STEP BY STEP | Tradition and Modernity
52 AIRBRUSH STEP BY STEP 03/19 E
04
Image transfer
In this step I have backed the
entire print out with the graphite. I
then secured the print-out to my sub-
strate, or working surface, carefully ta-
ping it flat but also giving myself access
so that I can lift the paper and check
that my image is being thoroughly
transferred while doing this step. I al-
ways remember to check that I have
secured the paper back into the exact
location that it was prior to checking so
as to not disturb the registration of the
image.05
Tracing the image
In this step I use a ballpoint
pen, or ink pen and applying medium
pressure, I begin to trace the printed
image thus “transferring” the image to
my substrate.06
Roadmap
In this step you can see the re-
sults of the step prior. It is a fairly de-
tailed representation and “roadmap”
of where to apply the first two passes
of paint. My advice is to transfer what
you would consider to be important
details regarding the overall contrast
and detail of the artwork. I try to block
in a bit more heavily the darker regions
so as to discern them from line detail,
which can become confusing after the
fact and harder to navigate.07
The first pass
Here I begin with Createx 5003
Neutral Grey 3 opaque illustration co-
lor from my “Air Oil and Lead, Grisaille
Grey” box kit. This is my first pass on
top of my Neutral Grey 5 base. I ge-
nerally start with a reduction of about
30% 4011 reducer and spray upwards
of 50 psi+ and try to keep the paint
as opaque as possible. What I am trying
to achieve by keeping my paint thicker
and at a higher pressure is to mimic a
traditional paint brush stroke that may
be applied if one were to be painting
in a more traditional medium like oil
paint. This is where this technique differs from most tech-
niques. The idea is to be an additive paint process, to fine-
tune and make your art marks smaller and more detailed
as the painting progresses. You add your details later ver-sus taking them away with razors or erasers or other sorts
of subtraction techniques in the beginning. It is essentially
a free hand technique start to finish, sometimes implemen-
ting handheld shields.03
Preparing the back-
ground
To begin, I work on a neutral back-
ground, usually (but not always) Crea-
tex 5005 Neutral Grey 5 from my paint
kit. I print out my transfer image size to
the exact size of my painting and “tile”
multiple printouts together to form
a larger image when necessary. I will
transfer my image by backing my print
with graphite. I prefer this method
over all others as I find it is easy to ma-
nipulate and “get rid of” the graphite
marks when necessary.