A while back, I made the difficult decision to take a much needed break from figures. After nearly 30 years on the brushes, I found my standards dropping, and my enthusiasm waning.
Although I still wanted to paint, I felt the need to return to my roots in airbrushing. I actually learned to use an airbrush before I was taught oil painting.
I received a lot of support from members of this forum when I announced my 'calling time' and a good few kept in touch. It is them you have to blame for what comes next.

I have been re-learning the airbrush and, getting to grips with todays range of acrylics, in particular the 'Scale 75' range of colour sets. They have given me the results I was hoping for almost from the start. Very easy to work with, and a great range of sets to choose from.
Recently, they released a new bust, which I reviewed on here. An old client of mine rang me and asked if I would paint it for him. When I explained that I was now using the airbrush as my primary tool, he really liked the idea. So I thought it might serve to showcase what I have been doing and, seemed an ideal choice for an SBS with the airbrush.

Having spent quite a while prepping this piece, and removing the cast rivets, which I then replaced with brass and steel, I then undercoated it in 'Halfords' matt black acrylic primer. This was allowed to dry for 1 hour, then a mist coat of 'Games Workshop' Skull white was applied using the 'zenithal' technique. Because the black is not fully dry, this allows the black to 'bleed' into the white. Doing it this way gives me a similar result to my technique with oils. It outlines the areas of shadow and, enhances the detail and hi-lite areas.
Hopefully, the pictures show what I mean.

Ron



to be continued.........

Hi nap, and thanks for the welcome, it's good to be back enjoying painting and the forum again.

With regard to the Scale 75 paints, I find them superbly easy to work with. So far, I have used their 'Flesh/Black & White and Metal n Alchemy sets. All work equally well through a Badger Renegade Krome AB.
I use Vallejo thinners and Medea (Iwata) AB cleaner. Running pressures are 28-30 psi for general work and 22-24 psi for close up working.
One tip I can give, increase the contrast by 25% to allow for bleed. I use 'Klear' mist coated between each set of layers.

Cheers

Ron

Looking forward to your first airbrush bust. Pepa Salveeda do some outstanding work with it.
So you good do that also.

Marc

Hi Marc, the airbrush is a challenge in the 3D arena. I learnt it doing 2D (flat) pictures. Much has changed since then, especially the paints, so I am enjoying re-learning the techniques.

Regards

Ron

Good to have you back Ron even if your using the Devil's tool
Steve

Hi Steve, thanks mate..........don't worry.......I did ask her first

Hi Ron
Looking forward to seeing this develop looks a wonderful bust to use your spray skills work on
Cheers Chris

Hi Chris, yes I think this one was made with the airbrush in mind, if only because of it's size. Will give it my best shot.

Cheers

Ron

Welcome back, Ron! Thank you for opening this post for sharing your valuable experience and WIP on this bust with us. Looking forward to seeing further progress on this bust from you.

Crikey Ron, that looks really quite impressive, (Bloody ugly), but very impressive... and this is just with priming. This will be a pleasure to follow. nice to see you back on board.


Regards,

Mark

Hi Jason and thanks for the welcome. It's nice to have the old energy back for a full SBS.

Cheers

Ron

Hi Mark, yes he is imposing in the flesh as well. Big!!!......This style of priming is as close as I can get to my oil 'scrub' coat, and serves a similar purpose.

Good to be back.

Thanks

Ron

Hi Ron,
Welcome back mate.

I am looking forward to this being a novice air brusher. Really glad you are back mate you have so much to offer this site, I just think back to your scrub and blending techniques. You will get a lot of questions, so here we go.
When you thin your paints for the air brush, roughly how much paint to thinners????? Do you add anything to the Klear????? or are you using this as an acrylic type gloss varnish????? Sorry, I said I was a novice. Why do you spray this between each coat?????
Now don't forget make it Klear and simple for us chimps.

cheers
Richie

Hello my little chimp mate......here we go again then

First, and this applies to the Scale 75 paints primarily.....average 60/40 (paint to thinners)..
I increase the thinner ratio if I want more transparency....but this increases the risk of 'pooling' when working close in...so I drop the psi to compensate....
As regards the 'Klear'...it prevents the colours bleeding into one another....which is how you blend them by brush....
I still use that property to blend with the AB but, the 'Klear' is used to hold contrast between colour layer/sets, once I have got the level where I want it....
A better example would be...having done deepest and middle shadows..I use the 'Klear' to lock them before applying the first mid tones...
'Klear' is used neat through the AB (nothing else needed) and you can control the level of shine by how many coats you put on.
Another important reason for applying the 'Klear', is to help prevent the paint lifting when you use masking between areas.
Hope that all helps mate, if confused, just ask.

Cheers

Ron

Started to lay in the first set of tones on the head.....using the 'Scale75 Flesh set, I airbrushed a basic mid tone of 'Rainy Grey' over almost all of the head.



Next I use a reasonably heavy layer of 'Pink Flesh across the mid to hi areas.



For the third stage, I selectively spray in some areas of deeper shadows, using'African Shadow'. I am aiming for a 'blotchy' skin effect.



Once dry, I will give it a coat of 'Klear' and let that dry over night, then move on to the next set of shadow and hi-lite tones.

to be continued........

This is simply awesome.

Glad you like it wheels

Cheers

Ron

Hi Carl and thanks mate.

Cheers

Ron