Here's to making airbrushing look amazing....crap, you already did

[Jonathon]

I originally became interested in airbrushing as a way to make finer details easier with my spray paint art. My wife bought me some gear for my birthday and I'm looking to use it now as more my go to application method. Seems so much more versatile and I'm excited to see where it all leads. Oh yeah, I'm using an Iwata Eclipse Hp-c with the Iwata Silver Jet compressor. No specific paint preference yet as I haven't messed with it more than the once since getting it. Making an art den in my basement so I have somewhere to keep it all setup. Had reduced some black applebarrel acrylic and sprayed some scrap foamboard. Had alot of issues which led to hours of thread reading on this lovely forum. Prolly gonna be here alot...but hey, I learned how to tattoo (clean and safely I might add), make art with rattle cans and even a little photo realism by using the Internet, why not this

 

[LovesArt]

Why not indeed! Wishing you the best from Ohio

 

[Squishy]

Welcome from the UK, and welcome to your new obsession .

The eclipse is a great brush, and as far as paint goes, we all have our faves for various reasons, some get along better with some rather than others, some because its available locally. (Where in the world is local to you?) But the type of painting you want to do, I.e fine art, auto etc, will help narrow it down too. Are you thinking water based or Uro?

As I'm a cheapskate, I asked companies for samples, so I could do a trial run, before settling on one brand.

If you've looked around you'll know there's a great big bunch of good eggs here, happy to help. So shout out any questions, and don't be shy about posting your efforts.

 

[markjthomson]

Welcome from new Zealand

 

[basepaint]

Glad to see new people join the forum as it's a great place to learn and make a few friends in the process,any questions just post them up and someone will answer them

 

[JackEb]

Welcome from Australia Jonathon.

"Why not" is a great life motto. more people should say it instead of just 'why?'

Lots of help around here if you need it, all you have to do is whistle

 

[Jonathon]

Local for me is Jasper, Indiana USA

Paint wise, I'll be using both waterbased and oil/enamels. Whenever it's in conjunction with my spray paint it'll be more enamel based/urethane type paints. But I'd like to do more waterbased since it's safer to breathe and less likely to blow up while using it in the basement .

What I'm painting will vary as well. I already have a company that wants a mural on their business wall done when I feel up to it. Two motorcycle helmets. A face hugger figurine (it's vinyl). Not to mention I've got two indoor tree murals lined up but will Def be doing those with house paint and brushes as they will need to be done really soon.

I know I don't know what I'm doing just yet, so why put myself out there for paid work? I will, that why. I can't stop thinking about painting. I've never been good at it before, but now it consumes me. I'm already doing paid work (my profile pic is an 18 by 24 canvas I did with spray paint and sea sponges) I just want some next level, raw talent, detail focused, insanity infused ability to get my physical art to match where my mind is...so, sufficed to say, have you seen my mind anywhere, because that would probably help alot.

Thx for the welcome too by the way

 

[Ricky Spanish]

Hello and welcome from Canada

 

[JackEb]

I think your mind is in the same place as a lot of ours, what we have in mind isn't always translated into the real world.
as for putting yourself out there and getting paid for it..... go for it. your profile pic is certainly nothing to be ashamed of and if you've been doing other forms of paintings then the airbrush will just add another tool to you tool box.

 

[MeeshellMP]

Welcome aboard! Wicked paints are great universal water based paints

 

[Squishy]

Yup Meesh beat me to it. Wicked is my paint of choice because it is so versatile. Haven't met a surface it didn't like from fabric to auto and everything in between. It isn't specialised for any specific surface, so if someone was going to only do fine art then another more specific paint might be better - though Wicked can do that too.

Its great colour and versitility make it pretty pigment heavy, so has a learning curve, just need to reduce a lot more than you might think. And you must use the proper reducer, though waterbased, it doesn't like water as it has a mild solvent, plus the reducer has other uses such as minimal tip dry, faster and harder curing, less surface tension to help eliminate fisheye, better flow etc. Home brew reducers wont get the best out of the paint.

Just my opinion, based on my experience. I'm sure other peeps will chip in with info on their faves.

 

[musicmacd]

Welcome from Queensland

 

[WhiteKnight]

Welcome to the forum

 

[LovesArt]

You go Jonathon! May it all come out as you visualize.

 

[Jonathon]

Just ordered some wicked paints, reducer and trans base...here soon see how well they (or how I ) can do

 

[CALz AyrWKz]

Hi Jonathon, welcome to the forum. I use the Wicked too. Its my go to paint for everything. I've tried others but I keep going back to it. Once you get the reduction and psi down, there's nothing you can't paint with it.

 

[Jonathon]

Hi Jonathon, welcome to the forum. I use the Wicked too. Its my go to paint for everything. I've tried others but I keep going back to it. Once you get the reduction and psi down, there's nothing you can't paint with it.

What reduction do you use and psi? I have a little iwata silver jet pro pump (oiless and tankless)

 

[Maple Art]

Welcome Jonathon!

 

[CALz AyrWKz]

What reduction do you use and psi? I have a little iwata silver jet pro pump (oiless and tankless)

I recommend you reduce reduce reduce and only use the reducer createx suggests. I use the 4012 for the most part. I will paint at 20, 10 and sometimes 5 psi for my small work. Don't be afraid to reduce the paint.

 

[Squishy]

So many variables regarding paint/reduction/air, that rarely will two people have it exactly the same, even weather plays a part. Add to that the size and coverage you want to paint, the level of detail, and opacity or transparency you want in your paint, the brush, nozzle size, etc etc.... and it becomes a very individual thing.

I also love Wicked, never met a surface it didn't like. But the heavy pigment that makes it so versatile, and makes colour pop, means it needs lots of reduction.

Totally agree with Cheryl, reduce, then reduce some more, and yes, the high performance reducer (W500/4012) is a must. Experiment and find what works for you, but you want at least 3:1 as a starting point to work from, if not more.