Airbrushing clouds

[visualmechanic]

I have only used my Iwata double-action airbrush for small projects and once for painting clouds in my son's room. I used Gouache initially, but finished with watered down acrylics.
I have been asked to paint clouds in the room of my (soon-to-be) 4th nephew or neice. What would be recommended for interior applications and something that could be wiped down, without wiping off the clouds, for future cleaning?
Should I use an enamel paint? I am very comfortable with 1-Shot lettering enamels for pinstriping and lettering. Should I use a can of spray paint (with proper ventilation)?

Thank you in advance.

[Just2Paint]

If you have a spray gun, just use regular latex house paint. you'll have to thin it down with water but if you use a spray gun and a good compressor (50psi and up) it will be ok.

[Absolute Air]

I've always just used Createx because no fumes, e-z cleanup, and just finish with the Createx topcoat. Good Luck, Alan

[celtic.catgirl]

I wouldn't use spray paint you will not get the same variation and control, I'd say follow Absoulte Air's advice and use the Createx and put a good top coat on it...

[punkangel]

as J2P I did my daughters room with house paint emultion white thinned. cheap spray gun, added some of that luminus stuff that stors the light for a while, (forget the name), but it was awsome, I stenciled stars as it is clear on its own, when the lights went out, Proper I tell ya!

[Just2Paint]

Good choice punkangel. House paints are cheaper and they are made for walls, and I'm sure someone has some stored in the basement or in a closet somewhere. Plus you could always mix in any spare colors into it.

[GlenTaylor]

Great discussion, I am interested in this type of work too, so Ill just hang back and learn. Just a question on the colour mixing of the house paints, do you get all the color pigments as I have only seen the darker colour for sale here, the paint shop mix them for you but I have not seen them sell it on it own.

Glen

[Maryl Lehman]

Hi Visualmechanic---Hey, we are from the same town!!! How cool is that?! Wow, small world! Anyway, I painted clouds for some friends of ours, daughter's room, a couple of years ago. They were having an open house for a Christmas tour and the husband had tried to paint clouds on the ceiling with a paint brush but it turned out bad, so in desperation they called me. I went over and "fixed" it for them by using a spray gun---my Devilbiss jam gun, if I remember correctly. They already had the base coat down and I'm not even sure what it was. I used my urethanes and had no problem. I seriously doubt they will get up there and scrub the ceiling any time soon anyway! Here's a pic of it. The colors I used were white, pale yellow, and purplish-gray. They were so much fun to do---no detail in them whatsoever! As you can see, the paper masking is still up around the ceiling and also over the light.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2007/38115-P1010044.JPG

[slaterza]

I have painted many murals in the past and use the house paint just thinned with water or airbrush medium. If you use medium it can change the appearance to more glossy so be careful of that. Also I mix acrylic paints like createx or golden airbrush colors to shade. You can finish off with a protective coat but know that the coat will show in most cases unless the wall is painted with gloss coat. Good luck and post when you have a chance.

[visualmechanic]

Just2Paint, Absolute Air, celtic.catgirl, punkangel, GlenTaylor, Meryl Lehman and slaterza: Thank you tremendously! I didn't expect this much input.

I think that I am going to try this project using interior latex paint. I have a pretty good stock if it and feel comfortable with it's viscosity.

The last choice for me is to decide if I am going to spray it or brush it. Right now, leaning more toward spraying. As I stated ion the intial post, I am not an expert in the airbrush. My formal training is more traditional (pencil, charcoal, brush).

The design is going to be clouds on the walls, leaving the ceiling as is. i will probably take whatever color the lower part of the wall is and use that in my darker shadows on the undersides of the clouds.

Meryl, nice work! What a small world. I will keep my eyes open for any of your work around town. Go Tigers!

[Te_Wheke]

Like most everyone said Latex or airbrush acrylic paint would be the way to go.

I saw that you were thinking of using 1-Shot Enamels. At least when I was using them in the 80's they contained lead, and I would be afraid of little kids trying to lick and chew all the pretty colours. I did a job on a wall in a childs room once with candy canes, assorted lollies and balloons.

The parents found their child licking the walls with gusto. They were horrified and frantically called me after speaking to poison control who advised them to ring me to see exactly what sort of paint it was. They were relieved when I told them that I used simple (Non toxic) household latex paint as a base and airbrush acrylics, instead of the OneShot enamels that everyone suggested.

Also I have been asked to paint furniture for children's rooms like cribs etc, and parents concern about durable paint wanting oil/solvent based. I always use non toxic paint after observing my nieces, nephews and son using the rail on their cribs and other brightly painted furniture as teething rings, I wouldn't suggest using anything else.

