SO YOU THINK YOU WANT TO
It is recommended that each drill should be done at least a
hundred times. Make dots and then connect them with lines.
USE AN AIRBRUSH Make little dots and then big dots. The trick is to get the size
by Cher Pearson
and position you want where you want it. Just a note to you;
in the middle of these drills, no one said you can’t get a bit
Airbrushing can be a most rewarding and pleasurable art
crazy and doodle. LOL these drills are tough on the patience
form. It can also be the most aggravating, irritating thing
and doing a bit of silly stuff in between will help you relax. Re-
you will ever attempt. The desire to work with the airbrush
laxing is important and will come with time and practice. Try
is only the first step. The airbrush is a tool, as with any other
not to be too hard on yourself. Rome was not built in a day.
tool, learning its limits should be a part of your basic lesson
Okay you have painted dots and dashes and daggers until
plan. Many people see an artist producing T-shirts or other
you are sick of them. Did you paint them some more? Good.
art work and think, hey that looks easy, forgetting or not re-
Another fun thing; try painting the drills with your eyes closed.
alizing that the artist hasa lot of time and money mastering
The things we think about when bored. LOL
hisor her airbrush technique. If you do not wish to put in the
time and effort with the airbrush you will most likely give up.
However, with practice and time you can produce some re-
ally great art. Once you have decided you would like to dive
into airbrushing you will need a few tools to start with. I am
not going to get into the types and styles of airbrushes, com-
pressors or paint. I am only going to give you a general list
of items that you will need to get started. You will need: Air-
brush, air source with pressure gauge/filter, paper towels
or Pellon, some paint to start out with (paint, ink etc.). For
the time being that is all you need. No one has to go out and
buy thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Learn how to
use what you have and then add as you go.
Once you have your airbrush and air supply you will need to
“get the feel” of your airbrush. Learn to control it, or it will
control you. Study the diagrams supplied with your brush, so
you will know how to take it apart and put it back together.
Read the book... LOL do that first instead of last. Hook up
your air supply to your airbrush and practice starting and
stopping the air flow, pulling the trigger back and forth. You
want to teach yourself to do so it becomes second nature.
Try not to stop and start abruptly. A word about air pressure
Here are a few rules to remember, I came up with some of
(psi). Different materials require different air pressure set-
them the hard way:
tings to achieve the best results. 10 to 20 psi works great
Don’t throw the airbrush, bad to do and costly. Don’t loan
for inks and thin material but 30 + psi is required for the
VL and most fabric paints. This is an area where experi-
your airbrushes, unless you can afford to have them repaired
mentation with your own equipment will guide you. You will
or replaced. Don’t lay your airbrush down on its side with
be able increase you psi settings as your speed in painting
the paint jar attached. Don’t forget to flush (clean) out your
increase’s. I am using a Anthem airbrush and silk black by
airbrush after practicing. It is often not necessary to com-
Aqua Flow at 50 psi when painting t shirts.
pletely dismantle and clean your brush after painting each
When you are ready to paint add paint to your airbrush paint
time, but you do not want to leave paint in the brush over
cup or bottle. Just a small amount will do to start out with.
night. I have seen where others say they leave their brushes
For those who don’t have any paint handy, you can use water
and food coloring. Hey it is cheap, handy and easy to clean
attached to the paint bottles when using textile paints. I do
the brush when you are finished for the day. Get your paper
not disagree with this practice if they are going to be using
towels out and start by just spraying a bit of paint through the brushes the next day. However, if you are not sure when
the airbrush onto the paper towel.Don’t be concerned about
your next session will be CLEAN the brush. If you become
trying to do anything specific, just press for air, ease back on
tired or frustrated stop for the day, don’t try to force your-
the trigger and get the feel of it. OK, see it is not going to bite
self, it only adds to the frustration level.
you. Some of these drills are as follows:
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