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How To Airbrush
OPERATING YOUR AIRBRUSH
All models in this range are independent, double-action models. This allows you to control air and colour supplies totally independently, so you can achieve a vast range of different effects and finishes. The double-action refers to the lever – press down for air, pull back for paint. The further the lever is pressed down, the stronger the air force, the further the lever is pulled back, the greater amount of paint. The balancing act of blending the right amount of air and paint comes with experience.
THE START
With double-action airbrushes there is a “golden rule” for operation: “AIR ON FIRST, AIR OFF LAST”.
The key is to start off spraying with air only - the situation you must avoid at all costs is “PAINT ON, AIR OFF” – that is, the lever pulled back but not depressed. In this case, paint accumulates on the needle and sits there waiting for the air to arrive. When it does, the paint simply splatters onto your artwork. Always press the lever down before you pull it back, and when you stop spraying make sure it’s fully forward before you lift your finger off.
Initially, when you start spraying with your airbrush, you should practice freehand spraying. Hold your airbrush, loaded with paint, about 7.5cm from the surface and just spray away – you’ll soon pick up the behavioural patterns of your airbrush. After a while, try varying the spray by moving your airbrush closer to the surface for a finer and stronger line, and further away for a weaker, broader line. The aim is to produce a perfectly flat, seamless layer of paint on the surface, and this is achieved by gently moving the airbrush backwards and forwards gently building up layers of colour. Never attempt to achieve dense colour in one big sustained spray in a small area as the spray will only collect in a thick puddle and run.
A GOOD TIP FOR SPRAYING A CLEAN FINE LINE
Don’t start by pointing the airbrush at the exact spot where you want the line to begin – start earlier, moving smoothly towards the target point with air only. When you’re in line with the point, pull back the lever to release the paint.
Similarly, at the end of the line, switch off the paint but carry on for a second or two with air only.
PAINT PREPARATION
Whatever kind of paint you use, make sure that it has a milky consistency – you may have to mix some paints with water or a solvent to achieve this. It is best to prepare the paint relatively thin and make repeated passes across the artwork to achieve the desired shade.
There are of course many different types of inks/liquid acrylics/water colours available that can be used straight from the bottle, such as Createx and Magic Color.
AIR PRESSURE
Operating pressures vary from 15 to 45psi typically, depending on what textures are required, and factors such as the fluidity of the paint will also have an effect on what is the ideal pressure to use. There are no hard and fast rules, so if you are able to vary the working pressure you use, then the best advice is to experiment.
CLEANING YOUR AIRBRUSH
Keeping your airbrush clean is the single most important aspect of owning an airbrush. The vast majority of airbrush problems are connected to the fact that the airbrush is simply blocked up or seized up due to a lack of regular and thorough cleaning.
Ideally your airbrush needs to be cleaned between every colour change, by flushing through water or a suitable cleaning agent, and paint should never be allowed to stand for any length of time in the colour cup.
PROCEDURES FOR CLEANING:
1. Loosen the needle stop screw and pull the needle back approximately 20mm.
2. Add a few drops of water or a suitable cleaning solution.
3. Place your finger or a piece of cloth around the needle/nozzle cap and blow a little air through to produce back-spray into the paint passage.
4. Clean the colour cup with a cleaning brush and water/cleaning fluid.
5. Flush out the airbrush and any detachable colour feed bottles and their lids with water/cleaning fluid.
CLEANING NEEDLES AND NEEDLE/NOZZLE CAPS
Especially with pigmented colours, paint will build up on the needle and on the inside of the needle/nozzle cap. Both parts therefore must be cleaned frequently:
1. Remove the needle and draw it gently across a piece of soft cloth, paper towel or a sheet of blotting paper away from the tip, rotating the needle as you go.
2. Unscrew the needle/nozzle cap and clean the inside using a cleaning brush and water/cleaning fluid.
3. Check the nozzle from time to time to ensure it is not damaged.
4. Replace the nozzle and needle/nozzle cap.
5. Carefully insert the needle, pushing it with slight pressure against the nozzle with a little rotating movement to ensure a proper seat. Finally, tighten the needle locking nut.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- Why is the paint bubbling inside the colour cup and my airbrush spitting paint?
There are two main reasons for this, and both are related to cleaning: Firstly, it is very likely that after cleaning the airbrush you have not tightened the needle/nozzle cap properly and the airbrush is therefore not air tight, or there is still paint residue inside the nozzle or needle/nozzle cap. Secondly, the rubber seal (or o-ring) on the needle/nozzle cap has degraded or broken, and this usually occurs when the airbrush is left to soak in cleaning fluid too often, or for too long.
- What types of air sources are available?
Three air sources are available – first is the airbrush compressor, second is the propellant can (for limited use), and third is a carbonic gas cylinder (CO² or nitrogen), although the third option is only available from specialist stockists.
- What types of surface can be worked on?
All surfaces can be airbrushed – paper, canvas, metal, wood, glass, plastic…. You name it, you can airbrush onto it. The key is to ensure that the paint/ink you use is compatible with the surface being sprayed.
- What kinds of paint can I use with the airbrush?
All kinds of paint are can be used (acrylics, oils, enamels, watercolours, etc) as long as they are thinned to the correct, milky consistency, thus allowing them to flow freely through the airbrush.