IN THIS ISSUE:

Why Teach Airbrushing?

What an Airbrush Can Do Winter 2013 | Issue No. 1 | www.AIRBRUSHtalk.com
Simple Steps to Get Started Airbrushing
Basic Handling and Care of the Airbrush
Lesson Plan One - Freehand Shapes
Workshop Program for Schools

The Iwata Eclipse CS Gravity-Feed Airbrush

Besides all that, Students will see progress in their abilities

in just a single session and this builds their
the airbrush is confidence and increases their desire to try
really fun to use! new techniques and learn different airbrush
And when a tool is fun & exciting, strokes. Kids are amazed at what they can

Why Teach
in addition to taking some concentration create and it shows up in their enthusiasm
to operate, you get a very engaged student. for learning to airbrush!

Airbrushing?
Never has an artistic tool so captivated a
student audience frankly any audience for
that matter. What an airbrush can do is eye
opening! Seeing this pen-like instrument in
action atomizing paint with a very soft spray
really can capture the imagination. The
airbrush can inspire your students and open
them up to many creative options that they
never would have thought possible before
seeing how an airbrush works.

Kite Flying by Robert Paschal

40"x50" Acrylic On Canvas

Robert Paschal holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in painting and has taught
airbrush technique, acrylic painting techniques, watercolor and pastel workshops
throughout the U.S. He has taught thousands of people the fundamentals of
airbrush technique in his classes that are geared to artists at all levels.
 What an
Almost everyone knows the term airbrush as its
been used in the vernacular for covering up mistakes

Airbrush
and smoothing things out. But for artists, its a means
to getting results that you just cannot achieve with a
paintbrush. An airbrush, with its soft spray, can deepen

Can Do
shadows, diffuse lines, blend colors, create depth in a
subtle way, add texture & highlights and even create Pick Up Sharper Details
hard edges with a handheld mask or stencil.

Fine Art Illustration Automotive Graphics

Enhance & Deepen Existing Washes Featuring Kirk Lybecker Featuring Michael Cacy Featuring Ryan "Ryno" Templeton

Build Reflective & Transparent Surfaces

Using an airbrush in a watercolor painting The Iwata Custom Micron

is a natural marriage. Watercolors are thin CM-C Plus gravity-feed
and flow easily even through the finest of airbrush with MAC
airbrushes. If you are tired of drab washes, Valve is the choice of
enhance your washes with the use of professional airbrushers.
an airbrush to fortify the color, such as
getting deeper blues in the sky. You can
also accentuate details like picking out Once a student gets the hang of the
smaller shadows. And, most importantly, mechanics of airbrushing (push down
you can build layered colors so that you the trigger for air and pull back for paint),
can get the depth and intensity of an oil
painting with watercolors." the creative options of using an airbrush
Kirk Lybecker, www.lybeckerstudios.com are endless! There are so many opportunities
that open up to someone with a foundation
of airbrushing skills...
Nancy J by Kirk Lybecker
25" x 40" Original Watercolor Painting on Arches 140CP so many interesting ways
Special FX Make-Up to make a living and Static Scale Models & Hobbies
Featuring Glenn Hetrick a life with airbrushing! Featuring Steve Riojas

Freehand Designs
Cut in Exacting Hard Edged Lines & Render Shadows

The airbrush has been an essential tool

in the development of the abstract
illusionistic effect in my work for over
25 years. In my paintings, the airbrush
is used to develop the illusion of three-
dimensional levitating geometric planes.
The softer the spray, the better the illusion.
The airbrush is also ideally suited for
the development of a hard edge when
Stenciling Techniques
painting with acrylics simply airbrush
along a masked area to capture the
spray. The tighter the mask is attached
to the work surface, the harder the Still Life With Radio by Robert Paschal
edge will be. 18" x 24" Acrylic On Canvas
Robert Paschal, www.arttalk.com Caricatures T-Shirts Cake Decorating Trains, Planes & RC Cars
Featuring Peter Grondahl Featuring Armando Serrano Featuring Karen Portaleo Featuring Alan Houtz
Simple Steps to
Get Started Airbrushing
Basic Handling and Care
It doesn't take much to get started airbrushing. Whether you're setting up a classroom*
or just want an airbrush for yourself, getting started has never been easier! Iwata Eclipse CS
Gravity-Feed Airbrush
1. Choose an Airbrush
There are 2 main feed styles of airbrush: gravity-feed and bottom-feed (or siphon-feed). The
gravity-feed models have their paint receptacles on top of the airbrush while the bottom-feed
models have a bottle attached to the underside of the airbrush. The gravity-feed model is great
of the Airbrush
To most artists, airbrush maintenance basically means keeping the airbrush clean
for details and the bottom-feed model is great for larger areas and thicker paints. Both of the Iwata Revolution BCR
models shown are "dual-action" (pressing down on the trigger delivers air and drawing the Bottom-Feed Airbrush so that paint flow is uninterrupted. But another aspect of maintaining the airbrush
trigger back releases paint). A dual-action airbrush is best for achieving the greatest control. deals with proper handling and care to prevent damaging the components of this
A great choice for beginners is a gravity feed, dual-action airbrush. Iwata offers several models highly sensitive tool. This can occur when the airbrush is dropped, mishandled,
that are great for getting started: the NEO CN, Eclipse CS and Revolution CR.
Hold the airbrush like a pen and with your pointer finger or sometimes lent to a friend. Let's look at the parts of the airbrush and how they
For teaching airbrush technique, it is highly recommended that you work with a gravity-feed push the trigger down for air and back for paint. apply to its proper performance.
airbrush. Why? There are fewer parts to lose or misplace; it is easy to clean; its very durable;
and because it is gravity fed, it can be used left- or right-handed.

