Thread: For the new folks

Thanks Todd! I have a looong way to go, but it is proof that left brained people can learned to paint!

Originally Posted by aixguy

Thanks Todd! I have a looong way to go, but it is proof that left brained people can learned to paint!

forget me for this comment,if the left side of brain control right hand-right side control left hand, which side of the brian [a before i] control the mouth?????????

I am afraid to use my name on this one

I think it is the left.. the right is creative and left is logic.. or so it is said by the scientist ... maybe with lefties it is the other way around..

This is kind of cool!
http://www.blogthings.com/rightorleftbrainedquiz/
http://brain.web-us.com/brain/LRBrain.html

You know bray, after enough paint fumes anything makes sense. Aixguy, love the ART free home comment.

By the way aixguy, thanks for the advice, I now have pictures in the gallery, I just hope they don't post to many of them alongside your pictures. I don't want to look too bad.

j4e

If you think paint fumes are bad ,then donnot inhale the fumes that I inhale in the past,some fumes will stop the body... your brain and eyes ,lungs will be the only thing that works until the fumes is exhale Am I right when I say that most artists and people that invents thing are ---southpaws

sandstone Ray

This is not about being better.. is about doing what you think you Can't!! Just paint, it will all be good!!!!
Doug

I am 45% left brain & 55% right brain, does that make me extra smart or extra stupid or average ?

I ordered my subscription a week ago.....can't wait to get my first issue.......I'm sure it will be extremly helpful........are there also any other kinds of airbrushing mags anywhere else that are worth subscribing to?


And btw my first AB gun arrived monday,(iwata hp c) along with a 12pk of golden paints....I messed around a little, and was AMAZED at how difficult airbrushing can be.......any kind of resource mags,lessons, ect I can totally use ......

Anyone know how long it takes for my first issue to arrive?......and are any back issues available......thanx


FFF

FFF did you order Airbrush Technique or Airbrush Artist???
AA is online and you have access to it as soon as you get confimation of payment.. and it is all there.
If you were wanting to order the mag I was touting up top, (AA) and you ordered AT (printed and mailed mag) by acident, email Don at Airheadairbrush@aol.com and explain the situation.
If you ordered AT then the other mag you want is Airbrush artists.

The free lessons are here http://www.howtoairbrush.com/
Doug

Originally Posted by aixguy

If you are new to airbrushing and want to dodge some of the frustration I would highly recomend a subscription to airbrush artist online magazine. I don't want to sound like a commercial but feel very strongly about this.
I have been airbrushing for 1 year now, and would have NEVER done it with out this magazine, this site and the people that hang out here. I had no previous art experiance and still can not draw a stick person correctly! The subscription price gets you almost 3 years of how-to articals that you can accessed anytime! This includes video on breaking down and cleaning your brush and how to paint dagger strokes! This is the hardest thing to learn in the beginning. I was given a begginer airbrush video for chrismas that cost $35 There was nothing in that video that was not in the magazine subscription! I have never watched it again, but visit the magazine every month to read what's new. As you progress you will remember things you read when first starting out, and can qickly revisit to refresh your memory.. a big deal for us old guys! Anway if you don't belive me, take a look at my gallery and realize I can not draw and was raised in an ART free home.. If I can do this ANYONE CAN!!!!!
I start a drawing class in Jan at a local CC.. we shall see if it is possible to learn that mistifying art or not..
http://www.airbrushtechnique.com/pho...00&ppuser=2093

thank you so much for what you said about only doing this for a year. i am new to the forum and new to airbrushing and though i have mastered the pencil i am absolutely horrible with the $200 airbrush investment i just made. i was about to give it up after 3 or 4 one hour attempts but i have seen your work and i am astonished.
i will think of you while im chipping a way at these crapy pictures i keep making and strive to attempt even half the ability you have acheived. thanks again!

There's no such thing as "crappy pictures". They are either works in progress or practice pieces.At least that's the way I look at it. Even those of us that have been doing this for a while (I've been ABing off and on for 18+years now) find it very useful to be able to go back to basics every now and then. I don't know about everybody else but I find that, within the past few months that I've been a member of this forum and website, I've checked out of few of the practice pages when I've been stuck on a piece and have actually re-learned some things I had not particularly forgotten, but just have gotten a little slack in application.

