBRUSH FORUM here at howtoairbrush.com.
For information regarding airbrush compressors check this page out COMPRESSORS FOR AIRBRUSHING.
Q: What's the best airbrush to learn with?
A: I recommend a bottom or siphon feed airbrush for leaning like the Iwata Ecplise BCS or Paasche VL. My reasoning is they have the ability to hold a fairly large amount of paint which comes in very handy when doing AIRBRUSH LESSON #1, AIRBRUSH LESSON #2 or AIRBRUSH LESSON #3. Stay with a brand name airbrush Learn more here. My reasoning is they are quality tools, parts are fairly easy to come by, they are the most widely used so getting help when issues arise will be much easier than with a off brand airbrush.
Q: What's the best paint to use while learning?
A: You'll save yourself a lot of frustration if you follow my recommendation on this one; and you will learn a lot faster. Golden Airbrush Colors, Doc PH Martins, Com Art are all water base illustration type airbrush ready paints.
The pigments in paint we use most often in airbrushing are ground finer than paints not made for use in an airbrush (like craft paints). After you learn the basic's and are comfortable using your airbrush you can use any kind of paint you want but during the learning process let's concentrate on becoming comfortable with using your airbrush. Use craft type paint and you will be not only learning how to use your airbrush but also how to best get the paint to flow thru your airbrush. With the paints I suggested they will flow with no problem, use craft type paints you will struggle making the learning process very frustrating.
Again please make use of my AIRBRUSH PRODUCT REVIEW to check out different paints and the reviews posted about them, be an informed shopper.
I realize you want to jump right into this maybe use auto paint if bikes is what you want to paint, STOP lets learn to walk before we run use the water based paints I recommend. For more information about airbrush paint click on AIRBRUSH PAINT.
Q: What kind of compressor or air source should I buy? Will the compressor I own work for airbrushing?
A: I have written a whole page on just this subject if you will click on AIRBRUSH COMPRESSORit explains the many different air sources used for airbrushing and how to hook your airbrush up to your compressor/air source. I'm sure many of your questions will be answered. For more information regarding airbrush compressors check this page out COMPRESSORS FOR AIRBRUSHING.
No matter what it is you want to airbrush knowing the basic's, practicing the basic's is a must to achieve results you will be proud of.
I can hear it already, "do I really have to do dots and lines, dagger strokes over and over again"? Yes I'm afraid so but stick with it; if I can learn to airbrush you certainly can.
For more comprehensive articles and lessons please check out my airbrush magazine when you have time Airbrush Technique Magazine.
My other web site that provides FREE airbrush / custom painting info is How To Custom Paint.
I have built and maintain the best Airbrush Product Review Board on the Internet so you have access too airbrush product reviews submitted by working airbrush artist, the folks who actually use the supplies, products.
This web site and my airbrush mag, magazines will help you get the results you will be proud of as an airbrush artist, custom painter, model builder, craft person, hobbyist, etc. We have built a whole net work of airbrush web sites, airbrush forums, magazine and an free airbrush instructional videos series to help support you in your efforts.
AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE MAGAZINE ISSUE #0
Airbrush Technique Magazine Issue 0 is a special edition covering airbrushing basic's everyone new to airbrushing will need to know to successfully take up airbrushing. This issue explains the different types of airbrushes, choosing the right compressor, airbrush paint over view. Six basic airbrush lessons are presented to help you understand and accomplish the very basic airbrushing skills you'll need know no matter what it is you want to airbrush.
We published this special addition so that you will be able to get the most out of regular issues of Airbrush Technique Magazine we publish. Issue 0 is a must read for anyone new to airbrushing. To purchase a copy of our special edition Issue #0 click on the Mag Cloud link below.
Don Johnson / airbrush artist/ owner of this site
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