The art of airbrushing takes human form with airbrush body painting, which is becoming an increasingly popular choice. From maximizing physical assets to minimizing bodily flaws, airbrush body painting can help accentuate physique while still appearing natural to an audience. Airbrush body painting is also done for decorative purposes, whether to make a glitzy splash on a Las Vegas stage or add flair to a holiday manicure. Whether for performance, enhancement, or just for fun, airbrush body painting has boomed into a lucrative artisanal service, creating the need for professionals to obtain straightforward continuing education in the field.

Of course, for the airbrush body painting professional, staying abreast of design and technical trends can require research and subsequent practice. For this reason, many airbrush body painters seek out instructional materials from experts in the industry. Airbrush body painting DVDs by such masters as Terry Hill and Pat Reynolds demonstrate insider techniques for both face and body airbrush painting. These instructional DVDs cover both the basics of paint choice, customer comfort, and air control as well as special effects such as lace and feather looks.

Another renowned professional in the airbrush body painting arena is Tobi Britton, also with dynamic DVD instructions available for purchase. A Hollywood make-up artist, Britton covers bust enhancement techniques, look transformation and other pro tips while demonstrating on live models. For professionals and hobbyists seeking airbrush instruction for fingernail art, Liz Fojon's DVDs span scores of popular designs in easy-to-follow format.

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In the history of airbrushing, few custom painting airbrush techniques have taken the industry by storm like flames. While many custom painting trends fluctuate over time, flame jobs have remained in the highest demand. For professional airbrush artists, knowing how to paint flames is a necessity--and the more realistic, the better. No matter what an artist's skill level, the need to airbrush real fire is one that will be encountered time and again.

From vehicle designs to helmets (and even to eclectic jobs like computer CPUs), those who airbrush real fire can corner the market, bringing repeat business. Airbrush artists step up to the challenge of flame creation that is both expressive and realistic, and instructional books, DVDs and flame-focused airbrush classes sharpen their skills. Classic instructional books like How to Paint Flames by MotorBooks Workshop take artists through the development process in stages, while recognized experts like the legendary Craig Fraser teach viewers how to airbrush real fire in DVD guides and demonstrations. Certain instructional guides focus on motorcycles, cars, or application on miniature hot rods.

One of the most famous flame artists in all of airbrushing, Vandemon, also has a series of must-have instructional airbrush videos. His ultimate Vandemon Complete Video Guide to Flames video starts with the simple principles of basic fire layout and design, and then guides artists through learning to airbrush real fire through the techniques of pinstriping, masking, and multi-color implementation. For those looking to master the flame trend's hottest and trickiest design, the ghost flame, Vandemon walks artists through the process of pattern transferring, spray-painting techniques, and equipment like reducers and the electro pounce machine for stunning, authentic ways to airbrush real fire.

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Since the 19th century, airbrushing has revolutionized the art world by producing intricate artistic detail through high velocity tools. From industrial spray guns for hot rod art and automotive cosmetic fixes, to dual-action airbrushes for ease in multitasking, the airbrush equipment an artist uses can be as important as the design itself. Many airbrush artists at the top of their field will regularly check out product reviews as new equipment hits the market, to stay abreast of the latest advances in airbrush technology.

For those seeking to master airbrush art techniques, the smallest enhancements require careful precision by freehand manipulation. Additionally, minute variations in distance, angle and air pressure can create a variety of effects. Whether airbrushing art or illustrations, photo-realism, or painting scale models, tattoos or clothing, technique modification can create new popular trends that impact the artist and the public alike. Many airbrush enthusiasts and professionals will regularly attend airbrush classes or seminars to continually add to their repertoire and acquire experience in the latest airbrushing trends.

From airbrush art basics to advanced illustration methods, airbrush enthusiasts and professionals strive to stay ahead of the curve. Airbrushing instructional books cover specific genres, such as automotive airbrush techniques, or detailed guides on painting popular custom pieces, such as flame jobs or Rolling Stones artwork. For those who prefer high-tech how-tos, airbrush instruction DVDs are also available for purchase from some of the best known and highly regarded airbrush art publishers.

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For those who can create realistic airbrush art, there is a lucrative future in a number of industries (especially the automotive industry). However, the wide variety of subjects and styles required for mastery requires a vast amount of knowledge; this is why there is an instructional airbrush DVD for virtually every type of image. For instance, an expert airbrusher might know how to paint a flaming-skulled clown riding a motorcycle, yet need some more practice to accurately render a simple chrome finish. Building one's artistic repertoire is a matter of learning each piece, one by one, after mastering the general techniques of airbrushing.

Naturally, one should learn how to control and use an airbrush before trying to master a particular design. Many airbrushers use instructional DVDs or books to keep their basic skills sharp as well as keep abreast of trends in the industry. DVDs such as the "Introduction to Automotive Airbrushing" are designed to give the viewer step-by-step instruction in this precise form of art.

Interestingly, instructional airbrush videocassettes were never as popular as a modern instructional airbrush DVD. This is because it's difficult to show the intricate detail of an airbrush with a low-resolution medium such as a VCR. However, since DVD players have high-resolution capabilities, showing the finer points of airbrushing is quite a simple matter. In fact, many prefer learning airbrushing via DVD, since the crisp color blends are easy to perceive.

For those who have mastered basic airbrush techniques, building a client base is simply a matter of creating a design base. The most popular motorcycle designs are skulls and flames. For cars, the flame is by far the most popular design, which is why there are so many instructional DVDs based on this design motif. Learning designs becomes quite easy when there are instructional DVDs for virtually every popular design style.

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People who have an airbrush hobby generally fall into three categories. These categories include the photographic artist, the mural designer, and the auto/motorcycle detailer. The airbrush industry has widened its focus to accommodate these modern artistes.

Creating realism worthy of a photograph through airbrushing is a great way to occupy one's time. Those who can turn ordinary portraits into life-like pieces of art always have a unique gift idea available. Learning to perfect this technique takes practice, but the tools are readily available for anyone who is willing to take instruction. A wide variety of DVDs and books are available, such as "Getting Started in Airbrush ", which is a book featuring 22 do-it-yourself projects for the beginning airbrusher.

Artists who have mastered the general skills needed to airbrush often find that there is no limit to the number of projects they can do. Airbrushes are the perfect way to add poignant detail to a large mural. Anyone who has ever seen a nondescript mural occupying an entire city block understands the dire need for airbrushing. Companies such as Aqua Flow design airbrushes for artists who work on metal or plastic--there's not a city surface that can't be airbrushed.

Those who work with custom cars definitely know how popular a good airbrush hobbyist can be. Anyone who took the time to master the basic motifs of airbrush hobbyist and fire will have lots of people asking them to customize their cars, motorcycles, and even helmets. Learning new ways to express oneself through airbrushing can be as simple as reviewing an instructional DVD, and most find that this hobby is extremely fun to practice.

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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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