This is a great site site and the folks on this forum are great. I've learned a good many things myself.

practice is an amazing thing I have only been ABing for 3 months and am nowhere near the skill level some of these guys "and gals" are but with their help,constructive critasism,the online mag,and practice I have seen improvement in my own work, I cant wait to be as good as some of the artist here !!!! this forum and the mag was the best choice I have made in a long time !!!!

thank you guys for responding to what i said. i have a question for you all.
i am a 33 year old auto mechanic father of 6 children. "yes i said 6" .
taking up airbrushing is becoming more expensive and most importantly it has become somewhat of a sacrifice of time with my family. 1. is it worth it? and 2. is there any money to be made at this for someone in my situation or is this just going to be time munching hobbie?
p. s. this forum is unusual. most people on the net take pride in slamming
each other, and people with knowledge do not share it with newbies . very impressive!

thank you guys for your wisdom. my wife is very supportive also and who knows, including my kids in this could become a family business someday.
aixguy is right, im still young enough to try new things that could some day
lead to something.
ive been doing pencil portraits and cars for years dreaming of doing stuff in color. i tried painting with a brush and it just didnt feel right. when i picked up the air brush it felt like the pencil of the future. like my fathers description of sitting around the radio as a kid listening to the lone ranger and then getting that first tv.
this forum has got me off the fence and opened up a whole new world. i am eternaly greatful for this forum. being new to this exciting new world of a.b. i was previously unable to find people that shared my interest. i hope you all will raise me as your child untill i can fly on my own?
sorry for rambling

thank you for what you said guys. it helps greatly. i have a question. i have a badger 155 bottle feed a. b. and i am going to be working towards doing the smaller more detailed kind of stuff and i keep reading that everybody is using gravity feed a. b. to do that stuff. am i using the wrong style for this? i first bought a single action a.b. for $40 tried it once and realized "that aint right". then payed $100 to a hobbie store for the badger and if i have to buy another one my wife may kill me.

mayhem if i can pull of lines like you did with those teeth i should be ok.
i seen no flaws in those teeth. for a newbie you give me great encouragement. maybe the airbrush isnt greener on the other side . ill keep spraying away with what i got. -for now anyway- thanks for responding
keep posting your work if you dont mind, even if its just messing around on scrap it helps my creativeness to see others ideas- especialy sence it seems like we got the same taste in art

Originally Posted by aixguy

If you are new to airbrushing and want to dodge some of the frustration I would highly recomend a subscription to airbrush artist online magazine. I don't want to sound like a commercial but feel very strongly about this.
I have been airbrushing for 1 year now, and would have NEVER done it with out this magazine, this site and the people that hang out here. I had no previous art experiance and still can not draw a stick person correctly! The subscription price gets you almost 3 years of how-to articals that you can accessed anytime! This includes video on breaking down and cleaning your brush and how to paint dagger strokes! This is the hardest thing to learn in the beginning. I was given a begginer airbrush video for chrismas that cost $35 There was nothing in that video that was not in the magazine subscription! I have never watched it again, but visit the magazine every month to read what's new. As you progress you will remember things you read when first starting out, and can qickly revisit to refresh your memory.. a big deal for us old guys! Anway if you don't belive me, take a look at my gallery and realize I can not draw and was raised in an ART free home.. If I can do this ANYONE CAN!!!!!
I start a drawing class in Jan at a local CC.. we shall see if it is possible to learn that mistifying art or not..
http://www.airbrushtechnique.com/pho...00&ppuser=2093

For just a beginner, your doing a hell of a great job. I'm just getting back to Air Brushing after a 35yr. rest. It's like riding the old bike, it's coming back with time. I took your suggestion and signed up with magazine. I'm really enjoying some of the tips I've been picking up. Thanks for the advise...!!

i was lookin at your gallery...and i really enjoy your work... my fav would have to be the white tiger on the black t-shirt. Major props to you dude...ive been air brushin for lil under a year and im still not so good at it... but on the other hand i can draw a picture of ne thing you show me (almost ne thing ).. in fact im attending Keystone for a Bachelor in fine arts... good luck with your class ... and you can do ne thing if you apply your self..
~jess

Jessica
welcome to the forum
post some of your work when you have time

Hi everyone, I've been airbrushing for about 6mo., trying to get the strokes but????? This is my latest, trying to create a whole pic. instead of just scratches on a practice sheet. I think I'm too dark on my shading, any input or ideas?