I have seen mixed reports of the current 1-Shot formula's lead content. It's probably better to play it safe, as some may have old stocks of it before they stopped putting lead in there. I got this from a sign painter about One Shot,

"Safety:
This product contains lead and is for professional, commercial, and industrial use only. It is not to be used in or around the household. See Warning and Caution statements on label. For health and safety considerations, consult the current "Material Safety Data Sheet" for this product."

Though I saw another site that say's..

"Note — 1-Shot Lettering Enamels no longer contain lead. Some colors do contain toxic pigments. Although they are still not for use by children, the new 1-Shot formulas do not use lead as an opacifier."

In any case I would stick with non toxic just in case. Just a safety fyi

:wave:

[Draggo1969]

I agree with Absolute Air on the createx paint just put a good topcoat and your good to go

[visualmechanic]

Te Wheke: Thanks for the advice on the 1-Shot. I didn't even think about toxicity of the actual paints. I was more concerned with fumes during application.
Draggo1969: Yep...read on to put me in my place.

Now it is time for the 'I told you so' statements.
I tried to thin out latex interior paint, but keep clogging the nozzle (it kept clinging and building up around the needle). I had the consistancy at 'milky' and tried it in varying levels of thick/thinness. I tried a PSI from 35 - 75, hoping that I could find that sweet spot with the paint. Finally I gave up the struggle.
So...I will try and create the clouds with a dry brush. If I don't feel happy with that, I will have to go with Createx and a sealer.

In hind sight, I think that my airbrush model is better for detailed projects, not broader surfaces like painting thicker paint on walls. It is an Iwata HP-SB (older model). I bought it off an already established illustrator in 1996. He had 2 of them (identical) and wanted to get rid of one as he was moving to more digital work.

Please reply with help/instructions on how to become better familiar with the whole process. I have been basically self taught with this. My illustrator professor in college didn't offer much in the way of helping other than using it to put in background colors on illustration projects. Any input is welcome and wanted. I would like to become proficient in it's use and I am too bullheaded (and cheap) to justify enrolling in a local class.

Thanks!

[airhedbrett]

If you will be painting the ceiling please use a filter mask or respirator and wear a hat or put something on your head. The paint will fall in a fine mist. I painted a sky scene on a ceiling with fiberoptic theads coming through it and when the lights are out and the fiberoptics are on it looks COOL! But I was picking blue boogers for days.

[visualmechanic]

If you will be painting the ceiling please use a filter mask or respirator and wear a hat or put something on your head. The paint will fall in a fine mist. I painted a sky scene on a ceiling with fiberoptic theads coming through it and when the lights are out and the fiberoptics are on it looks COOL! But I was picking blue boogers for days.

:lol:
Thanks airhedbrett! That's just what I needed, something to make me smile! Thankfully, I will only be painting the walls. I will remember your little tip when I do anything overhead.
:lol: How many times did it take for you to remember to put on a mask? :lol:

[airhedbrett]

Just the once, after that I err on the side of caution. My wife, who was helping me mix paint and critique so I didn't have to get down off the ladder, looked like a Smurf! She happened to be wearing a blue t-shirt. I wish I got pics of us, it must have been hysterical!

Also, I use a cheap detail sprayer like they sell at Home Depot for around $20-$30. The regular airbrushes are too small for latex, even thinned out. Then after you have it, it will come in handy for all sorts of things around the house, clear coats, crafts, clouds on your neigbors walls after they see the ones in your house, all sorts of things.

[visualmechanic]

Just the once, after that I err on the side of caution. My wife, who was helping me mix paint and critique so I didn't have to get down off the ladder, looked like a Smurf! She happened to be wearing a blue t-shirt. I wish I got pics of us, it must have been hysterical!

Also, I use a cheap detail sprayer like they sell at Home Depot for around $20-$30. The regular airbrushes are too small for latex, even thinned out. Then after you have it, it will come in handy for all sorts of things around the house, clear coats, crafts, clouds on your neigbors walls after they see the ones in your house, all sorts of things.


Thanks for the visual!
I might think about investing in one of those sprayers. Maybe next project.
I'm sure that someone will want me to duplicate my efforts.

[visualmechanic]

Alright everybody. I finally got over to my brothers house and started working again. I decided to do the clouds with a brush. Bottom line, the walls were painted in a flat paint (almost like a primer type consistency). I put so much interior latex on and it just kept getting aborbed and disappearing. Very frustrating for me. Everyone likes them though as they are extremely subtle. I can barely see them and think that they need more 'POP' to them. I will see what they want to do. Will they repaint the walls in a semi-gloss or leave them as is? Stay tuned...