Celebrating 2 years

[brushbyair]

This month I celebrate reaching my 2nd full year airbrushing ! I first want to thank Don for creating and maintaining this site, of all of the different airbrush sites I have visited, this is the most informative and friendly site out there on airbrushing. 2nd, all of you who have helped me mature with the airbrush, you are what makes this site tick, you are some of the most friendly people I have NOT met. Your honest critique and encouragment along the way have meant the most to me, without your help along the way I don't feel I would have been able to reach the level I am current at with an airbrush ( mind you I still have a long ways to go ) in the 2 years I have been at it. I would like to share some thoughts I have with the ever increasing newbies out there that I have learned up to this point in my airbrushing experience. First - PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE all the fundementals ( Dots, Daggers, and consistant line width ) without mastering these you will never reach your full potential with an airbrush, in the beginning a 15 - 30 minute practice session before you start any painting project. This accomplishes 2 things, 1 PRACTICE and 2nd it helps to warm up your painting muscles. When first learning to use the airbrush we all rush into painting a beautiful picture, only to find out that we are lacking the skills with the fundementals necessary to create that picture, sometimes this leads to dissappointment and quitting, others it leads to determined PRACTICE. PRACTICE shading to create depth in your paintings, in the fine arts shading is most important, many shapes are developed only by the use of shading. Stencil work, a very important tool in airbrushing, these help to establish proper dimension, but be careful not to over use them, in the beginning we tend to blast the paint, when it should be almost fogged in just enough to give a witness line to which you can freehand in the details. Lettering, looks simple, TRY IT, it is an art all to itself. For those of you that plan to get into T-shirt painting, it is almost a must, the prettier the lettering the more in demand your work will be. If you want to master the DAGGER stroke PRACTICE script lettering. Find ways to challenge yourself, step out of your comfort zone, try things that you find difficult, as you PRACTICE them they will become better and you will be better for it. I hope some of these ideas help you to develop your skills with an airbrush, I know they have helped me, and I owe a great deal of thanks to all of those who have helped me in my journey, hopefully this will encourage some of you newbies out there just getting started in this wonderful form of art.

Thanks Brush
It's been fun to watch you and 100's of others progress from newbieeeeeee to doing some ever fine work. Thank you for your support over the last two years. There are alot of things I rather not have to deal with running this place, many days I'd just like to throw the towel in but watching your work over the last two years get better and better makes it all worth while. THANK YOU.

[Diaz Dezine]

You know it would really be cool someday if you could have a big AB TECH. party that everyone here could somehow attend. I would love to meet all the different people in person that I have met on this site, that would be a HOOT! I've been only here for a short time but it is the most usefull tool I have in my toolbox.
Very nice words you've put here brushbyair and with that I'm glad to be here and glad to know you, HAPPY 2nd ANNIVERSARY!
Take care and keep posting,
DIAZ

[Satch]

Hey Brush, Thanks for the advice. And I agree, this site does have some great folks on it. Like Diaz, I've only been here a short time but I feel welcomed and feel like a part of the group. My computer was down for five days and I really missed visiting and reading everyone's posts.
It would be nice if somehow we all could meet like Diaz suggested.

[heartless]

Brush - congrats on your 2 yr anniversary!

lots of great advice in your post, the biggest of which is the "Practice, practice, practice"!
havent had much time for painting lately myself, but it is always in the back of mind, thinking about what to paint, etc...seems i still owe you a picture, too! (i havent forgotten!)

[yardartnut]

Happy Anny!

[kboyts]

Congrats on sticking it out for 2 years so far. Heres to many more and hoping I have the will power to stay the course and be here awhile as well.

[Bruce Morrette]