I tried somthing different than I've been doing, not outlining the skulls, and shading lighter... What do you think, any pointers???

Greetings all, I am absolutely new to airbrushing aside from some technical reading to help me understand how these little devices can be made to produce some really interesting images. I have my big compressor, the garage type with the pressure regulator, a water trap and a Paasche brush, and some practice paper. My question, is there anyone out there who can make a suggestion of a medium to use for practice painting that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and leaves the cleaning job as pleasant as possible? I have read the articles that say that one can actually use food coloring or India Ink but haven't tried anything yet. I have two reference books that are fascinating reading, one by Shanteau and the other by Radu. Thanks in advance for your help. Jack

I got to tell all of you what a pleasure it is to come to this board. I just started subscribing to Airbrush Technique on issue 13 and last week I started
going to Airbrush Artist too. Both of these are well worth it. No matter what
you want to airbrush, there is something for everybody to learn. We are all
helping each other. Airbrushing takes time. There is no magic wand to wave
or any certain thing. We all will get it good with time. Like Don says, Relax have fun and paint. Thanks too all of you that have helped me and welcome new members. This is the place to learn and polish your technique.
Fresnojohns

Thanks, Aixguy,
I am on it.

Ok. I am very new. I used my airbrush for the first time on Saturday. It was harder than I thought. I can paint landscapes with a brush so I guess I thought I could just waltz in the garage and paint. I started trying to paint dots and lines. I can do my name pretty good and can blend okay. I am using a paasche vl and createx. I set the psi at 40. I cannot seem to get any fine detail. No defined small lines. And I don't change the position of my finger and all of a sudden paint splatters out. It has paint splatter out even when I move my finger. I am using the middle needle and am not sure if my hubby put a moisture trap on the compressor. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

Wow! Thanks for the helpful info. I had checked out Don's how to's before I ever started and was trying to do the dots and lines. I didn't know that to do detail or to be good at dots I will need to leave the air on. I will have to experiment more. I am not sure where to by the Golden paints. All I can find are Createx. And I will try cleaning the needle often too. I don't have a whole lot of time for airbrush since I have two kids. I can only do it when my husband is home to watch them. Thanks so much maybe I can try this evening.

Believe me if flushing were an option...(just kidding). I would love to make extra income with the airbrush. I am just hoping to be good enough at it. I can do my name though! Ha! I have a 3 year old and a 9 month old. I work about 16 hours a week with my own mobile dog grooming business. I am not sure how the extra income would be. T-shirts, motorcycles? I am artistic. My husband can paint and do bodywork so we will have to see. I recently helped him design ghost flames for a bike. I had so much fun, but masking it was the hardest. I want to just be able to freehand it. i didn't do any painting. He just mixed silver sparkle stuff into the clear to make the ghost flames and we taped it off.

I keep thinking there has got to be something better out there that I can do here at home and make money. Gas prices for my grooming van are so high not to mention liability and advertising (but you have advertising in about anything you do).

I am using my husbands huge, very loud compressor which is in our garage. I have a paasche compressor that I got on ebay but it needs some kind of fitting and I think it only goes to 40 psi. If the garage were a little cleaner I could just take them out there (it has a/c), but with a nine month old that is kind of hard. I think when hubby gets home I will go and try. I am a night owl. The only problem is I have to get up and groom tomorrow, but it is only one small dog.

