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airbrush-R-us

airbrushers.com is gone?

...well it seems my favorite little airbrush spot has finally disappeared. Looks like the lack of interest and maintenance has finally taken its toll. Too bad really, because I made a few new friends and those of that tried to stay involved seemed like such a great bunch!
So what does that leave me...not a lot, I'm sorry to say. If you want to stay away from advertising and greedy self promotion, you will have a hard time finding a community. And then you have to deal with an endless list of preening egos who don't want to help you, they just want to show you their latest work or sell you a DVD.
...wow, look at me! is this my "rant and rave" blog? or....lol
If i find another airbrush community worth joining, I will pass it along here! in the meantime, if I can offer any advice or assistance with your airbrush projects...don't hesitate to drop me a line! E-mail Me!

Airbrush How-Tos...
on websites...
show others how you do things...
show beginners how to get started...
I have always shared tricks and tips. Over a year ago I added a "How-To" section to my website, threw up some beginner projects and basic exercises, even got some friends to offer up a couple of articles.
Now I see a never ending list of airbrush sites adding a How-To section or offering their own editorials and techniques for other airbrushers.
...its about freakin' time!
I remember when there were only 3 airbrushers in North America and they wouldn't tell you a thing! You had no choice but to learn for yourself, making no end of mistakes and wasting a ton of time and money, destroying t-shirts and airbrush needles along the way!
There are still a handful of "I'm too good for you and I'm not revealing my secrets" artists out there, but they are a dying breed. Now, if you want to find out anything about airbrushing, you need only to look for the myriad of blogs, forums and websites devoted to the art of airbrush.
At some times it seems like there is just too much info and everyone is trying to make a buck with the latest instructional DVD or magazine.
But I think healthy competition is a good thing and I wish everyone the most success in whatever you choose to do...just be friendly and helpful about it and remember all those other artists, just like you, just looking for a little help or advice!

airbrushers.com
A small community of airbrushers where any and all are welcome. Need some help or advice with a job? why not drop by and join the fun...always looking for new targets (err sorry...) I mean members!

painting on black...I mentioned in my last post, that I like to paint on black (showcard, bristol board, etc)...if you check out my "How-To" articles, you can follow along with a "painting on black" project.

Check it out here:
"painting on black"

I like to do a lot of paintings and illustrations on black. And as a result, it has become common practice for me to use black papers, showcards and bristol board. (I also find these substrates to be ideal for mail order artwork...in other words, its easy to roll them up into tubes or long boxes, for shipping).
However I am getting a little tired of the "same-old" thing, and I 'm thinking of going back to an earlier practice of painting on gessoed masonite and canvasses. (Did I spell that right?) Canvas is good for being able to roll up the painting and transport it, but its not a smooth surface - and if you want smooth, you have to make your own gessoed surface.
To do this, you need a piece of masonite (or "hardboard", purchased at the local lumber store). I like to buy a 4' x 8' sheet and cut it down to as many pieces as I wanted. Quite often four 2' x 4' sections. Some fine-med wood sandpaper, maybe 240-320 grit? to create a "tooth"on the smooth surface of the masonite...and then start applying layers of gesso. Tubs of gesso ("canvas ground") are available at your local art supply store.
I paint (usually brushed, not rolled) a good heavy coat of gesso on the board, and once it is dry, use an electric orbital or palm sander to smooth the layer. Coarse paper is required at first to cut down the heavy gesso (it sands just like wall plaster), so wear a dust mask. Then I start adding more layers and sanding smooth each layer (reducing the sandpaper grit) until I have applied and sanded enough layers to achieve an almost glass like smooth surface. (The smoother the better!) Sometimes more than ten layers!

Its an absolutely wonderful surface to paint on! The gesso is quite forgiving with its absorbency, and yet the smooth glass-like surface is technically challenging but so accurate, allowing you to produce the crispest of lines and details.

I have been searching for more info on the Infinity...I feel bad that I have bad mouthed the airbrush based on my own ineptitude. I didn't properly check what kind of paints it can handle safely, and I shouldn't blame that on the airbrush. I have some Golden paints in transit, and once they arrive I am going to give the Infinity another shot (if I haven't already damaged it too much! LOL)

I have however come across a more in-depth private review of the airbrush that details the airbrush a little better (and includes a few photos too)...so for anyone looking for some good info about the Infinity 2in1, please take a look at this review:

