I am not sure exactly when i started airbrushing. I know it was somewhere during the rise of motorcycle building reality shows. I have always had interest in different arts, and this one seemed reasonably simple. To make it even better, there was a local class at the technical college in their adult education offerings.
I signed up, showed up, and being a good student, i practiced !
Of course the instructor was encouraging, and set up projects to empower the student. My assigned creations were a 3d sphere, a 3d pyramid, a brick wall with a window, a flower, and the standard of airbrush, a skull. With the exception of the fantastic sphere i did, the rest were painted at a 3rd grade level, or lower. It didnt matter, because i learned about store bought stencils. The magic tool that allows you to paint with ease, and get OHHHHs and AWWWWs from your parents and wife !
It wasnt long after the initial class that a local paint shop was sponsoring an airbrush clinic with a pro airbrusher by the name of Deborah Mahan. I poured for information about her, and found her specialty was in an area of interest. PIN UPS. She even has a stencil line, DVD, and paint line. I also discovered i had a write up on her in a magazine called Airbrush Action.
This was a "take my money now" moment. I plopped my money down well in advance to attend this limited attendance event. There was even a meet and greet prior, which i attended, got her autograph, and she suggested an internet forum to join called KKL. Kustom Kulture Lounge. It is no longer there thanks to FB, but the full address was www.gotpaint.com
The weather went to crap later that night, but i didnt let it stop me from attending. My sign up fee was on the line, and the awesome potential of making a living off of paint was on the line also !
I had a good seat, but could not specifically see her apply the paint to the metal panel. She would explain what she was going to do, how she was going to do it, what paint she was using (House of Kolor), then turn to the panel. You would hear some air noises, then a reveal of something awesome. I couldnt get enough! Flames, eyes, eyes with flame, she made it look so easy.
The next day i had to use my newly learned skills.
My results were less than impressive. My flames looked like strange octopus arms, my attempt at painting an eye looked like an alien sun, at best. Something was wrong. There would be no people waiting for me to paint their items, i would not rise to fame and fortune this way. I DID have to know WTF was wrong though, so i joined that KKL group.
I found out that it was the brain child of another famous, but unknown to me airbrusher. Craig Fraser. There were also a long list of people on there that are essentially unknown talented people that just do their thing, and were willing to share their knowledge. Since i knew none of these people as "big guns" in the industry, i interacted with them like i would with anyone else. No awe struck, no "i love you so much, will you autograph my moobs" stuff. I was accepted.
I read their responses, i read others questions, the more i learned, the more i understood what i DIDNT know, or didnt even know how to ask the right questions. I also improved.
The above example is of a store bought stencil designed by Deborah. I was back again for fortune and fame ! This was a 100$ stencil after all. Making several thousand off of it shouldnt be an issue, right ? ;)
I continued to learn from the KKL. People posting up their fantastic artwork, artwork that i could not find a stencil for ! There was a lot more to learn.
I became fascinated by the craft. money no longer figured into my desire, the art did, THEY made money off of paint due to their practiced talent and skill. i gave up store bought stencils almost entirely, and right or wrong, i figured learning how to airbrush the female form and face would teach me how to airbrush anything.
I generally do not like to post Work in Progress photos because at times it is hard for people to see the direction. I also understand people may be able to see the direction after a few more arrows point them.
More to come.