What are some things you can use this for? I mean do you go to craft fairs and paint shirts, tags, etc. I have seen people at car shows and fairs that paint shirts (in fact I have one). i must be cool huh. Just kidding.

my name is mindy.Im 21 from pa. I have never used an airbrush but im very excited about starting. I can draw pretty well and I do portraits as a second job. but what i really want to do is paint cars. i love cars and i love art so i figured airbrushing was the way to go. does anyone know the best tools or kits to start with. Im probably goin to subscribe to the mag. soon so that should help out some but if anyone has any advise send it my way thanks

Originally Posted by fxtibbichick

my name is mindy.Im 21 from pa. I have never used an airbrush but im very excited about starting. I can draw pretty well and I do portraits as a second job. but what i really want to do is paint cars. i love cars and i love art so i figured airbrushing was the way to go. does anyone know the best tools or kits to start with. Im probably goin to subscribe to the mag. soon so that should help out some but if anyone has any advise send it my way thanks

I don't know if you have had a chance to have a good look at the site but there is a product review section that might help you and your decisions.
http://www.airbrushtechnique.com/Reviewpost/
Also take note on the brand names, do some web searches etc.

Personally I have a Husky compressor from Home Depot, a Badger 150 airbrush (bottom feed), a Iwata HP C+ airbrush, and a Sharpe mini HVLP air gun (for larger areas)

Hope this helps you out.

thanks ehbcz. ill look around

wow 50% 50%

You Are 50% Left Brained, 50% Right Brained



The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.
Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.
If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.
Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.

The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.
Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.
If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.
Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Yahoo!, just received my Badger 155 Anthem from the States. I have made a commitment to myself to practice a.b. ing for the next year or two, so, I'm pretty dedicated to become a decent artist.I'm experiencing a slight problem though, after practising the lessons so conveniently posted on the forum ( thank you Don.) you know, the dot's, dagger strokes, joining the dot's and shading for the past hour I'm not sure where my problem lies. It seems my a.b. has a sticky trigger ( took it out the box and strated brushing) or it could be finger control, I'm trying to draw lines that go thicker and thinner ( air on ) but as I gently move the trigger back and forth to achieve thick and thin, it seems as the trigger sticks from front to back causing me to pullback slightly harder and then causing blobs when it suddenly lets go. I have tried to move my finger to different positions as to not pull back on the trigger slightly skew but rather nicely in line with the recess in the body. is the trigger supposed to be lightly lubricated or will she eventually settle in as time goes by? If it is a finger problem I'll have to practise more. Anyone have experience in this sort of problem?

Thanks for the advice guy's, I sort of lubricated the trigger, on the sides where it might experience some friction on the body and she ran alot smoother. I think I have to practice a lot still, but going from thick to thin has become a little easier after another 2 hours of practicing ( enjoyed it very much though ) Iv'e read somewhere ( think in one of darla's posts ) that about six months is the norm for getting used ( getting to know technique) to your airbrush, so I decided whatever comes , I'm gonna hang in there and just do it, after all, no pain - no gain they say. Anyway even though it's frustrating some times it's very enjoyable.
Thank's brushbyair, I'm using a waterbased paint on normal paper for practice and found after each good cleaning of the needle she runs like a deam again, just have to get the hang of mixing the the paint to get just the right texture ( viscosity as you call it ). I think my sticky trigger is sorted out now so no more excuses for me, just practice, practice, practice. We'll off to bed now, tomorrow's another day. Thanks again darladidit and brushbyair, really nice to have someone online that understands newbie jitters and is prepared to help,

F.R.O.G. (Fully reliant on God)

Hey. I am just looking for some help. I am serious about working hard to have a career in airbrushing eventually. My family has decided to support me in this decision by offering to help me out, and I really want some nice stuff. I am going to aim for this as a job instead of a hobby (with practice, of course!) but I am not too sure as to what I should get. I know I need the brush itself (I was thinking of a starter kit?) and I don't know what a good brush would be. I am really interested in small detail work and I have a very steady hand. I would just like something with a lot of options that would be a good investment. I'm also subscribing to the online magazine soon. I really don't know the first thing about the mechanics of airbrushing, haha. If anyone could recommend a brush to me, or tell me what I'd need to build 'starter kit'. Anything else is greatly appreciated!

hey i just got my bcs and Im having fun trying to get a fine line down. Okay whats teh different between AT and AA? Im thinking about buying one

AT or Airbrush Technique Magazine is a digital format airbrush instructional magazine that comes out every 60 days, 6 issues per your one year subscription, are focus is providing you will useful content (how to articles) not beating you over the head with useless pages of advertising

AA or Airbrush Artist Magazine is our ON - Line collection of How to, Step by Step articles and videos (over 200 articles and 6 videos) new articles are added every month you have access to all the articles and videos. Again as with Airbrush Technique Magazine all brought to you with little to no advertising you have to wade thru to get to useful info.


http://www.airbrushtechnique.com/for...ead.php?t=4111 in this thread you can read what subscribers to the magazines have to say about the magazines

Airbrush Artist Magazine is better suited for those just starting out because of the huge amount of info and videos


anything else just let me know

cool, thanks!

