Airbrush Portraits

An airbrush portrait can look as life-like as a photograph. Naturally, there is a great deal of technique and mastery involved in this process, whether one merely wants to re-touch a photograph or create an entire life-like rendering from scratch. However, once skill in this field is obtained, artists may find a lucrative career path in the magazine or design industry.

Most people who employ airbrush portrait techniques use a double, or dual action, airbrush. To master this, the artist must first practice squeezing the trigger gently, so that only air comes out, then easing the trigger back to allow paint into the airstream. This allows for optimal consistency, which is the key to making sure airbrush portraits look truly natural.

An Airbrush Portrait Can Look Perfect
Airbrushing out minor imperfections is a key part of the modeling industry. Nearly all mainstream magazines contain many photos that have been airbrushed to remove minor imperfections, such as moles and scars. The artists who touch up these photos receive relatively high pay for their work, and most reliable airbrush artists find that their services are frequently in demand. For the artists looking to sharpen his or her skills, renowned airbrush artists such as Steve Driscoll often create books or DVDs that give helpful tips for accurately painting difficult objects such as teeth, eyes, or glasses.

Companies such as Fredrix Canvas specialize in assisting the artist devoted to realism. The right tools are always necessary--and often, the accessories needed to airbrush portraits are the most expensive because of the high degree of precision required. This cost is usually offset by the high revenue generated by the host magazines. Often, larger magazines will have their own in-house art departments, complete with a variety of airbrushing tools.