Motorcycles are the most popular vehicle used to showcase airbrushed art. Motorcycle airbrushing is quite a lucrative art form; many artists have created best-selling DVDs to show others how to detail bikes, including the "Vincent Goodeve Complete Video Guide to Motorcycle Murals" Whether as a hobby or a career, motorcycle airbrushing has been in high demand for over four decades.

Almost every biker wants a killer airbrush design on his or her motorcycle tanks. That's why up-and-coming motorcycle airbrush artists should focus on the chopper's tank. Companies such as Sata Spray devote an entire line of products to creating airbrush designs on bike tanks. It's important for artists to test out different brushes to find the ones with which they are the most comfortable, as well as the ones they can use for intricate detailing.

When bikers request motorcycle airbrushing, they usually have a wide variety of designs in mind. Although most of these designs involve fire, there are plenty of disparate elements the fire motif can tie together. This is why aspiring motorcycle airbrush artists must learn a variety of different styles: clowns, skulls, women, etc. Each style possesses its own detailed intricacies, and requires a unique set of airbrushing skills.

Practice makes flawless when it comes to motorcycle airbrushing. Many students of the art obtain old motorcycle tanks from a junkyard, and practice on those. Many describe airbrushing motorcycles as a three-step process: prime, then paint, then lacquer. Extensive damage from rocks and weather must be anticipated. A good motorcycle airbrush artist will always make sure his work is protected with a strong finish. It's all about making a clear, crisp design that holds up on the road at 65 miles per hour.

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One of the most lucrative industries for modern artists is that of automotive airbrushing . Painting killer designs on the sides of decked-out hot rods is not only thrilling, it is also quite profitable for skilled artists . However, this skill is not easily obtained--learning professional automotive airbrush is a talent that takes years to master.

Surprisingly, the hardest part about airbrushing cars isn't the airbrushing--it's the surface preparation. In order for an airbrushed design to truly stand out, it must not be painted on a grainy, uneven, or lackluster surface. This is why entire DVDs have been created to show artists how to properly place their airbrushed art onto a vehicle, in titles such as "Introduction to Automotive Airbrushing ."

Preparing a surface for airbrushing requires a several-step process and an eye for detail. Start by stripping the old paint, then sand the surface smooth. After that, one needs to prime the surface, making sure to fill the low spots. Once that is all finished, the surface is ready for a base coat of paint. Knowing how to properly strip and prime a surface is almost an art form in itself.

There are a number of companies that produce an extensive selection of automotive airbrushes. The Andrew Mack Brush Company advertises that it has been manufacturing brushes for 150 years, and now makes popular models for airbrushing cars. Those who want to airbrush their motorcycles will find that many of the same techniques apply to hogs as they do to hot-rods, with just a few small but important differences in surface materials.

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Every day airbrush artists develop new groundbreaking airbrushing techniques as they refine and experiment with their medium and pass along their knowledge in airbrush classes. Ultimately, even those who have a formal art education need to stay abreast of evolving techniques in the airbrushing field, as experts forge new paths in the photorealism, automotive and clothing realms. While novices can self-teach with instructional airbrush DVDs, videos, or books, nothing quite compares to hands-on training with one of airbrushing's master teachers in airbrush classes.

Because of this, some of the biggest and most established names conduct airbrush classes, seminars, and instructional getaways to pass along the latest techniques in the airbrushing field. Novice airbrush classes run the gamut from introductory classes geared at equipment, maintenance, airbrush media, and preparatory and safety issues. Photorealism airbrush classes tend to focus on elemental and raw material depictions as well as color theory. Niche airbrush classes narrow the spotlight onto the targeted medium itself, such as steel, cotton, or leather.

Airbrush masters such as Deborah Mahan and Dru Blair instruct airbrush classes, translating years of airbrushing experience to students in an accelerated format. By distilling principles of color nuance and fine detail into compact, intensive courses, international airbrushing authorities like Cross-Eyed, Javier Soto, Jonathan Pantaleon and Alan Pastrana offer hands-on experience to artists of all skill levels. Some airbrush classes extend their focus to the business side of airbrushing, covering principles of price points, client consultation, tax deductions, promotions and more.

