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Automobile And Motorcycle Airbrush Art
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Published: October 4, 2006
The early 1960's to the 1970's were the days of the Hot Rod. This era was the height of the automobile custom paint job and has recently made a huge comeback. The style of airbrush art has changed and the materials have advanced, but the techniques are the same as they were back then.
Today there is a large variety of artists and unique work. It is the way the designs are presented that makes airbrush art on automobiles or motorcycles so exciting.
The goal of this article is to give general information on airbrush art for automobiles and motorcycles that anyone can use and benefit from such as the hobbyist, the professional, to the customer who wants to know what to look for when going to drop some cash on custom airbrush art.
Giving an automobile or motorcycle a custom paint job gives the car or bike personality, style, and makes it one-of-a-kind. Airbrush art on cars or bikes is the most difficult in terms of technical knowledge and technique. If you are just starting out, you must take the time to educate yourself on the use of materials. Not to discourage you, but people who get custom paint jobs tend to treat their automobile or motorcycle like a member of the family. No less than perfect is expected and it must be perfect in every sense of the word from technique, design, content, and creating the desired look. Like anything, practice makes perfect.
The surface of the automobile or motorcycle is made of metal, fiberglass, plastic, or carbon fiber; all of which are smooth and do not absorb paint like paper. The first step to airbrush art is surface preparation. The exterior should be coated with primer using an airbrush that will spray an even finish. Once dry, the primer should be sanded with wet-dry sandpaper to give a porous surface that the base coat can adhere to well. Then a base coat should be applied in the same manner as the primer, smooth and even. The clear coat should be sanded down with wet-dry sandpaper to remove any surface imperfections and give the surface enough grip for the airbrush paint to have maximum adhesion. The color of the base coat all depends on the design and personal preference.
The following ideas are completely subjective. Airbrush art is all about individual style so try out different things and see what happens. The base color should be the background color of your design. For example, a solar system mural should use a dark blue base coat. Airbrush paints work differently than other paints because they can layer over each color easily. White can cover black, yellow can cover purple and so on. The effects of a dark base with light colors over are unique to airbrush art. A dark base makes the design pop.
When the base coat is dry, layer on your design beginning with the lightest color first. For example, flames pouring out from a dark door should begin with white filling all of the area where the flames will be, then yellow, then orange, red, and again white for the finishing accent. Be sure to let each layer of paint dry before the next application.
The final step is another clear coat over the entire design. A clear coat seals in the color, gives shine, and most importantly, protects the airbrush art from scratching or fading in the sun.
Always test out the combination of products first because each brand uses slightly varying ingredients in primers, paints, and clear coats which may react differently with each other. It is a safe bet to use the same brand name of paint products for all three steps. Always use automotive airbrush paint products and this will eliminate any complications or questions. When the paint is applied in layers of thin coats, it gives a smooth effect unique to airbrush art.
Barron's Art Handbooks. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1999.
Fraser, Craig. Craige Fraser's Automotive Cheap Tricks and Specail E/X. Lakewood, NJ: Airbrush Action, Inc., 1999.
Siegel, Peter. The Complete Airbrush Book. 1989.
Shanteau, Pamela. The Ultimate Airbrush Book. New York, NY: Wastson-Guptill Publications, 2002.
Related Articles
The goal of this article is to give general information on airbrush art for automobiles and motorcycles that anyone can use and benefit from such as the hobbyist, the professional, to the customer who wants to know what to look for when going to drop some cash on custom airbrush art.
Giving an automobile or motorcycle a custom paint job gives the car or bike personality, style, and makes it one-of-a-kind. Airbrush art on cars or bikes is the most difficult in terms of technical knowledge and technique. If you are just starting out, you must take the time to educate yourself on the use of materials. Not to discourage you, but people who get custom paint jobs tend to treat their automobile or motorcycle like a member of the family. No less than perfect is expected and it must be perfect in every sense of the word from technique, design, content, and creating the desired look. Like anything, practice makes perfect.
The surface of the automobile or motorcycle is made of metal, fiberglass, plastic, or carbon fiber; all of which are smooth and do not absorb paint like paper. The first step to airbrush art is surface preparation. The exterior should be coated with primer using an airbrush that will spray an even finish. Once dry, the primer should be sanded with wet-dry sandpaper to give a porous surface that the base coat can adhere to well. Then a base coat should be applied in the same manner as the primer, smooth and even. The clear coat should be sanded down with wet-dry sandpaper to remove any surface imperfections and give the surface enough grip for the airbrush paint to have maximum adhesion. The color of the base coat all depends on the design and personal preference.
The following ideas are completely subjective. Airbrush art is all about individual style so try out different things and see what happens. The base color should be the background color of your design. For example, a solar system mural should use a dark blue base coat. Airbrush paints work differently than other paints because they can layer over each color easily. White can cover black, yellow can cover purple and so on. The effects of a dark base with light colors over are unique to airbrush art. A dark base makes the design pop.
When the base coat is dry, layer on your design beginning with the lightest color first. For example, flames pouring out from a dark door should begin with white filling all of the area where the flames will be, then yellow, then orange, red, and again white for the finishing accent. Be sure to let each layer of paint dry before the next application.
The final step is another clear coat over the entire design. A clear coat seals in the color, gives shine, and most importantly, protects the airbrush art from scratching or fading in the sun.
Always test out the combination of products first because each brand uses slightly varying ingredients in primers, paints, and clear coats which may react differently with each other. It is a safe bet to use the same brand name of paint products for all three steps. Always use automotive airbrush paint products and this will eliminate any complications or questions. When the paint is applied in layers of thin coats, it gives a smooth effect unique to airbrush art.
Barron's Art Handbooks. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1999.
Fraser, Craig. Craige Fraser's Automotive Cheap Tricks and Specail E/X. Lakewood, NJ: Airbrush Action, Inc., 1999.
Siegel, Peter. The Complete Airbrush Book. 1989.
Shanteau, Pamela. The Ultimate Airbrush Book. New York, NY: Wastson-Guptill Publications, 2002.
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