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Airbrush Workshops

Airbrush 101

Have you received an airbrush as a gift over the holidays and don't know where to begin? Don't despair! Following is a simple tutorial in the fundamentals of hooking up and using an airbrush.

1. It is imperative that you read whatever literature came with the airbrush (manual, brochures, etc.) to familiarize yourself with the equipment and the terms used to describe their operation.
2. Now let's examine the airbrush. Two basic types are used: external mix and internal mix. The external mix airbrush is the most simplistic, while the internal mix airbrush is more sophisticated and is used extensively in the development of artwork.

With the external mix airbrush, the air and paint mix outside the tip; whereas, with the internal mix airbrush, the air and paint mix inside the tip. The way that the air and paint mix and are atomized determines the type of spray produced.

3. Hold the airbrush as you would a pen, no matter if you are right or left-handed. Use the index finger to trigger the airbrush. It is placed on top of the trigger, which is on top of the airbrush. Left-handed painters have a tendency, when beginning, to try to trigger with their thumb. Do not start this habit; it prevents free movement of the airbrush.
4. There are two types of airbrush triggers: single and dual action. All external mix airbrushs are single action where you simply press down on the trigger to spray paint. Presetting the fluid tip on the external mix airbrush or the needle adjustment screw on the internal mix airbrush controls the amount of paint sprayed.

Internal mix airbrushes are available in both single and dual action. With the dual action trigger, you press down for air and then pull back to release paint. This provides more control over the volume of paint sprayed, since the further back you pull, the more paint that is released.

5. Familiarize yourself with the components of the airbrush. The paint tip is at the front; the trigger is always at the top; the handle is at the back; and with internal mix airbrushes, the needle runs through the airbrush and is accessible by removing the handle.

Airbrushes come in several styles that determine how the paint is supplied. There are gravity feed, bottom feed, side feed, and airbrushes that can be attached to external paint supplies (pressure feed). With gravity feed, the paint is held in a permanently attached reservoir at the top front of the airbrush, and here gravity supplies paint to the paint tip. With side feed, which comes with a color funnel that holds the paint and is plugged into the side of the airbrush, the funnel can be rotated so the artist can spray straight down or straight up. A bottom feed airbrush has jars that are force-fit underneath, a handy feature for quick color changes where the artist can lay out his palette in individual jars and plug them into the airbrush one after another. (Be sure to flush out the airbrush between color changes.) The pressure feed airbrush has a hose attached to an external tank that has paint under pressure. Special seals are required in the airbrush to prevent paint leakage.

6. An air source is required to propel an airbrush, and there are three basic types: the small propellant cans that come in kits or can be purchased individually; compressors, either diaphragm or piston, that are the most commonly used air source; or carbonic gas, which is preferred by many professionals. An air hose must connect the airbrush to the compressor to spray paint.
7. It's time to paint! Now that your airbrush is hooked to the air source and you're familiar with its workings, it's time to add some color and do some spraying. It is recommended that you begin with a prereduced airbrush color or India ink. Keep it simple and start out with one color. Take a sheet of paper and begin by spraying small dots. If they look like spider webs, you are spraying too much paint too close to the work surface.

Once you feel comfortable spraying dots, move on to spraying lines. Practice overcoming the "barbell effect," which is a glob of paint at the beginning and end of a sprayed line. Once you feel comfortable spraying lines, move on to practicing vignettes (gradations). Using the natural spray of the airbrush in overlapping passes, start at the top of a piece of paper and work down to develop a gray value change dark at the top and white at the bottom.

After you spray an hour or two with the airbrush, any intimidation will diminish. It's important to continue to practice until you feel confident that you can pick up the tool and produce the results you wish. You'll be happy with your new skill!

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 10 No. 3 -- January 2000