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For some time now, airbrush
artists have had to gather their knowledge from any source available.
Fortunately, there have been a number of very good books published in recent
years. One that I highly recommend is by Radu Vero, titled “Airbrush: The
Complete Studio Guide”. This is an excellent book for all levels of study.
It is my hope that this newsletter will also be, or at least become, that kind
of source for helpful, intelligent information on the art of
airbrushing.
What I hope to achieve with
this newsletter is to impart the knowledge and experiences that I have had and
to relate the experiences of those who wish to share the same by writing me.
This is intended to be a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experiences
and practical information concerning the airbrush. It is in this context that I
encourage you to participate in this exchange and thereby enhance the growth
and enjoyment of this art form.
When I first began my work
with the airbrush, there was literally no one from whom to to learn the ins and
outs of the medium. I learned from trial and error (often there was more error
than trial) and from studying samples from magazines and posters. Trying to
imitate the work in those samples was frustrating at best. Fortunately, I was
able to find an air brush illustrator years later who was kind enough to share
his knowledge and skills with me. Thanks to him, I was able to achieve my goals
and reach the level that I now enjoy. Thank you, Dave Willardson, for your
honesty, direction and inspiration. I am very grateful.
My
advice..............don’t hesitate to contact an llustrator/artist you
admire for advice or infor- mation. Most, I have found, are more than willing
to help new talent. You can do so on our airbrush artist forum at
Airbrush
Technique.Com
BASIC
MAINTENANCE
Proper care of the airbrush is essential
to insure a positive experience
First of all, clean your
airbrush often! It’s a good idea to rinse the brush with clear water
frequently during your work sessions. This will help reduce the build-up of
pigment around the needle at the head assembly. Some build-up of pigment is
bound to happen regardless and the easiest solution to this is to clense the
brush with a cleaning solution. You can use a cleaner purchased from your local
art store or you can make your own using the following formula
CLEANING
SOLUTION
20%..................AMMONIA
80%.......................WATER
Although this is an
effective formula, it is moderate in strength. I do not reccomend using more
than a 30% ammonia/ 70% water mix. Anything stonger could damage your
airbrush!
NOTE: ALWAYS RINSE WITH CLEAR WATER AFTER
USING ANY AIRBRUSH CLEANER!
A number of people have
asked what to do to keep the paint flowing instead of clogging and spattering.
Often it is simply a matter of keeping the tip of the needle moist.
Periodically, during your work, it is helpful to simply apply a drop of water
to the tip of your needle. Remember that you are blowing air along with the
paint! Air dries paint, and under the right atmospheric conditions, it can dry
it as it comes out of the nozzle!
CAUTION!! THE TIP OF AN AIRBRUSH NEEDLE
IS VERY FRAGILE AND WILL BEND EASILY. HANDLE WITH CARE!!
For those interested in subscribing to a
magazine on airbrushing, I would recommend
Airbrush Technique
Magazine.
HAVE FUN!
All too often, people will
be intimidated by an airbrush to the point that it ceases to be fun.
Remember, the airbrush is
only a tool! It is not the be-all and end-all in art! This simple tool can,
when used on it’s own or in combination with any other medium, be
pleasurable and just plain fun to work with.
Everyone, including me, gets
frustrated with this darn contraption from time to time. When this happens,
take a moment and let patience be your guide. Patience is one virtue that is
needed when airbrushing. Sometimes it tests your patience, but you can win out
over it. Ask yourself where you went wrong, or if the instrument is acting up;
ask yourself what is it doing and where could it be coming from? Do a little
trouble-shooting and calmly remedy the situation. If needed, set the project
aside for an hour then go back and start again with a fresh out look. Should
that not work, then set it aside over night before trying again. If you are
still puzzeled then contact someone with airbrush experience and enlist their
help with the problem. The trick is to not let the medium defeat you.
No matter what medium you
work in, such as airbrush or watercolour or oils, there will be days that are
problematic and you learn to work through them. Look at it this way: With every
problem or glitch you encounter, you gain knowledge. Knowledge is what we seek.
And with knowledge comes skill. Your work will only improve with each thing you
learn.
So, don’t take things too seriously
and HAVE FUN
FUNDAMENTALS
To be or become proficient
with any art form, there are certain fundamental things you must do to achieve
your goals. First and foremost,you should draw as often as possible. As I
learned early in my career, you will never be able to paint better than you can
draw. So, draw whenever you can. Secondly, practice the elementary exercises
found in most airbrush books. Those annoying little circles, squares, dots and
gradations are invaluable to improving your skills. These exercises are also a
great way to ‘warm up’ before painting. Third, be observant.
Observing things and people around you can be a great source for inspiration
and reference.
I hope that you have enjoyed this premier
issue and that you will look forward to the next.
Kevin Mayers
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