How to Use an Airbrush: A Beginner’s Tutorial

If you’ve recently purchased an airbrush, you may be excited to get started, but also feel a bit overwhelmed. Airbrushing is a bit more complicated than simply using a paintbrush, and it’s essential to be prepared to avoid disappointment and frustration.

This tutorial will cover everything you need to know to get started with your airbrush. From preparing and adjusting your equipment to diluting paint and spraying it, we’ll walk you through the process step by step. We’ll also address common problems you may encounter and provide practical exercises to help you quickly improve your airbrushing skills. Whether you’re a seasoned artist looking to try out a new medium or a beginner just starting out, this tutorial will give you the knowledge and confidence you need to get the most out of your airbrush.

Airbrush tutorial for beginners

Preparing Your Airbrushing Setup for Success

First and foremost, it is helpful to understand the inner workings of an airbrush. Whether they are gravity feed or siphon feed, most airbrushes nowadays are “dual-action.” What, you may wonder, does this imply? Simply put, dual action airbrushes feature a top trigger that controls two things: the flow of expelled air and the size of the nozzle opening.

By pressing the trigger, more or less compressed air is released, as the pressure within the airbrush body increases. Simultaneously, pulling back the trigger will retract the needle’s tip to a greater or lesser extent, thereby widening the gap between the nozzle and needle in a nuanced manner. Through this delicate dance, mastery over the volume of atomized paint is attained.

Airflow
Airbrush paint release

One final note: depending on the airbrush you have chosen, you may have access to multiple nozzle/needle sizes at your disposal: 0.15mm, 0.20mm, 0.30mm, or 0.50mm. The smaller their diameter, the finer and more precise your spray will be. Generally, fine nozzle/needle sets of 0.15mm and 0.20mm are considered suitable for precision work (with minimal differences between the two sizes), while a 0.30mm set cater for larger-scale endeavors. As for the 0.50mm set, it is typically employed when maximum coverage is required (especially for undercoating), yet it remains relatively scarce and it is never included in standard airbrush kits.

Having delved into the intricacies of an airbrush’s inner mechanics, we can now proceed with the necessary preparations:

Airbrush gunSecurely fasten the various components, hoses, and connections to ensure no air leaks and maintain an airtight seal throughout the airbrush system.
Mini air compressorThe pressure of your airbrush compressor should range between 1.5 and 3 bars; I highly recommend setting it to approximately 2 bars, the ideal compromise. As a reminder, employing a tank compressor is crucial for maintaining consistent and even pressure, without which you risk experiencing significant pressure fluctuation.
Cleaning stationTwo important tools to consider in advance: a sturdy stand to safely rest the airbrush without tipping over the paint cup between work sessions, and a waste container to dispose of excess thinner or paint without creating a mess. While there are airbrush stands with waste containers available for around twenty dollars, a Starbucks cup or the like can do the job just as well at a lower cost.
Color paintTo a lesser extent, if you’re not using “dropper bottle” paints, consider having a few small containers and cups as well as pipettes on hand to prepare your paints and dilutions
Airbrush masksSafety first: whether you’re spraying paint, thinner, water, or any other substance, always wear a filtering mask! Micro-particles are not lung-friendly, so protect them and ensure you work in well-ventilated environments, especially if you’re not alone.

Airbrush Essentials: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

1) Dilution

Effectively using an airbrush primarily involves mastering paint dilution. The goal is simple: achieve the consistency of milk. But getting there is another story! It’s likely the most challenging aspect for beginners, so don’t be discouraged and feel free to experiment! Paint that is too thick will tend to “spit” and clog the airbrush’s spray components, while overly diluted paint may slobber and not cover very well.

To dilute your paint, you’ll need thinner. Since there are different types of airbrush paint (water-based acrylic paint, solvent-based acrylic paint, enamel paint, polyurethane paint), it’s best to use the thinner recommended by your paint manufacturer for optimal results. Generally, a bottle of airbrush thinner can be found for about fifteen dollars in a 200 to 300ml container and can be used for both color dilution and cleaning between different colors.

