Airbrush Paint
Tutorial
An airbrush is an artist's tool, a small sprayer that uses compressed air to dispense a fine mist of color. Many kinds of paints and inks are formulated specifically for airbrush application. But, in fact, any liquid that can be thinned, or "reduced," to the proper consistency can be applied with an airbrush: watercolor, tempera, acrylic and oil paints; inks and dyes; enamels and ceramic glazes.
Types of Paint
Airbrush paints are generally distinguished by their degree of opacity and the medium that carries the pigment.
Watercolors are transparent, and the colors are easily mixed. They're available in tubes or already diluted and ready to use. Tempera is a slightly more opaque water-based paint that uses protein, such as egg, as a binder; gouache is similar, but with white added to make the colors opaque.
Acrylics are water-soluble paints made by suspending pigment in a synthetic polymer. They can be either opaque or transparent. Acrylics are available in a multitude of forms and can be used on virtually any surface, including textiles; it's best to use one that's formulated for airbrush application.
Oil paints consist of pigment suspended in a binder, usually linseed oil. They can be thinned with turpentine or mineral spirits to varying degrees of opacity and are very slow to dry.
Sign paints are opaque enamels that provide excellent coverage on metal, glass, wood and masonite. They are not generally suitable for use on paper or board. They can be thinned with turpentine or a with a reducer made by the paint manufacturer. Some of these paints have toxic pigments, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Getting Started
When you're just starting to learn airbrush technique, choose water-based paints intended specifically for airbrushing. They're ready to use without thinning, and the pigments are more finely ground than for other paints, so they spray more easily. Even after they dry, they're still water soluble, so cleanup is a breeze. Acrylics are no longer water soluble after they dry-and they dry very quickly-so they can clog the airbrush and make learning (and clean-up) a lot harder.
Use black or a very dark color when you practice (and practice) airbrush strokes and effects. It will make it much easier to see your mistakes-and your successes.
Paint Consistency
Whatever paint you choose, it should be reduced to the consistency of milk to perform well with an airbrush. Have plenty of the right solvents available, so you can adjust the consistency if necessary and clean your airbrush as soon as you're done. Watercolors, tempera and gouache can be reduced easily with distilled water. But some paints won't work properly if you thin them too much; proceed with caution, and match the paint with the right type of airbrush. Thick liquids, such as textile paint, need a simple type of airbrush and higher pressure than do thinner colors. Thin liquids perform well with a double-action airbrush or with lower pressure.
The pigments and other suspended solids in some paints and glazes can be very abrasive. Be aware that these paints will cause airbrush parts to wear out. You may want to keep an old tip on hand to use only with such abrasive paints.
Safety
Read labels, so you know what's in your paint. Be aware that many paints contain toxic ingredients: sometimes it's the solvent, sometimes it's the pigment (even water-based colors may contain toxic materials). Any airborne paint mist can be unhealthy for you to inhale, but if you're painting with a toxic material, such as urethane enamel, be sure to use a respirator that's approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