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Over the past three decades, vehicle safety laws have increased in their strictness (as well as their severity of punishments). As a result, the airbrush helmet industry has seen a considerable boom. After all, imagine the sight of a big, bearded biker driving a fat hog while wearing a bright orange helmet. The need for a customized airbrush helmet is obvious--which is why an entire industry has sprung out of this form of airbrush art.

Whether for their own use or as a commercial enterprise, airbrush helmet artists have a variety of styles from which to choose. Flames are the most popular style, but artists have begun to get more creative. For instance, some airbrush artists will take the opportunity to transform the entire helmet into an enormous skull. It's all the better if that skull has flames leaping out of it, too. Finding a niche is the key to selling custom airbrushed helmets. Authoritative industry resources such as Airbrush Action Magazine can be helpful sources of ideas, product reviews, and airbrush artist conventions that can help developing artists choose and refine their niche.

Naturally, the first step when designing a helmet pattern is to consider the hog. The artist doesn't want to spend hours creating a killer design, only to find out that it completely clashes with a number of popular motorcycle models currently on the road. As a ground rule, most motorcycles are black or passion-colored chrome. Dark colors go best with these designs; however, a talented airbrush artist can make almost any color work.

Generally, the design on a motorcycle helmet should feature symmetry that goes from back-to-front, not side-to-side. Motorcyclists want to imagine themselves flying down the roadway, and back-to-front images convey an impression of speed. Muted tones and colors are also quite popular, as most bikers don't want to attract attention to their helmets; rather, they want the helmet to complement the cycle itself. The artist who airbrushes helmets will need to understand the thrill of the open road and the reasons bikers can't get enough of their custom hogs.

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Like the tattoo artist's wall of art, an artist's airbrush gallery is the most important sales tool he or she has to work with. Learning to generate a wide variety of styles and motifs is one of the qualities that can separate the successful airbrush artist from the hobbyist. Learning technique is the best way to start, but building a repertoire of airbrush designs requires learning individualized skills, one design at a time.

Most seasoned airbrush artists learn each style individually in order to slowly build their galleries. There are instructional books and DVDs that teach the specifics of every popular airbrush style. For instance, Javier Soto has an entire DVD devoted to designing not just clowns, but "Killer Klowns." Naturally, having an airbrush gallery with a variety of ghosts, clowns, skulls, flames, and chrome designs is the best way to catch a potential client's eye.

Flames Are an Essential Part of Any Airbrush Gallery
Unless they are touch-up artists for a popular magazine (a high-profile airbrush career), most commercial airbrush artists need to learn how to design flames. Entire companies build their reputations on how well they reproduce flames; Hot Hues, for example, is a company that specializes in flame-based finishes for custom hogs and whips. Flames are the most popular design for cars, and most other airbrush vehicle art will involve flames in some way. There are as many different ways to draw fire as there are styles of airbrush. From incandescence to flaming skulls, a smart artist will want to learn to draw fire right away.

Most artists put their airbrush galleries online. This is a media-friendly way to increase the number of people who can see an artist's body of work. Increasing one's customer base is largely a matter of showing art to as many people as possible. If the artist has a unique and well-polished style, many potential customers will spot an artist's "can't-miss" design online and decide they just have to have it.

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For those starting their own airbrush workshop , the right equipment is absolutely necessary. For most artists, a double action airbrush is a must. Designed for optimal control, the double action airbrush creates a more even flow of paint than its counterpart, the single action airbrush. Single action airbrushes are adequate for quick and inexpensive spray-paint jobs, but they lack the ability to generate realistic-looking art projects.

The process behind the dual action airbrush is simple. By using the triggers, one can control both the flow of air and the entry of paint into the air stream. Not only does this allow for varying thickness and blend, but it also allows the user to start and end the stroke with a clean stream of air, ensuring that the next stroke will not be marred by paint residue inside the gun.

Airbrushing involves being able to adapt to a wide variety of styles and subjects. Getting photographic-level realism requires a high amount of specialization, and having the right airbrush equipment is always necessary for an optimal look. Details on how to get the most out of airbrushing equipment can be found in instructional materials such as books and DVDs , with titles such as "Advanced Custom Painting Techniques" and "The Big Book of Airbrush: Basic Techniques and Materials."

