Metaluna Mutant

[Brent Gair]

OK. This is my first "semi-official" attempt at airbrush art...though I really hate to use the word "art". I still consider this a test piece but I hope it's at least a step up from some of the excercises I've tried on paper.

First: a confession and disclaimer. The central portion of the face (the gills) and the vein details were brush painted so this is a hybrid. As a beginner, and lacking proper frisket material, I was using paper masks and I felt it would be too difficult to line up the gills given my limited skills and the opaque paper. The veins are very fine and beyond my ability to airbrush (this is a small painting...7x9" so many of the veins contain hairline thin detail).

I painted this on a small canvas which was smoothed with a coating of modeling paste and gesso (a technique I read about in this forum).

As stated, I just used paper masks. All paints are Liquitex high viscosity acrylics thinned with water and mixed with Liquitex airbrush medium.

I began this painting with my Badger 155 Anthem and it accounts for most of the work. My newly acquired Iwata HP-B was used for the "crevices" in the brain as well as a little bit of highlight and shadow touch up. I would add that the reproduction here is a bit flat and the real item has more depth with hilight and shadow detail.

Oh, this is a creature from the old Universal movie THIS ISLAND EARTH.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Dec-2003/29403-mutant1.jpg

[Penny220]

This is pretty good. Definitely something to be proud of. Be sure to display it prominently in your house during the holidays.

You will be a whole lot happier when you switch to AB paints. As far as masking with paper or anything else goes use registration marks so you always line them up where you want them. Sam has an example showing this but I don't think he mentions doing this so maybe he will post the pics and how it's done for you.

As far as this being a "hybrid" I think I'm as close to an airbrush purist as there is here and I still use what ever it takes to get the job done. If it's colored pencils, paint brush, I really don't care, the end result is all that counts. Airbrush is a tool, it's my favorite and most frequently used tool but it's still just one of many tools. The only true airbrush purist I know has gone into retirement and hung up his brush. It's good to learn how to do everything with the airbrush but once you can doesn't mean you always will.

Keep sprayin'

Penny

[Alan Cross]

Good job and I agree with Penny use whatever is at hand to get the job done....
Alan :)

[kahlua]

Brent - this is a great piece! It's very common to use other media in your AB work, so don't worry about it. You can use clear contact paper for a mask. I bought some when I was first learning. It works good and is cheap, not to mention easy to find.

[Caterwallin']

Brent, this is a great first attempt not to mention a hard subject! Opaque masks are very limiting. I don't have any suggestions as to how to make working with them easier. Like Penny says, I will create reference marks on a mask that relates to a point on the painting. I prefer the transparent masking material. I will confess that I almost never manage to get a mask in perfect position. I have stopped trying! LOL! Especially with the Frisk style masks! Kahlua's idea of the contact paper is outstanding! Are you having trouble getting fine lines with your HP-B? I love the gradated tones of the background!
Great Job! I can't wait to see more!

[Penny220]

contact paper is both good and bad. I do have some and use it sometimes. make sure you buy the re-positionable, low tack. do not leave masking on for any time. do not use with harsh paints aka modeling or automotive as they can not handle chemicals.

[Brent Gair]

Oh...no trouble at all with fine lines using the HP-B. It's working 100%. But this is a very smal picture. Like I mentioned, the canvas is 7"x9"...so the FULL size of the image you see is approximately the size of my hand! In fact, if you are seeing this picture on a monitor bigger than 12" then the image you see is actually BIGGER than the real painting. The vein detail that I brush painted is that hard-edged, red vein detail that is often less than .5mm wide. And since I'm using the high viscisoty acrylics, I have to REALLY thin them and make multiple passes for opaque coverage.

That's just beyond my ability to airbrush and I was in no mood to try and cut masks for the job.

I'm using the paper mask just because this "art stuff" :) is very new to me and I'm not going to invest in some real supplies until I see if I have any ability or interest. if I get moer serious, I'll invest in more serious supplies.

[Caterwallin']

Ok, Brent! I thought you might be having trouble with the HP-B.
I think you have the talent and ability, it's the interest I'm worried about! LOL!

Sam