2. Choose an Air Source

Iwata offers compact, quiet and reliable compressors for every airbrushing need. The Iwata Studio
Series are great because they are oil-less and piston driven, so there is no pulsation to affect your
spray pattern. The models below work for general use with both gravity- and bottom-feed models.
Iwata Studio Series Ninja Jet
OR GET STARTED WITH A BEGINNER AIRBRUSH SET
Iwata makes it easy to start airbrushing with sets that include everything you need to start airbrushing now!
Iwata Beginner Airbrush Set with NEO for Iwata with
Gravity-Feed CN Airbrush or Bottom-Feed BCN Airbrush
Iwata Studio Series Smart Jet
Iwata Deluxe Airbrush Set with Gravity-Feed
Eclipse CS Airbrush and Smart Jet Compressor
Iwata Studio Series Power Jet Pro
Iwata Watercolor Airbrush Set with Gravity-Feed
HP-C Plus Airbrush and Smart Jet Compressor
Airbrush Needle
All internal mix airbrushes have needles that
Threads/Cross-Threads
Anywhere that objects are threaded together
run through the body to control the flow on the airbrush you must be cautious of
of paint. These are honed to an extremely cross threading, e.g., where the air hose
sharp elongated tip that, if bent, will result attaches to the airbrush and where the head
in an undesirable spray pattern. The harder assembly screws into the body of the
the material of which the needle is made, airbrush. Otherwise, an air leak may occur.
the harder it is to bend the tip. (The most
durable needles are made of stainless steel.)
Nozzle/Head Assembly
Damage can occur to the needle during the
If this part, which controls the atomization
cleaning process when it is removed from
of the spray, becomes dented the performance
the airbrush. Upon replacement, it can
of the airbrush will be compromised. This
accidentally press against metal parts,
can occur if dropped onto a hard surface
thereby "hooking" the very fine tip. This may
(and this will bend the needle, too). If
be remedied by rolling it between two flat
dented, it must be replaced, and the parts
metal objects, gently twisting the needle to
are readily available at art supply stores.
straighten it. Be aware that if straightened too
When the nozzle is replaced, it must be seated Cleaning
many times, the result will be tip breakage
properly and tightly. Years ago airbrush For optimum performance, an airbrush
and replacement will be necessary.
nozzles were sealed with beeswax, and then must be kept clean; and there are two times
they were sealed with metal "O" rings and when cleaning is required: (1) between color
after that with PTFE "O" rings. Today there changes and (2) at the end of a work period.
are self-seating nozzles and head assemblies. The airbrush requires cleaning only in those
No matter which type is being replaced, it areas that come in contact with paint: the
must be seated tightly so there is no air leak, paint reservoir or color cup or jar, the tip of
otherwise the airbrush will have a pulsating the airbrush and the needle. To clean your
spray. Be careful not to over-tighten a nozzle airbrush, flush it out with the appropriate

3. Learn the Basic Airbrush Techniques and Paint Like a Pro

Iwata-Medea can supply you with instructional videos and books along with any airbrush accessory you may want. Visit them at
or the threads might break off inside the
body of the airbrush. If this happens, you
cleaner for your medium (such as airbrush
cleaner) or use water (good for water-based
can call our repair department for guidance: mediums) and spray airbrush until it
www.iwata-medea.com for information or turn the page and get started with the airbrush freehand exercise.
503-253-7308 (PST). sprays clear.
* See back cover to learn more about FREE airbrush equipment for your classroom with Iwata's Workshop Equipment Program for Schools
From the book, Basic Airbrush Techniques: A Complete Course by Robert Paschal
L E S S O N P L A N O N E 3
EXERCISE THREE