Infinity review

The Infinity 2in1 airbrush...
well, I give up!
I have tried to spray AutoAir through the Infinity...someone told me it would work unthinned. It not only doesn't work unthinned, it won't worked thinned either!! And yes...I swapped out the tip and needle (running the .4mm). All I got was cough and sputter. Lots of clogging, terrible fine line control and just a very poor experience. And to top it all off, I think the AutoAir reducer has damaged some parts in the airbrush. There is a small o-ring that seals the paint cups to the body, which has swollen and popped out of the airbrush (and will not go back in because its too enlarged now!). I am also afraid that the insert inside the tip (which appears to made of plastic or nylon) may have also been damaged by the reducer. Stoopid me for not really examining this airbrush before using it...I just relied on the comments of others and made assumptions that were apparently wrong.
About 80% through my job, I switched over to my old worn out Eclipse which handled the AutoAir as if it had just come out the box.
Don't get me wrong...the Infinity is a very tight, well made airbrush. I am very impressed with the fit and finish and quality feel of the airbrush. I also think it may be an illustrator's dream machine...handling inks, goauche and other lightweight water based medium with beautiful results. But based on my experience so far, this may not be the airbrush for the AutoAir or enamel user. I also wouldn't recommend using Urethanes or Lacquers in it either.
I definately need to go and look at the tech info for this airbrush before I make anymore comments and find out what this airbrush is designed to handle.
And find out if the reducer has really damaged sensitive plastics within the airbrush. Some airbrushes are just not designed to use with harsher paints and chemicals.

My review of the Infinity airbrush is still pending, but I just had to share my experience.

Someone told me that I could put AutoAir paint through the Infinity without reducing. They didn't suggest that I shouldn't reduce, just that the Infintity works so well, that heavy, unthinned AutoAir will work...

well not for me! I fought and fought to spray AutoAir...I thinned it...I thinned it some more. Oh I got it to spray...but not very well. And eventually I got so frustrated I had to stop and put this stupid airbrush away!

And while I was unpacking my Iwata Eclipse (to finish the painting) I came across the extra tip and needle that comes with the Infinity. You know...the .04 needle and tip (that would handle the AutoAir)

Aaaahhh...I see.....
in the airbrush is still the .015 tip,
the very fine tip,
the tip for inks, gouache and fine watercolour.
NOT THE TIP FOR HEAVY AUTOAIR!!

So, I don't have a review for this airbrush yet but I am impressed that it DID actually spray the AutoAir with the FINE tip in place.

and our lesson today is:
make sure you know what you are working with
(like knowing what tip and needle size you have in your airbrush!)!

I have a real bad attitude about a lot of "art"
but an even bigger attitude about art "lovers" and snobby art people!
But this is not the place to talk about those things...

this is: "Art, I don't get it?!" (my other blog)

Just scored a new Infinity (2in1) airbrush
from my good friend at buyairbrush.com
(if you are looking for quality airbrush equipment and supplies, go there!)

anyway, I need to try this thing out
and once I do, I will post a review.

Time to plan the new website! Thats right..I'm gonna change it again! LOL...seems like I can last about 10, maybe 12 months, until I get sick of my website! This will be the 5th rebuild in about 3 years!
This rebuild may take awhile though, so it won't actually change soon.
I am going to build the new site completely before I put anything up (which is not the way I have done things in the past). And I want to build some new flash, so thats going to add quite a bit of time aswell.
In the meantime, I would appreciate any input on what areas should stay or what elements you like and would like me to keep. Rather than ask what you don't like, since my plan is to build a new site (not just modify this one).

So if you have some time, take a look around the site (there are a lot of areas, so grab a drink and some popcorn!) and drop me a line.

www.outlawzairbrush.com

Grex Airbrushes - the Genesis XG

I was thoroughly impressed with the simplicity yet effectiveness of their website...and so impressed with the look of their product, that I had to contact Grex Airbrushes and tell them so. Next thing I know, Grex has supplied me with a brand new Genesis XG and asked for my feedback and opinion.
Details and specifications on this (and other Grex airbrushes) can be found here: Genesis XG

Unfortunately this airbrush has not worked (for me) as well as I had hoped. I find it comparable to a Paasche VL in many features and yet not as responsive.
I had difficulty spraying fine detail lines unless I used very thin lightweight mediums and then the tip size was too large.
Fit and finish is excellent and trigger control is tight and smooth.
I think it would work well as a fill and background sprayer and might suit as a T-shirt airbrush where finer detail is not necessarily needed.
I am reluctant to suggest it as a beginner learner airbrush because of its inability to handle heavier paints like Createx that well.
I would like more time to experiment with other paints and reducing options before I give a final verdict on this great looking airbrush!

All in all a fair to good value for the price, but there are better choices out there.

Free Airbrush How-To articles
projects and instruction for beginners (and experienced airbrushers)

Descriptive articles with photos created by Dave Winfield (Outlawz Airbrush)
and other respected and experienced artists and painters.

Check 'em out at www.outlawzairbrush.com