Can an Old dog Learn to Airbrush?

[Shibs]

Hi all, I'm Shibs and I am new to the Forum! I would like to ask a stupid question, Can an old dog learn to do this? And if so... How does one get started? If there is a thread already dedicated to this question... please send me that way!

Thanks

Shibs:D

[shane]

you absolutely can , hell don paints :p any ways just cruse around in here for a bit and look at the sites, then get your self a air brush and start playing a round, when ya run into a wall make a post or stop in the chat room and we will help ya out!:fing02: once you get to the point that you decide o get all serious and stuff this place will take you to the highest points possible and then some, we are a a very diverse crowd! :deal:

[Shibs]

you absolutely can , hell don paints :p any ways just cruse around in here for a bit and look at the sites, then get your self a air brush and start playing a round, when ya run into a wall make a post or stop in the chat room and we will help ya out!:fing02: once you get to the point that you decide o get all serious and stuff this place will take you to the highest points possible and then some, we are a a very diverse crowd! :deal:

Great.... I guess that I should get into some Airbrush equipement! Time to go shopping!

[Jake Kobrin]

Yep, I'm 14 and Don's like 60. Young or old ANYONE can paint. I'd suggest just buying a good airbrush (an iwata or if you have the money a richpen) and paint. Exercises are covered in many books, videos, and on line. You should learn daggers, dots, floodstrokes, and fades.
Jake

[bob mc]

I'm of the opinion that anyone can learn anything they want to.

Airbrushing is no exception. In all cases it takes patience, perseverance, and practice.

Good equipment and paint helps too.

What sort of things are you thinking of airbrushing?

This might have an impact on the equipment you should buy. Tshirt airbrushing is best suited to siphon fed brushes while detailed illustration board artwork airbrushing likes gravity fed. For every example there's an exception too.

There's the cost issue too.

Paints differ too...auto mural paints and tshirt fabric paints are quite different.

For myself, I'm a fan of waterbased E'tac paints...because I work out of my art studio/ woodcarver area at home...so a lack of fumes is an issue. They have a type for mixed fabric and other surfaces, and a type thats erasable for hard surface/ art surfaces...so I'm happy.

Many of the folks here who work on motorcycles, helmets, and autos are fans of SEM urethanes. These can require better ventilation .

Anyway, welcome to the site!

[Shibs]

OK, should I go with a bottle feed or gravity feed. I will probably do guitar bodies for the most part, I refinish guitars, but I only do basic stuff, I would like to get into the airbrushed designs that Mike does.... I have a couple of guitars painted by him! What paints work best as well!

[shane]

its mostly a preference on the paints man, mike uses mostly SEM brand, ( hes helping the manufacture build their line up ,right i might add) as do i and i love them, and then there's the air brush, doing what you are doing you will want a gravity feed (mojo is the best!) but just for starting out bout any will do, kinda depends on how much you want to learn and how fast. :bigok:

[chromewarrior555]

Aloha and welcome to the site. Yea like they said I'm 52, been airbrushing for almost 2 years now. First thing you do is get the right airbrush. Preferably a Mojo. Don't go cheap on your equipment. It's the fastest way to get discouraged. I went through like 4 different airbrushes before I found the Mojo. Now I won't use anything else. Come into chat in the evening we'll answer your questions. Aloha.

[Shibs]

Mojo it is..... I was probably going to go that route anyway, I like to have the nice gear no matter what the hobby is. As far as paints are concerned, I will check SEM out, do buy it online?

Never mind, I just found it! Thanks for everyone's help!

[Annie]

I have a suggestion regarding the airbrush you should buy. The MOJO is the absolute best airbrush for detailing. But as a first airbrush, it might be a bit hard to control. If money isn't a problem, you should get the combo of Richpen MOJO and MOFLO. The MOFLO is a succion feed and it's the best airbrush in my opinion to get started. A lot easier to handle and you will need it with time because you will have a real hard time building backgrounds with the MOJO because it's so precise and have such a narrow spray. I start my designs with the MOFLO and then I come back in with the MOJO to do my details. You can get the MOFLO-MOJO combo pack at a really good price right here at the online store.
This is just a suggestion! Either way, you can't go wrong with the MOJO or the MOFLO. There is always lots of people in the chat room in the evening. Starting around 9 pm eastern time. Hope to see you there if you need some more help! Good luck!

Annie :D
Maximum FX Airbrush Studio
www.myspace.com/maximumfx

[Shibs]

Great Idea.... I'll probably buy both of them, but I am also interested in knowing what is the best air compressor to use! I will be getting all of the gear soon and I guess that I should make a list of the items that I will need in order to begin, I have ordered some of the dvd's. Any suggestions on the rest of the gear that I will need to get started?

[chromewarrior555]

Yea what Annie said. Lol. I got the combo, but didn't want to push to much on you at one time. The Moflo can shoot great detail too. I like it for doing T shirts. It's also good for candys and bases. Aloha.

[Annie]

The compressor you're gonna buy really depends on what you want to airbrush. If you're going sand, paint, prime and clear your guitars, you will need a bigger one if you wanna use spray guns, sanders and all the tools needed to do all of that. If you just want to airbrush and have the parts preped and cleared by someone else, then you need a smaller one. You can by one that is silent, as long as you make sure you have a big enough air reserve. I don't know a whole lot on compressor so someone else can help you with that..
Then you need a good hose. Make sure you have a pressure regulator (that might come with the compressor). I really suggest the quick connects to put on your airbrush and hose. This way, especially if you have 2 airbrushes, you don't have to unscrew and rescrew your hose. Just plug and unplug quickly! I understand you have already the DVD's so that part is covered. If you use solvent based paint, get a good respirator and nitrile gloves. You might want to purchase a couple templates if you're not used to drawing. It will help position eveything in the right place. To mix your paints, I suggest buying little plastic cups at the grocerie store. It's cheap and you throw them away when you're done. With all of that, you're set to start.
I hope this helps!

Annie
Maximum FX Airbrush Studio
www.myspace.com/maximumfx

[Palepainter]

Hey Shibs
Welcome. You are never too old to airbrush young man. :) Glad to hear you own some of the art I did on guitars. Do you haveJacksons or Charvels?
Equipment is a big investment. Consider how much you want to spend, expecially in the compressor dept. Sme times it is best to align yourself with a body shop or painting business that can handle some of the clearing and such. Find a paint supplier that can help you with the product that they sell. I use SEM and Spies Hecker for my colors. I also use the Simtec Polyesters on my guitars.

[Shibs]

I have Charvels and Jacksons. I also have a couple of Charvels on order. I don't know if you have done any of the work yet, but I think that you may be doing them......A Modfied Desolation Alley (Helmets on Rifle Butts) is one of them.

[erock]

i agree, the mojo is awesome for detail work, very very fine detail, however for larger areas you might want to consider another gun. heck i have a few i use-depends on the paint, the flake, the medium. good luck and remember even if you don't think your good, if it wasn't for people who do it anyway, we might not have some of the masters that we have today, they didn't quit and neither should you.

[norgy]

i'll be 57 in a few weeks I hope...and I started when I was 53...but having said that...I dont know If I learnt to airbrush yet...still working on it...
:suspect:

[Jake Kobrin]

Wait... Norgys older than don??? WHAT??? MY whole life will now be different!
Jake