Freehand Exercise G R A DAT I O N

Now that you are comfortable spraying dots and lines, lets move on to a soft
gradation. This soft spray is used to give airbrush work a three-dimensional
S p ray i n g P a i n t w i t h t h e A i r b r u s h effect. Its achieved by spraying back and forth across the page in overlapping
passes, holding the airbrush about 6 from the surface, so the spray mists onto
Using a blank sheet, we will learn how to use the airbrush through some simple freehand exercises. Pour some paint into the color cup of the surface. This mist of spray, when done properly, has no dots or lines in it and
the airbrush but never more than 1/4 full. You can always add more paint, but too much will tend to splash or spill. We will assume that you can be described as resembling fog.
are working with a dual action, internal mix, gravity-feed airbrush like the Iwata Revolution CR or Eclipse CS. Once you have learned with
a dual-action airbrush, you can use any type of airbrush. When you press straight down on the trigger, only air should come out. After you
have the trigger pressed down, pull back on the trigger and paint is sprayed. The further back you pull, the more paint comes out. It is always
down for air; and then, while holding the trigger down, pull back for paint. TRIGGERING IS ALWAYS DOWN AND THEN BACK, not back and
then down.
image A
The control of airbrush spray is based on how much paint is coming from the airbrush and how close you are to the work
surface. If you are very close to the surface and have a small amount of paint coming from a moving airbrush it will result
in a really fine line. Conversely, if you are close to the work surface and have a lot of paint being sprayed, the result will
be a mistake (image A too much paint, too close to the work).
image 1 4
EXERCISE FOUR
H A R D E D G E L I N E S
The dot, line and gradation are three basic types of spray that can be achieved
1 with an airbrush. You will notice that in each instance the appearance is soft and
EXERCISE ONE somewhat out of focus. To achieve a hard edge when developing a shape, you
S M A L L D OT S image 2 must spray through a template, stencil, mask or frisket (image 1). By spraying
We will now begin to spray small dots. Hold the airbrush very close to the work mist through a template, you can develop an instant three-dimensional shape.
surface and while keeping the trigger depressed, pull the trigger back ever so When spraying through the circular opening, the template captures the over-
slightly and make a dot with a quick blast of paint, turning the airbrush quickly spray (the spray that drifts away from the area that you are painting). When you
on and off. Keep doing this by keeping your air on. Practice making small, remove the template, you see a hard edge (image 2). It is this mist of spray that
consistent dots. gives you the three-dimensional look, but you must always use caution: Make
If you see little spiders appearing in the dots as in image A, you are spraying too image 3 sure that surrounding areas are covered so that overspray does not appear where
much paint and are dispersing the wet paint from the center of the dot with air. you dont want it (image 4).
As you can see in image 3, airbrush paint is being sprayed along the edge of a
template that has other openings. In image 4, when the template is removed
there is a ghost image of other shapes because paint drifted and the shapes not
2 being used were not covered.
EXERCISE TWO image 4
L I N E S
Next, lets practice spraying a line. This is done by starting the same as the dot,
then continuing to move your hand across the page while the trigger is depressed
and pulled back. One of the problems that can happen here is the barbell effect.
The barbell, referring to more paint at both the beginning and end of the line, is
Learn more fundamentals of airbrushing from Robert Paschal in a foolproof, easy and straightforward method. The Basic Airbrush Techniques Exercise Kit has the necessary materials
caused by hesitation with your hand while spraying. needed to complete the exercises in Robert Paschals book, Basic Airbrush Techniques (book sold separately).
To spray a line without a barbell, begin to move your hand before you start
spraying and continue to move it when you are done. This will eliminate the
buildup of paint at the beginning and end of a pass.
Practice spraying thin lines. Anyone can spray a wide line! Remember, the closer
you are to the surface of the work in conjunction with a small amount of paint
being sprayed, the finer the line.
Iwata-Medea Wants to Give Students a Chance to Airbrush
by Choosing Classrooms to be Outfitted with Iwata!
Iwata's Workshop Equipment Program for Schools
Iwata-Medea, Inc. is committed to extending the opportunity for students to learn about an amazingly creative tool not normally
available to them in school art programs: the airbrush. This is our way of helping enhance the skill set of students, getting them
engaged and creating the awareness of airbrushing. Iwata is the premier brand widely known for quality, performance and
durability, which makes it the best choice for student use.

Do you have the classroom space for airbrushing? It only takes a desk or a corner.
Do you have the time to feature airbrushing in your curriculum or allow students to incorporate it into their projects?

If so, then ask for an information packet with details and application for the 2013-2014 school year.

We want to outfit your classroom with Iwata!

Call or email for details and an application.
joannam@iwata-medea.com 503-253-7308

In the next issue of Airbrushtalk for Art Educators:

The History of the Airbrush
More Student Exercises for Gaining Airbrush Control This publication is made possible by:

Working Artist Interviews

ANEST Iwata-Medea, Inc.
And Much More! 1336 N. Mason St., Portland, OR 97217
tel 503-253-7308 fax 503-253-0721
info@iwata-medea.com iwata-medea.com