Hi To everyone. been reading the forums and it has given me great encouragement that i may be able to learn this. I got an airbrush and compressor last week and although i still have not used it yet, i hope a year or two down the line i will be able to airbrush. i will be trying it out this week and use some of the tips i have read here.

Although i have found a few UK based airbrush sites this does seem to be the place i like best. Also finding an airbrush mag in the UK is near impossible.

Me and the wife visit Orlando, Florida every year and was wondering does Walmart or Target stock airbrushing equipment, i never looked last year when we were their but when we visit in April i will be looking, so any advice on shops that stock airbrushing equipment would be great.

I look forward to chatting to you all soon and showing you any progres i make in this new hobby of mine.

Danny

k I bought the double script so how long until I can check out the online content?

Dave
Thanks I just sent you an e-mail with instructions for Airbrush Artist Magazine. Thanks for your support and for subscribing.

Soler-
A very wise investment...welcome to the club...well, not really a club, but it ought to be


Ike

My dad just got me a brush as a surprise late Christmas gift! I AM SO HAPPY! EEEEEE! I have a paasche Millennium double-action and a paasche D500 air compressor! Now the only problem I have is that I have no idea where to look for the paints I need! Is there any way I could water down my acrylics or something? Also, what should I practice on? Thanks in advance!!!!

I'm still very much a newb myself but yes you could reduce down your current acrylics to air brush with. But from my learnings so far it will be much easier to start out buying paints specifically made for airbrushing as they are reduced prperly already and have a finer pigment to allow them to spray much smoother. This in turn will lead to an easier learning curve and much less frustration for beginners.

Hello all.. I just found this site two days ago and have been waiting since until now to thank each and every one of you. This is the greatest site I've ever encountereed. Last night was my first run at my AB. Where I live I couldn't find any other paint beside Createx( I know that is not what was suggested but its the only thing I could find without a credit card) Anyways... I filtered the paint(after forgetting to) having decent success finally. about one hundred dots later my brush quit on me. I cleaned it out and and the tip of the needle (using Mr. Johnsons lessons which I printed off for easy refeerence) and it still wouldn't shoot any paint, water Fine, clean out bottle Fine, paint not Fine. I'm using the VL with the needle that it came to me in( three marks). My compressor setting at 25 psi. Can anyone tell me what to do or why it stopped? I don't know what to do. I won't touch it until someone can help me sort this problem out. Thank you all once again.

Shad

keep trying it gets easier with every try.
i have only been abing for about 7 months & i did this pic ( made the stencil myself ) , hope you like it

Az air nutt

I have the same brush and I have that same problem some times. I just clean it after every color and I use a mix of water and window cleaner to rinse and I back flush it by spaying cleaner then cover the tip and spay back into the bottle. then I rinse with water and move on to next color. I pull the needle and clean it every once in a while. also make sure the breather hole on the bottle is not pluged.

Rob

we have many subscribers and IP address's is very seldom an issue unless of course one IP address is out of Texas and another out of New York for the same account.


Shad- Did you get your problem solved?

#1 will to spray water? #2 turn your pressure up to 40 to 60 psi.

I am pretty new to AB, at school i was quite good at drawing so hopefully one day my work may be near as good as yours and i will be very happy.

Stan.......

Hi everyone!

I am new, and would like to say how much I appreciate everyone here already...your talent is so inspiring, and I cannot wait to get started!
Thanks so much!

