Learning about airbrush painting techniques is a very educational process.
Airbrush painting is so different from other forms of painting, that it really is a learning experience.
Mistakes in airbrush painting are very unforgiving.
You cannot lay on layers because the thickness gives it a very different quality, and it's a quality you do not want.
Surface Any surface that you intend to airbrush paint needs to be carefully dealt with.
If you should touch the surface with your fingers for any reason, the oils from your fingertips will affect the painting.
The paint is acrylic, which has a water base, and we all know that water and oil do not mix.
Airbrush Control When you paint with an airbrush, technique becomes very important.
Understanding the airbrush itself is crucial.
You need to maintain an even and steady paint flow.
The diameter of the actual 'spray' can be controlled by moving closer or further away from whatever you are painting.
It's best to start off a good distance away and work your way in.
Stopping and starting can cause you problems, so a continuous steady spray is the goal.
When implementing airbrush painting techniques you will need to build your paint density up slowly.
Diluting the paint can help in this area.
It's also good to use an airbrush that has the capability of regulating airflow and color quantity simultaneously and independently.
This is a 'double-action' airbrush.
And your compressor should be strong enough to handle your techniques.
Painting Shadows When you attempt to paint shadows you simply use black paint.
But you start off with a diluted paint so you can get a finer color spread.
In addition, this will make sure that you do not get it too dark too fast.
When you are attempting to paint light edges, reflections, or highlights, you achieve this by putting on less paint, and allowing the white of the paper to shine through.
Using a Mask When you begin to paint an object within a picture - for example, a cube - you make use of some masking film.
You draw the cube lightly with a pencil.
Then you cover the whole painting ground with the masking film.
Now you are ready to cut out your cube for painting.
You should save the film that you take off the cube, so you can recover the cube when you finish the rest of the painting.
Gradual Tones You can create gradual tones by laying down a relatively dark line with a fair amount of paint, staying about 20mm away from the surface, spraying right to left.
As you move down, begin to move the airbrush further away from your surface, which will apply less paint, and overlap it about halfway with your strong first line as you move down.
Apply less and less paint as you move.
This will create a graduating tone from dark to light.