How To Use an Airbrush

Erase any extra lines and go over the ones you need to reduce them as much as possible.

Mix some paint with water in the airbrush bowl or jar.

Try out your airbrush for a while on scrap paper to get used to the lever and button.

Practice washing out the airbrush by immersing it into the bucket far enough for the brush to cycle water through the paint bowl.

Then practice blowing the water out of the airbrush against your scrap paper or the rag until the airbrush is clean and dry.

Once you’re done practicing, it’s time to mix the first color you’ll use on your painting.

Start painting general areas.

Use the craft knife to shape the frisket or copy paper and mask off areas from the airbrush.

When you’re done with an area, move to the next.

When you’re done with the actual painting, use a fixative to seal the painting in place.

Thoroughly wash out the airbrush when you’re finished, particularly if you’re using a paint that dries hard like some acrylics or enamel paints.

Disassemble the airbrush to make sure you’ve fully cleaned it. Be very careful with the airbrush needle, which is very delicate and easily breakable.

Admire your creation. Like Marcel Duchamp wrote, “Can one make works which are not of art?”