"Mike O'Brien (aka M.O.B.) owns and operates M.O.B. Air Custom Paint and Graphics out of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada and has been airbrushing for the past 15 years. He specializes in custom automotive airbrush work as well as motorcycle art and helmets. To see some examples of his work, visit www.freewebs.com/airbrushmafia or call 403/671-3226.
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Question:
Hey M.O.B.!
I've been wanting to get into airbrushing for years now, but either for a lack of trying or a fear of screwing up, I have not yet done it. Do you have any advice for beginners who have a desire to get into painting and airbrushing? Where did you learn to airbrush? Were you influenced by anyone else in the industry?
Also, what type of airbrushes do you use or recommend for others to use? I have a compressor already, but it is one I use for my shop air tools. Will it work for airbrushing?
I apologize for so many questions, but I have learned the only stupid question is the one not asked! Thanks in advance for any advice and info you can give me.
Rick S.
Denver, Colorado
Answer: Thanks for the great questions Rick!
I think there are lots of people out there just like you with a thirst for airbrush knowledge but not sure where to start.
Thankfully, there are so many instructional DVDs, books, magazines, and classes available that aspiring airbrush artists can now find all the information they can handle to pursue the hobby-or even an automotive airbrushing career!
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It wasn't always like this, though. When I wanted to start airbrushing 17 years ago, airbrush artists were similar to magicians in the sense that no one wanted to reveal their secrets!
I had to scratch and claw for information. But I was lucky enough to come across a truly remarkable resource called Airbrush Action magazine. It has been around for years and employs the industry's top artists to impart knowledge to fellow artists like us through how-to articles and instructional DVDs, which are available on all subjects. Additionally, there is a great selection of vendors where you can purchase everything from airbrushes to the paint to spray through them, and everything in between!
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to learn many tips and tricks from some amazing artists from all around the world.
Craig Fraser, Mike Lavallee, Dennis Mathewson, Ron Gibbs, and Blake McCully, to name a few, have been invaluable to me as an artist with not only their art advice, but also their advice regarding how to organize and operate my own airbrush business.
Online airbrush forums are becoming more and more popular and offer lots of great advice and inspiration for all of us to learn from. I recommend searching online for an airbrush forum you like. Then get involved and start asking questions-you won't be disappointed with the responses you'll get.
Now, as far as which airbrushes to use, the easy answer is: the one that works best for you...(yeah, thanks for that, M.O.B.!) Seriously though, there are many airbrush manufacturers out there that make quality airbrushes that work great for many different applications. In the end, the one for you will be the one that not only fits within your budget but also your style of painting and your physical needs (is it comfortable in your hand, is it too heavy or too light, etc.).
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I have always been partial to the brand Iwata. It has been making top-quality airbrushes and airbrush supplies for years, and its products are used by many of the world's best airbrush artists. I have never been disappointed by its products and use my Iwata airbrushes every day without fail.
Last but not least is the compressor issue. Although I don't recommend the use of your shop compressor for powering your airbrush, it will do the trick if you are without an alternative. If you are using your shop compressor, make sure you are operating at an air pressure of between 25 and 40 psi and have adequate air and oil filters attached, as well as a moisture trap to collect some of the moisture that is generated when running larger compressors-but that could be a whole article in itself!
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If your budget allows, purchase a smaller, quieter compressor that is designed more for running smaller tools, such as the airbrush. There are many compressors available that are designed specifically for the airbrush and are capable of producing sufficient air pressure while keeping the problems that come from using large shop compressors to a bare minimum.
Keep on sprayin'
M.O.B.
