Airbrush

Airbrush Applications—Unlimited!

When the airbrush was originally invented in 1878, it had a singular purpose or application—to enhance photographs, i.e., photographic retouching.  Today, 130 years later, the airbrush has more applications than most people might imagine.  Following is a discussion of a variety of usages compiled from an unscientific survey of basic students in workshops conducted around the U.S.

The airbrush is still used for retouching photos, but now it is also used for reworking computer printouts, altering, adding or deleting elements of the print.  Then the reworked image may be scanned back into the computer and possibly utilized online or in a brochure or printed again, perhaps for exhibition in a gallery.

Some artists use the airbrush to paint over giclee prints.  After developing a composition on a computer, it is printed on canvas in grey scale.  This image is then used as an underpainting over which acrylic color is airbrushed.

The airbrush is certainly still utilized in the fields of fine and commercial arts—working with acrylics or oils on canvas, watercolor or gouache on paper or illustration board, and inks, dyes and pre-reduced airbrush colors on paper surfaces. Prior to the introduction of personal computers, many illustrators specialized in airbrush technique. Commercial illustrators did work for books and magazines, album covers, etc.; and medical illustrators and technical illustrators did cutaway renderings of the human body and equipment and machinery, respectively.  These applications are again gaining interest where the client wishes a completely unique quality that only the hand-rendered illustration can provide.  Many students interested in these realms are attending basic airbrush workshops because it is no longer taught in graphic design schools or to medical illustrators as in the past.

With airbrushing falling out of favor in some areas, custom automotive painting has more than picked up the slack with the painting of murals on vans or designs on motorcycle tanks and fenders, helmets and jackets.  Artists are also working on surfboards, snowboards and skateboards and murals are painted on aircraft.  Artists with an expertise in utilizing solvent-based paints that are ideal for metal and plastic surfaces are customizing objects such as refrigerators and other household appliances, computer housings/monitor frames, musical instruments and cell phones, etc.

In the beauty industry the airbrush is commonly used to apply makeup and temporary tattoos as well as spray on instant tans (as seen on a popular celebrity dance competition).  With the development of high definition TV, the airbrush is used extensively by makeup artists to eliminate blemishes and imperfections.  In the fashion industry, clothing, hats and sneakers are all painted using heat-set fabric paints.  On the Food Network the airbrush is utilized by pastry chefs to decorate cakes or sculptures during design competitions.  Surf on to another channel and you may see the airbrush being used to stencil a wall, furniture or other items in home decoration.

You can find a use for the airbrush in virtually any craft from ceramics to scrapbooking to woodcarving.  Some students are professional taxidermists and use the airbrush to render objects—such as that prized swordfish caught on vacation—realistically. 

Yes, students take classes in basic airbrush technique for many reasons, one being cadaver restoration in mortuaries.  There is a specific airbrush kit manufactured for this purpose that includes an assortment of colors, airbrush and compressor as well as a set of stencils. As you can see, airbrush applications are endless!

Airbrush Workshops Scheduled

Here’s an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of airbrush technique, a necessity no matter what your application may be.  A Basic Airbrush Techniques workshop with Robert Paschal will be held Sat., April 12, in Beacon, NY.  Tuition includes all supplies and the use of equipment.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be one of only 16 students!  For further information, visit www.arttalk.com/workshop/workshop.htm.

New FREE Newsletter

Visit www.airbrushtalk.com to read the Jan./Feb. issue of AirbrushTalk and sign up for your FREE subscription.  Included are Decorative Computer Screen Surround by Janean S. Thompson; Triple the Action! Getting a Grip on Iwata’s New Triple Action Handle by Thomas Adams; and Automotive/Motorcycle Airbrush Stenciling Choices by Donn Shanteau.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 18 No. 4 — February 2008