Furnishing the Airbrush Studio

Artists' workspaces are as individual as the works they create. And when furnishing a studio for airbrush technique, several factors will influence the selection. One is the type of artwork that will be produced, e.g., 2D, 3D, large, or small; and the size of the workspace and the proposed budget are major considerations as well. Following is a general overview of what's available to outfit the airbrush studio:

A drafting table is useful for the person working on paper or illustration board or doing photo retouching. This large table has an adjustable work surface and allows you to work at a variety of angles or flat, as some photo retouchers do. Most drafting tables come with a storage drawer located underneath to hold rulers, knives, templates, tape, etc. They are also equipped with a straightedge attached by a pulley system, which is handy when drawing straight lines and helps to make everything square.

Drawing tables are smaller than drafting tables and are generally less expensive. They also have an adjustable work surface and may come with a storage drawer. On both drafting and drawing tables, it's good to have a vinyl covering to protect the wood and provide a smooth drawing surface. Magnetized vinyl coverings are available for this purpose, and these provide a useful surface for the airbrush artist to secure non-self-adhering stencils by placing metal strips onto the stencil. (There is then no need for adhesive.)

If you work in the round, a sculpture stand is something to investigate. This adjusts in height and will spin around 360 degrees so that all sides can be worked on conveniently. This is also a must for the ceramist, the person painting motorcycle tanks, or the hobbyist who is doing garage kits.

Seating--Whether you work on an easel or a drafting table, you surely desire comfortable seating. You spend a lot of time in the studio, and a good chair is a necessity. It should be easily adjustable in height, maybe have arms and an adjustable back, a soft-cushion seat that is possibly washable and wheels for portability when scooting around. In other cases, you may prefer a stool with or without a back, although stools are usually of a standard height and usually don't come with wheels or arms.

Then there is always the "thinking" chair, the place where you sit to view your artwork, contemplate what you are doing, decide your next move, or maybe take a rejuvenating nap. A good, over-stuffed armchair is ideally suited for this essential contemplation.

Work Table--This could be any type of table where you will cut stencils, mix paint, cut mats, frame paintings and perform all those tasks that you want to do away from your painting area. The larger the table, the better--preferably with a smooth, washable surface. Maybe it has built-in storage drawers or possibly it is homemade of plywood and sawhorses or it could be a workbench designed for the carpentry shop. Whichever, this is a necessity in any airbrush studio.

Taboret--This is a very convenient piece of furniture built for the artist--always with a nice, smooth top and many storage compartments for keeping brushes, tools and supplies. Some are designed specially for the airbrush artist and have a space for a compressor as well as a built-in airbrush holder. Taborets are available in wood, steel, and melamine. Wheels for portability provide ease in moving your work equipment from easel to table without having to again set up.

Storage--No matter if working two- or three-dimensional, a flat file will always come in handy for storing paper, illustration board, vinyl, Mylar, and stencils, as well as finished artwork. This insures that your surfaces, whether painted or not, remain clean and safe from accidents (paint spillage, dust, insects/pests, etc.). Flat files are also available in melamine, steel and wood. The more expensive museum-quality flat files are constructed with special paint coatings that are neutral pH to protect the surfaces and artworks that are stored. A closet is another handy storage space, particularly for those working in the round, to keep dust and overspray at bay.

Ventilation--Good ventilation is recommended for all art studios, no matter what processes are used. But, in airbrushing, it is essential. Ventilation can range from a simple exhaust in a window near the airbrushing area to what is called a batch booth, in which the artist works. These are available in many sizes for the automotive to the craft painter and are probably the most efficient way to remove overspray from the work area. Good ventilation helps remove overspray from the environment so that it neither contaminates artwork nor jeopardizes health and safety.

Whether a fine artist, illustrator, photo-retoucher, fabric painter, ceramist, crafter, model maker or automotive painter, each has specific needs and should investigate available products and prices. Picasso never dusted his studio or cleaned it, for that matter. When one became undesirable, he would just get another. Not too many artists have that luxury!

Airbrushes & Supplies

Airbrushing Guide
A Beginner's Guide to Airbrushing
(You'll need Adobe Reader)

Airbrush Workshops

Dixie Art & Airbrush Supplies -All of our quality merchandise is offered at a great discount rate, every day, all of the time. In addition to our low prices, we ship free of charge (UPS Ground in the contiguous Continental US, with minimum orders of only $45 or more!).