The Man in Black – The “Anatomy” of Airbrushing Anatomy
To Start: Select a reference photo or take a photo of boyfriend I used the Iwata HP-
or hubby (I found my reference photo by looking at men’s under- TH with round pattern
wear advertisements!). Change it to black and white in your PC if for this step. I do NOT
it is in color and lighten it up some (they usually print out darker recommend the use of
than the way they look on your screen). Anatomy books are an- templates on a piece
other good place to look and you can find these in most librar- like this to sketch the
ies and bookstores – don’t just stick to the anatomy for artists, body in. The idea with
either…dig into those science books. The more familiar you can this piece is to create
become with the human form scientifically, the better you will be an ethereal appear-
when painting or drawing it (just take a look at Leonardo’s work!). ance. The softer lines
There are some great references for fantasy and comic book add to the realism
art that can give you ideas on how to really pop out anatomical and keep your paint-
features, too. Explore! ing from looking like a
cookie-cutter or comic
Materials: 24” x 30” canvas, gesso prepared, Golden Airbrush book image.
Colors:Transparent Dioxazine Purple, Transparent Shading Gray, Go ahead, jump in, and
Transparent Extender, Titanium White. Mix: 10 parts shading get used to free-hand-
gray, 1 part purple, 2 parts extender, 4 parts Titanium white, ing it! Practice on
1 part extender. Airbrushes Used: Iwata Kustom CS (smaller paper first to gain confidence. If you absolutely have to use a
coverage and detail) and HP-TH (larger coverage), using approxi- template, hold it well up off the canvas (1/2 inch or better) and
mately 20psi with a Hammerhead compressor. You’ll want to apply paint sparingly to prevent creating a really hard edge on
practice a bit first until you get the right psi for your equipment your image. At this point you should have the background in place
combination using this paint mix.
and the image sketched in.
Once everything is
Step 1:
sketched in paint, use
Lightly transfer a good pencil sketch to the canvas using a
frisket to cover up your
projector (you can do it freehand if you like, but I find a projec-
background to prevent
tor helps me get my composition done more quickly, to scale,
overspray. Go over the
and enables me to keep the perspective and lighting.). Don’t be
canvas with Titanium
afraid to use one for transferring images – I used to think this
White mix to soften
made me less of an artist, but I’ve learned that what it really
your sketch and cover
does is save me lots of time so I can spend less time on set-up/
over pencil lines. This
composition and more time on drawing or painting. Make sure
will clean up the can-
the projector squarely faces your canvas and that the canvas is
vas, covering pencil
completely upright, else you will skew the image. Outline areas
smudges, scuff marks,
of value so you can keep a handle on light and shade.
the remaining gesso
surface (which may ap-
Step 2:
pear slightly yellowish),
Lightly work in the background and areas of muscle mass using
and will allow you to
the shading gray mix, moving around the canvas often to allow
fade out or cover over
the paint to set up. At this point, you’re just trying to get some
accidental sketch lines.
areas lightly sketched in, so don’t lay on too much paint. You’ll be
At the end of this step, you should have a canvas ready to be
coming back to each area several times as you layer in more and
worked in detail. If you don’t, go back and add some more detail
more shading and detail. Think “lighter to darker” and “larger
to your sketch, then repeat step 2. Allow plenty of time between
area to smaller area.”
steps for paint to dry…this will keep you from getting in a hurry
Move your airbrush in a circular pattern when covering larger
and putting on too much paint too fast. This gives you an oppor-
areas to prevent lines, a streaked appearance, and ‘dumbells’ of
tunity to keep an eye on the needle and nozzle of the brush, too
paint. Being a rookie, I find I still have to consciously remember
– keep this area very clean to avoid spitting or clogging.
not to use the airbrush like a spray can, but I’m getting there.
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