Originally Posted by brushbyair

This month I celebrate reaching my 2nd full year airbrushing ! I first want to thank Don for creating and maintaining this site, of all of the different airbrush sites I have visited, this is the most informative and friendly site out there on airbrushing. 2nd, all of you who have helped me mature with the airbrush, you are what makes this site tick, you are some of the most friendly people I have NOT met. Your honest critique and encouragment along the way have meant the most to me, without your help along the way I don't feel I would have been able to reach the level I am current at with an airbrush ( mind you I still have a long ways to go ) in the 2 years I have been at it. I would like to share some thoughts I have with the ever increasing newbies out there that I have learned up to this point in my airbrushing experience. First - PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE all the fundementals ( Dots, Daggers, and consistant line width ) without mastering these you will never reach your full potential with an airbrush, in the beginning a 15 - 30 minute practice session before you start any painting project. This accomplishes 2 things, 1 PRACTICE and 2nd it helps to warm up your painting muscles. When first learning to use the airbrush we all rush into painting a beautiful picture, only to find out that we are lacking the skills with the fundementals necessary to create that picture, sometimes this leads to dissappointment and quitting, others it leads to determined PRACTICE. PRACTICE shading to create depth in your paintings, in the fine arts shading is most important, many shapes are developed only by the use of shading. Stencil work, a very important tool in airbrushing, these help to establish proper dimension, but be careful not to over use them, in the beginning we tend to blast the paint, when it should be almost fogged in just enough to give a witness line to which you can freehand in the details. Lettering, looks simple, TRY IT, it is an art all to itself. For those of you that plan to get into T-shirt painting, it is almost a must, the prettier the lettering the more in demand your work will be. If you want to master the DAGGER stroke PRACTICE script lettering. Find ways to challenge yourself, step out of your comfort zone, try things that you find difficult, as you PRACTICE them they will become better and you will be better for it. I hope some of these ideas help you to develop your skills with an airbrush, I know they have helped me, and I owe a great deal of thanks to all of those who have helped me in my journey, hopefully this will encourage some of you newbies out there just getting started in this wonderful form of art.

Fantastic letter, Glad you have made your second year...Congrats, and keep up the great work...

[Dekieon]

Congratulations. I would be interested to see your very first paint job and your most recent finished paint job side by side to see how far you progressed in these two years.

[cmonty54]

GREAT POST Lorin, WAY TO GO with your anniversary! I have been by your side for a part of your journey and you have grown SOOOOOO MUCH! And really have become quite an artist! CONGRATULATIONS and keep it up.

YES, it would be fun to REALLY HUG all of you.......MY FRIENDS!!!!!! Cindy

[KDSilverBrush]

Congratulations Brush. I wish many more happy abing years to come for ya .

[brushbyair]

Well first I want to thank everyone, but this post is almost a year old now, so now I am closing in on (3) years with the magic stick in my hand. Dekieon, here a some early pics and some of my latest, hopefully it shows how PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE pays off.

[rowie]

3 weeks till your 3rd anni isn't it Lorin?

Where did the time go, it really only seams such a short time since we started this adventure.

[Diaz Dezine]

Originally Posted by rowie

3 weeks till your 3rd anni isn't it Lorin?

Where did the time go, it really only seams such a short time since we started this adventure.

You ain't liein' there Rowie!! Time has flown and I'm still waitin' on that ABT party someday that we all could meet at! Wouldn't that be a HOOT!!lol!
DIAZ

[aixguy]

Congrats Brush!! You have come a long way in a short time!

Speaking of time flowing, wish my paint would flow as easy ..
Do you remember back in first grade.. think, you remeber first grade don't you?

You would think, to yourself or say to your friends.. 12 years to graduate, that is going to take FOREVER!!!!
How come a day in our lives no longer takes as looooong to end as it did back then?????
I swear a day was 49 hours long when I was a kid..

[Dekieon]

Originally Posted by brushbyair

Well first I want to thank everyone, but this post is almost a year old now, so now I am closing in on (3) years with the magic stick in my hand. Dekieon, here a some early pics and some of my latest, hopefully it shows how PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE pays off.

that is some awesome work. I love the one with the deer jumping over the fence.

[Neder/Brit]

Well Brush firstly cograts that you have made it this far. You do some outstanding work and it is always a plesure to see your posts, being a novice myself I look forward to maybe one day reaching the standard of work that you are putting out but I fear it will take some time yet. Even though I do atempt to do some painting projects really I am still only a dots,lines, and dagger man at this moment in time, but luckly time is what I have. I am glad that I found this site/forum and that I do not have to ask to many questions as the most of them are always answerd in one post or another. And as Lee has already said it would be great if we could have a A/B Tech get together but hey Lee I would need at least a years notice so that I could get the cash together

[Diaz Dezine]

Originally Posted by Neder/Brit

.... And as Lee has already said it would be great if we could have a A/B Tech get together but hey Lee I would need at least a years notice so that I could get the cash together

You and me both Neder!! The funds don't always flow readily when needed but with enough notice where there is a will there is away! Someday...
DIAZ