The Ultimate Airbrush Handbook

by Pamela Shateau

Overview

While airbrush is the medium of choice for creating advertising and fantasy illustrations, it’s also popular for decorating T-shirts, cars, and motorcycles with high-gloss, hyper-realistic imagery; creating dramatic body and fingernail art; and even embellishing decorative objects, fabrics, and interiors.

Now a nationally known airbrush artist and instructor covers the essentials of all these airbrush applications in one indispensable handbook. Readers will discover practical guidance and expert advice on equipment and mediums, airbrush operation, studio setup, and more. They’ll also learn no-fail techniques for developing original source material, as well as tips for operating a successful airbrush business. What’s more, everything is presented in a clear, non-technical, and easy-to-understand format.

Whether the reader is a veteran artist or a novice wishing to increase his or her airbrush skills, this one-stop sourcebook provides a treasury of professional tips, tricks, and techniques.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823055746
Publisher:	Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed
Publication date:	01/01/2002
Series:	Crafts Highlights
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.35(d)

About the Author

The work of Pamela Shanteau includes fantasy and science fiction art, commercial illustration, automotive embellishment, and body art. She teaches workshops throughout the US and is a member of the advisory board of the American Airbrush Association. She lives in Swanton, Ohio.

Table of Contents

	Preface	9
Chapter 1	Nuts & Bolts	11
	Basic System Components	12
	Air Sources	13
	Canned Propellants	13
	Electric Air Compressors	13
	Compressed CO[subscript 2] Tanks	15
	Air Lines	15
	Airbrush Options	16
	External versus Internal Mix	16
	Single versus Dual Action	17
	Feed Styles	18
	Airbrush Holders	19
	Airguns	20
	Choosing Your Airbrush System	22
	Setting Up to Paint	23
	Taking It on the Road	23
	Small Studios	23
	Medium-Size Studios	24
	Large Shops	24
	Essential Supplies	26
	Paints	26
	Surfaces	29
	Art Supplies	30
	Masking Supplies	31
Chapter 2	Operating Your Airbrush	35
	The Basics	36
	Getting Ready: Setting Up Your System	36
	Spray Patterns and Overspray	37
	Single-Action Airbrush Exercises	38
	Dots	39
	Lines	39
	Gradations	40
	Dual-Action Airbrush Operation	41
	Dots	41
	Lines	42
	Dagger Strokes	42
	Gradations	43
	Working with Masks	45
	The Jigsaw Puzzle Approach	45
	Demonstration: Sun and Rays	45
	Demonstration: Desert Landscape: Pamela Shanteau	46
	Working with Blended Color	50
	Demonstration: Apple: Pamela Shanteau	50
	Cleaning Your Airbrush	54
	Reassembling the Airbrush	55
	Using an Airgun	56
	Cleaning Your Airgun	56
	Troubleshooting	57
Chapter 3	Developing Images	59
	Reference Materials	60
	Taking Photographs	61
	Transferring Images	63
	Demonstration: Transfer By Graphing: Pamela Shanteau	63
Chapter 4	Textiles	65
	The Basics	66
	Textile Airbrush Paints	66
	Textile Airbrush Mediums	67
	Finishes	67
	Airbrushing Textiles and Leather	68
	Demonstration: Canvas Tote Bag: Beach Scene at Sunset: Mark Rush	68
Chapter 5	Murals & Signs	71
	Airbrushing Interiors	72
	Surface Preparation	72
	Essential Equipment	72
	Working with Stencils	74
	Demonstration: Sheaf of Corn: Sheri Hoeger	76
	Color	78
	Composition	80
	Creating Shadows	81
	Masking Your Work Area	81
	Demonstration: A Trompe L'Oeil Geranium: Sheri Hoeger	81
	Special Effects for Signs & Other Uses	86
Chapter 6	Body & Fingernail Art	91
	Body Art	92
	Temporary Tattoos	92
	Essential Supplies	92
	Stencil-Style Tattoos	93
	Demonstration: Butterfly Stencil: Pamela Shanteau	94
	Transfer-Style Tattoos	95
	Demonstration: Tribal Design Transfer Tattoo: Pamela Shanteau	95
	Freehand Body Art	96
	Demonstration: Tiger Girl: Pamela Shanteau	96
	Nail Art	97
	Choosing the Right Equipment	97
	Mediums and Supplies	97
	Airbrushing Nails	99
	Demonstration: Sunset: Laura Morgan-Glass	99
	Professional Tips from Laura Morgan-Glass	102
Chapter 7	Scale Models & Crafts	105
	Scale Models	106
	Essential Supplies	106
	Airbrush Effects for Scale Models	110
	Demonstration: Star Blazers Gamalon Battle Carrier (Bandai): Tom Grossman	112
	Demonstration: Skin Tones: Musette: Tom Grossman	113
	Airbrushing Woodcraft Items	114
	Demonstration: Birdhouse Bag Dispenser: Lindy Brown	114
Chapter 8	Fine Art & Illustration	117
	Creating Reflective Effects	118
	Demonstration: "Passing Time": A. D. Cook	118
	Airbrushing Watercolors:
	Kirk Lybecker	122
	Combining Flat and Gradated Color	126
	Demonstration: La Veneziana: Andrea Mistretta	126
	Airbrushing on Scratchboard	130
	Demonstration: Faeries Wear Boots: Pamela Shanteau	131
	Airbrush in Mixed Media	134
	Demonstration: Oil and Water Do Mix: Richard Sturdevant	134
	Demonstration: Mixed-Media Mascot: Richard Sturdevant	136
	Portrait Studies	141
	Of Cows and Cowboys: Robert Anderson	142
Chapter 9	Automotive Airbrushing	145
	Surface Preparation	146
	Automotive Painting & Masking Techniques	147
	Paints	147
	Masking Materials and Techniques	148
	Demonstration: Indian Princess Motorcycle Mural: Pamela Shanteau	149
	Demonstration: 57 Chevy Mini Funny Car: Pamela Shanteau	152
	Source Directory	156
	Index	159