Depending on the range and color, more or less thinner may be required, as some paints are naturally very fluid while others are much thicker. Once again, aim for a milk-like consistency! In my humble opinion, it’s better to dilute too much (in which case you simply empty the paint cup and start over) than not enough (which may necessitate a thorough cleaning of the airbrush).

One last tip: while some experienced users mix their dilutions directly in the airbrush cup, I recommend diluting your paints in separate pots and transferring them to the cup once the desired dilution is achieved.

Finally, if you prefer to focus on learning how to use the airbrush rather than diluting the paint, you should know that Vallejo offers pre-diluted paint, i.e. ready to use.

2) Spraying

Once the paint is in the cup, the trick is in your ability to manage atomization.. Always start by spraying air by pressing the trigger BEFORE pulling the needle to open the nozzle. This way, you will avoid a sudden and uncontrolled spray of paint.

Also, between two spray sessions, even if they are close together, always remember to spray a quick burst of air over a sheet of paper to remove impurities and dry paint residue that will inevitably form on the tip of the needle.

As a general rule, keep in mind that the outcome of your spray depends on two factors: the distance from the model and the nozzle opening:

  • The nozzle opening will determine the amount of paint sprayed, covering more or less of the surface to be paintedor, alternatively working with transparency.
  • The distance from the targeted surface determines the size and precision of the spray. The farther the airbrush is from the surface, the wider and more diffuse the result. Conversely, the closer the airbrush is to the surface, the sharper and more precise the spray.
How to use an airbrush

Last but not least, keep your hand moving! Making back-and-forth movements will ensure perfect and controlled coverage, and prevent large clumps of paint. Don’t stay still!

3) Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Solutions

The most challenging aspect for beginners is identifying a problem when it arises and knowing how to best resolve it. Basically, there are 4 scenarios:

Airbrush painting tutorials

Scenario 1: The airbrush “spits.”
Most of the time, it is simply due to paint that is too thick: dilute it more! If your dilution is correct, then check that the pressure of your compressor is not too low, and that the needle tip and/or nozzle are not clogged.

Scenario 2: The paint is making “spider legs”.
Your paint is probably too diluted: empty the cup and start again by diluting it less. Keep in mind that you are looking for a milky consistency, not a liquid one. If your dilution is correct, check that the pressure on your compressor is not too high.

Scenario 3: The spray is sharp and precise.
Congratulations, you have succeeded! The pressure is right and your dilution is ideal!

Scenario 4: The paint doesn’t come out at all, or it “bubbles” in the cup or flows back into the airbrush.
This is the most complex scenario as it can have multiple causes. Check that the pressure on the compressor is adequate and that the connections and various parts are tightly fastened. If everything seems fine, thoroughly clean your airbrush, especially the nozzle, which may be clogged. If the problem persists, check if the nozzle is chipped and if the head seals are still airtight.

Practice Makes Better

No mystery here… It’s all about practice and training!
Before embarking on a painting project, the idea is to practice handling your airbrush. To help with this, I suggest some practical exercises using a printable sheet:

Exercice #1: Practice spraying simple lines following the model. These lines should be straight and the stroke sharp. You can also practice drawing straight lines of varying thickness.

How to airbrush

Exercice #2: More challenging, practice following complex trajectories while maintaining a clean spray.

Spray-painting techniques

Exercice #3: Become proficient at adjusting spray thickness seamlessly within a single pass. Draw lines that start thin and end thick. Then reverse the process.

Air-flow controlling

Exercice #4: Work on your precision by placing a dot precisely at the center of each crosshair!

Airbrush painting lessons

Exercice #5: Master the trajectory of the spray. Fill in the shapes while avoiding spillage.

Airbrush artist 101

Keep in mind that practice and training are the keys to improving your technique. Take the time to repeat these exercises for practice, and persevere even if results aren’t immediate. With patience and determination, you’ll see your skill level improve over time.

Once you’ve mastered these exercises, move on to practicing on test surfaces. 🙂 Have fun!

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Vincent