STEP BY STEP | Tradition and Modernity
60 AIRBRUSH STEP BY STEP 03/19 E
33
Color study
Here is the finished color study of my second pain-
ting for this article. While small in stature and not highly de-
tailed with its elements, it still begs the question artistically
of what is necessary and to what degree detail needs to be
rendered to pull off a successful painting. It is along these
lines, professionally, that I estimate a job cost. For “X” Euros,
this image would prove to be successful on any petrol tank,
for “X” amount of more Euros I could realize this image in
even more detail and it would still prove to be successful but
to a higher degree of detail and finish. The beauty of this
additive process is that there are multiple stopping points
along the way where one could consider the art to be fi-
nished and resolved. And that resolution usually has a lot
to do with a customers budget. As with the prior photo, at
times I will put my airbrush next to my image to give a view-
er a size of scale.
32
Social Media
Here is an image that was
snapped for social media, a part of
what seems to have become such a
normal part of the process of making
art. A lot of times I try to display my
airbrush as well as the paint I used in
producing an image, it lends a credi-
bility to the process, answers questions
before they are asked, as well as giving
the manufacturers a nod for quality
products.
30
Finals
At this point in my study, I sa-
fely assume that the majority of the
painting has been done aside from fi-
ne-tuning and finer detail work, as well
as softening some of my edges that
break the plane of my circle. I remove
my FBS “Le bleu” masking tape, care-
ful to pull the tape up and away from
the edge of my paint and not toward
my painting causing a potential risk for
pulling up paint.
31
Workhorses
The majority of both of my
paintings were done with the Iwata
HP-CS, and usually finish off my art-
work with an Iwata micron CM-SB. Be-
cause my approach is that of spraying
at a higher air pressure, I can achieve
very thin and crisp lines out of a work-
horse airbrush. I only use my micron for
the last 5 to 10% of a highly detailed
painting.