To be successful with your airbrush you need to master three different strokes: the line, dot, and dagger stroke.
These three strokes can be combined to yield any type of art you may desire.
The line is the fundamental starting point for all airbrush artists.
The artist must be able to spray a straight line, without barbells on the ends or spidering.
This takes some practice and control of the trigger.
It is important to start the air first, then pull the trigger back for paint for the length of the line.
To complete the line, push the trigger forward again to stop the paint, but let the air continue to flow for a few seconds in order to blow the remaining paint off the tip of the needle.
This will reduce the chance of spatter on your next stroke.
Lines should be practiced in varying thicknesses and directions.
To achieve very fine lines, the airbrush should be held close to the media, while only pulling the trigger back a minimal amount.
To increase the width of the line, move the airbrush farther away from the media and pull the trigger back farther to increase the paint flow.
After you can achieve good lines successfully, move on to dots.
You should be able to spray a straight line of dots equal in size.
This helps you develop your control of knowing where you are actually spraying.
Practice making dots of various sizes, equal distance apart.
Following dots is the dagger stroke, or sometimes referred to as the rat-tail.
The dagger stroke is the most used stroke in airbrushing, but one of the most difficult to master.
The dagger stroke starts wide, and ends narrow.
This is achieved by pushing the trigger down for air and pulling back about halfway for paint, then move the airbrush in the direction of the dagger while moving closer to the media and pushing the trigger forward to decrease the paint flow until the paint is off.
You should achieve a stroke that is wide at one end and tapers down to a very small point at the other.
Daggers should be practiced in various sizes, lengths, and directions.
The Craig Fraser dagger box is a great drill to practice dagger strokes.
These are the fundamental airbrush strokes that every airbrush artist, whether just starting out or been at it 20 years, practice daily.
Keep practicing and learning something new with your airbrush every day, and soon you will be amazed at the type of work you will be able to do.
These three strokes can be combined to yield any type of art you may desire.
The line is the fundamental starting point for all airbrush artists.
The artist must be able to spray a straight line, without barbells on the ends or spidering.
This takes some practice and control of the trigger.
It is important to start the air first, then pull the trigger back for paint for the length of the line.
To complete the line, push the trigger forward again to stop the paint, but let the air continue to flow for a few seconds in order to blow the remaining paint off the tip of the needle.
This will reduce the chance of spatter on your next stroke.
Lines should be practiced in varying thicknesses and directions.
To achieve very fine lines, the airbrush should be held close to the media, while only pulling the trigger back a minimal amount.
To increase the width of the line, move the airbrush farther away from the media and pull the trigger back farther to increase the paint flow.
After you can achieve good lines successfully, move on to dots.
You should be able to spray a straight line of dots equal in size.
This helps you develop your control of knowing where you are actually spraying.
Practice making dots of various sizes, equal distance apart.
Following dots is the dagger stroke, or sometimes referred to as the rat-tail.
The dagger stroke is the most used stroke in airbrushing, but one of the most difficult to master.
The dagger stroke starts wide, and ends narrow.
This is achieved by pushing the trigger down for air and pulling back about halfway for paint, then move the airbrush in the direction of the dagger while moving closer to the media and pushing the trigger forward to decrease the paint flow until the paint is off.
You should achieve a stroke that is wide at one end and tapers down to a very small point at the other.
Daggers should be practiced in various sizes, lengths, and directions.
The Craig Fraser dagger box is a great drill to practice dagger strokes.
These are the fundamental airbrush strokes that every airbrush artist, whether just starting out or been at it 20 years, practice daily.
Keep practicing and learning something new with your airbrush every day, and soon you will be amazed at the type of work you will be able to do.
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