The best-selling piece of airbrush equipment is, naturally, the reservoir. The average airbrush artist will need reservoirs of different sizes and dimensions. Eventually the paint gets hard to clean out, so having extras is important. For an airbrush to work, the reservoir must be compatible with the body of the airbrush; this is why most artists prefer to purchase equipment made by the same brand. Popular airbrush equipment brands include Spray Gun Solutions and Iwata.

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No other artist's tool has been able to capture the reality of a photograph like the airbrush. It's no wonder that the work of airbrush artists is everywhere, from the freeway to the covers of major mainstream magazines . By using a process called atomization, photo editors can seamlessly blend two contrasting colors. This commercial process is even used on real photographs to heighten the desired artistic effect and make them look superior to the original print.

Since its invention in 1879, the airbrush has seen numerous developments in both design and style. In fact, modern-day spray-paint cans were developed from the original airbrush model. This original model was mass-produced for artists in 1893, and resembled a fountain pen. Today, companies such as Matrix and 3M make a variety of different airbrushes, yet still base nearly all of their designs on the original model of compressed air canisters.

While originally designed for art, the airbrush became useful for a variety of applications over the next century. As such, there are a variety of air brushes, each with its own set of uses. For example, some airbrushes were modified for use on automobiles. Spraying varnish with an airbrush became a popular way to apply an even coat.

No matter what the job, all airbrushes use the process of atomization, by which paint is mixed with fast-moving air. The process spreads the paint out into microscopic particles, hence the term "atomization." The net result is a stroke that blends evenly on the edges, creating a high level of visual distinction. For creating photographic realism, a dual-action trigger airbrush is the preferred tool, as it provides the user with an optimal amount of control. To learn the newest and most popular techniques, airbrushing professionals consult industry-leading magazines as well as informational books and DVDs featuring the know-how of such established artists as Robert Benedict, Javier Soto, and Craig Fraser.

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Before one can begin to experiment with popular motifs, one has to learn basic airbrush techniques. It's important to master the ins-and-outs of blending textures, as well as how to properly operate airbrush equipment. There are a wide variety of instructional DVDs , books , and videocassettes available. Many artists prefer to start with a "basics" DVD. "Pro Airbrush and Paintbrush Techniques " is a best-selling DVD that attempts to cover all the basics of this style of art.

For those trying to master realistic airbrushing, the first technique to learn is trigger control. The objective is to pull the trigger slightly, so that air comes out with no paint. Then, prepare to stroke, and introduce the paint to the airstream at the appropriate time. It's a complex process--many have related it to learning to operate a manual transmission. Once the basics of airbrush equipment have been mastered, the artist can move on to advanced airbrush techniques.

Anyone who wants to expand their airbrush gallery must resolve to learn new airbrush techniques. That's because airbrush designs are so detailed that each new motif requires a host of complicated techniques. Take the skull, for instance; not only must the artist master sharp lines and blended texture, but also human anatomy. All of these elements require learning highly skilled airbrush techniques.

Many airbrush artists choose to subscribe to a magazine to stay abreast of the latest techniques in the airbrushing industry. This can be a great way to keep up on modern trends, and to present the customer with a cutting-edge design that won't be available in every shop. However the process is achieved, constant learning is a cornerstone of most airbrushing careers.

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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.

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.

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In the airbrush industry, following the trends can be a make-or-break issue for most businesses. The demand for different styles changes quickly with pop culture trends, leaving little ramp-up time. The styles that were popular in the ‘70s certainly wouldn't sell to today's bikers and custom detail enthusiasts. Many airbrush magazines realize this, and devote most of their pages to keeping readers abreast of the latest trends in the airbrush industry.

Airbrush magazines have been around for decades. As long as there is an industry for the art of airbrushing, airbrush magazines will find a strong consumer base. Many artists find it easy and enjoyable to pick up new tricks and techniques from a magazine--hands-on training isn't always necessary or available in this industry.

Whether airbrushing the cover of "Cosmo," or detailing the Hells Angels fleet, all airbrush artists strive to keep up with advancements in their field. Quality airbrush magazines will take care to give tips on detailing, touching up photos, and even painting giant murals. Learning to airbrush is a detailed, dynamic science, which is why there is such a clamor for new information.

Even for the amateurs and hobbyists, an airbrush magazine is a great way to stay up-to-date. These magazines' step-by-step projects will please many at-home airbrush artists. For those who have home studios, airbrush magazines frequently devote entire sections to making the leap from a hobby to a career in airbrushing.

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