Airbrush Paint

When it comes to airbrush paint there are lots of factors to consider, but there are some simple rules to follow: certain paints are only for certain surfaces, there is no single paint for every type of surface, and just as important is the color.

Paints fall into one of two categories: opaque and transparent.

Opaque paints have more pigment and are thicker than transparent paints. When opaque paint is applied over transparent, it will cover the underlying color. The exception would be certain lighter colors over darker, like yellow over black. Because opaque paints are thick, they are more prone to clog the airbrush. Transparent paints are thinner and easy to use with an airbrush. They blend well with other transparent paints, creating a third color. They allow for many colors to overlap from one to the other very smoothly.

Inks and dyes are a good medium for airbrush painting. They work well because they are the same consistency of water. Inks and dyes are transparent and blend well with other inks or dyes creating wonderful effects.

Water colors can be used for airbrushing. They are also transparent and spray smoothly. These can be bought for airbrushing or be mixed (50 percent paint, 50 percent water).

Acrylic paint is one of the most versatile paints. It can be found with a water base or an oil base, which indicates what the paint is mixed with. Water based acrylic dries much faster than oil and is more appropriate for airbrushing. Oil based acrylic is commonly used for painting directly on canvas and other surfaces. Water acrylic is suitable for all types of paper, including most photo materials, illustration board, and acetate. Acetate is a clear film intended for overlaying and coverings. Some water based acrylics work well on fabric, leather, wood, plastic, and metal as well. There is ready to use water acrylic paints for airbrushing. Regular water acrylic paints can be used but may need to be watered down further. Any paint used for airbrush painting must be very thin. This prevents clogging of the airbrush tip.

Cloth is a popular material to airbrush on, especially clothing. Cotton fabrics, polyester and rayon work best. This is because the weave of the fabric is tight and can absorb the paint well. Others fabrics such as silk and satin have a looser weave. However, experimenting with different fabrics might lead to some interesting textures. When airbrush painting on a T-shirt or other cloth material, make sure it is clean and dry.

Body art, face painting, and temporary tattoo airbrushing requires special paint. Some body art paints are not appropriate for face painting. Be careful and always read the directions on the bottle. What to look for in paint for the skin is that it should be made with quality ingredients and be F.D.A. approved.

For body art there are two types of airbrush paint; water based and alcohol based. Water based is most commonly used and is safe to use on the face. They are cheaper in price, easy to apply, and easy to remove with mild soap and water. The water based airbrush paints do not last more than a day and can smear when touched, from sweat, or water. Body art designs used with alcohol based paints can last three to five days. These paints require extra care when being applied. To remove alcohol based paint use baby oil, aloe, or isopropyl alcohol.

Airbrushed temporary tattoos use the same types of paint as body art. Temporary tattoos usually stay on for up to a week depending on the type of skin a person has. It may only last a day on someone with oily skin while it could last up to ten days on someone with dry skin.

When applying any type of body art or temporary tattoo refrain from applying the paint on body areas that tend to be oilier, such as the neck, and the creases in the elbows and knees. Always clean the area to be painted with rubbing alcohol first, preferably use a lint-free cotton pad which can be found at any beauty and cosmetic store. The area to be painted must be clean and dry. When the design is complete, a setting powder should be used. This should be available where you buy the airbrush paint. This will set the paint, absorb any oils, and help the design last longer. Baby powder without lotions and aloes may be used instead.

Airbrush paints are really based on personal preference. Try a few different kinds of airbrush paint and see what works best for you. Experiment with different paints and colors and see what happens.

 

"Airbrush Colors." Blick Art Materials. 15 Sept. 2006 <www.dickblick.com/categories/airbrushcolors/&g t;.

Barron's Art Handbooks: Airbrush. Barcelona, Spain: Parramon Ediciones, 1999. 22-23.

Shanteau, Pamela. The Ultimate Airbrush Handbook. New York: Watson-Guptill, 2002. 1-93.