I am new, and would like to say how much I appreciate everyone here your talent is so inspiring, and I cannot wait to get started!
Thanks so much i Got a airbrush all I need paint. What kind of paint to use
let me know thanks for you all

What paint to use will depend on what you'll be painting. To get started, pick up some airbrush-ready paints like Dr. PH Martin's or Comart so there's no need to thin out the paint while practicing swirls, loops, lines and daggers. You could even use food coloring if you want.

[QUOTE=rustynuts;100261]What paint to use will depend on what you'll be painting. To get started, pick up some airbrush-ready paints like Dr. PH Martin's or Comart so there's no need to thin out the paint while practicing swirls, loops, lines and daggers. You could even use food coloring if you want.[/QUOT

paint on paper i got createx all can fine it fluorescent Thank you

Hey all, this is my first post. Firstly, i gotta say this is one of the most helpful forums i have ever joined. I am a professional musician from australia, making a good living out of it. Enough that my wife is a lady of leisure, lol. She has her hobbies though, orchids and butterflies. Music was once a hobby for me, but now i need a new one. I bought a paasche vl kit, a few tubes of el cheapo acrylic tube paint, and got some advice from the guy i bought the kit off. he said to water down the paint to the consistency of milk, which i've done. after painting a skull( complete with splatters, smears, streaks and blobs) i went online to see what was out there(apart from what i saw on u-tube). I came accross this site, and joined up, and have already found a half dozen solutions to what i am doing wrong. from the online lessons, to advice from everyone here, i can't wait to get into learning how to AB. unfortunately my wife is asleep in the next room, and i borrowed an enormous compressor from a friend(it scares the hell out of me everytime it kicks in, lol- one of the problems creating squigly lines that should be straight). As soon as i get the hang of it(and mt wife is playing outside with her orchids) i will be spending a lot of time here i think
cheers everyone!

Originally Posted by Shad

Hello all.. I just found this site two days ago and have been waiting since until now to thank each and every one of you. This is the greatest site I've ever encountereed. Last night was my first run at my AB. Where I live I couldn't find any other paint beside Createx( I know that is not what was suggested but its the only thing I could find without a credit card) Anyways... I filtered the paint(after forgetting to) having decent success finally. about one hundred dots later my brush quit on me. I cleaned it out and and the tip of the needle (using Mr. Johnsons lessons which I printed off for easy refeerence) and it still wouldn't shoot any paint, water Fine, clean out bottle Fine, paint not Fine. I'm using the VL with the needle that it came to me in( three marks). My compressor setting at 25 psi. Can anyone tell me what to do or why it stopped? I don't know what to do. I won't touch it until someone can help me sort this problem out. Thank you all once again.

Shad

It sounds like the paint bottle is the problem, the first thing to check is the little air intake hole in the top of the bottle. If thats clogged with paint it wont work so poke a needle through it. If that doesnt work, check the part that plugs into the AB for clogs and the tube that goes into the bottle.
With Createx you might have more success with spraying at around 35-40 PSI.
Good Luck

Hi, all I just found this forum. I am looking for answers to what I am doing wrong. I have a badger 175-7 model. crescendo. I can't seem to find the proper air pressure to run this and from what I have seen in videos that there is not supposed to be any paint coming out until the trigger is pulled back.... this is not the case with my airbrush.... I push the nozzle down and not pull back and I get paint flow... uuuurrrrrrhhhh!!! I am frustrated and loosing intrest... I also would like to know what the 3 different needles and tips are for ( paint flow) or speed???? if any of you can be of help i would really apppreciate it.. Thanks Carol

Hi All,
I also am knew to ABing. I've been reading the posts starting at the beginning and am very motivated. I have had my airbrush - Paasche VL - for about a year now and bought my compressor - Black & Decker - about eight months ago. Because of my job - Graphic Designer - and other involvements I've been doing a lot of the practice lessons but haven't been able to do any pictures yet. I have some drawn that I hope I will be able to start on soon. It always seems one thing or another prevents me from being able to get my paints. Which brings me to my question. What are the best paints I should use on a motorcycle helmet? I have three that have been given to me to practice on and would like to get started on something more concrete with my acquired skills (practice lessons ). I'm hoping to be able to get the online Airbrush Artist Magazine after the Christmas crunch.
nubeeairbrusher