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[airpaintbrush]

Hello all,
I'm an 18 year old airbrush artist from melbourne, Australia. I've been airbrushing for three years and am starting to do some freelance work but it's not going as great as I would like so I could probably use some of the wisdom within these forums. Anyway here is some of my work. This picture is still a work in progress, just need to darken eyebrows and colour eyes.http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Apr-2007/106385-ajpink.jpg
Here is another of Arnie as terminator and many may recognise me as a airbrush venturi student from this peice of work.http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Apr-2007/106385-arnie.jpg
And I've got plenty more if you want to see

[ElNacho]

Hello, nice paintings and welcome to the forum!
Yes I would like to see a lot more!

[slaterza]

Welcome to the forum. You are off to a great start with this work for your age especially. You asked for help but in what capacity? Do you need to know about paints or painting or are you talking more about the marketing side of things?

[Te_Wheke]

You've acquired some good skills and at 18 you are terrific.

Those paintings look good enough to sell if that is what you are trying to do, though you will need to find a market for them.

I would suggest ringing around local galleries even going for a chat and stick you work in a couple of them commissions are anywhere from 12%-40%.

Some galleries are more difficult to get into than others. If you can find a local community gallery you would have allot better time of it to start, and the commissions are usually lower.

Sometimes what subject we would choose to paint for ourselves is not what people would necessarily want to buy. Until you get established and become a recognised name you may need to paint what the masses want (in your own style) and build up your reputation, then go back to doing what you want to paint.

Just a few ideas, but like Sam I am not exactly sure of the question.

[airpaintbrush]

I would definitly like to know more about the marketing side as at the moment I'm just trying to get some exposure for my work, I've just been using "guerilla tactics" and walking around all the automotive paint shops in my area handing out cards as well as putting work on display but this hasn't been very effective.
Although I have been airbrushing t-shirts for a local clothing store but the jobs have been far in between and alot of empty promises. But the idea of going to local galleries is new to me so I'll definitly give that a go, thank you Te_wheke.
I have also been trying to sell a couple of portraits on ebay without alot of success so are there any other good sites to sell artwork?
Thank you for the kind words everyone.

[Hidiho]

Hi airpaintbrush,

I would suggest checking out local framing stores as well, some may sell artwork as well as making frames.

Hidiho

[airbrush_ken]

Welcome,
Seems the Australians are growing in numbers :-)

Ken

[airpaintbrush]

Well heres the Angelina Jolie finished, I will post the reference later. I haven't been to the local galleries but I know of one which sells landscapes so I wouldn't mind giving that a go.http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Apr-2007/106385-aJ.JPG

[Te_Wheke]

I would definitly like to know more about the marketing side as at the moment I'm just trying to get some exposure for my work, I've just been using "guerilla tactics" and walking around all the automotive paint shops in my area handing out cards as well as putting work on display but this hasn't been very effective.
Although I have been airbrushing t-shirts for a local clothing store but the jobs have been far in between and alot of empty promises. But the idea of going to local galleries is new to me so I'll definitly give that a go, thank you Te_wheke.
I have also been trying to sell a couple of portraits on ebay without alot of success so are there any other good sites to sell artwork?
Thank you for the kind words everyone.
Nice work on the finished Jolie, she is a doll. Sounds like you have some balls pounding the pavement selling yourself and your art! I can tell you right now that sort of attitude will get you somewhere allot faster. Don't worry about the skills you got em.

You are a good painter though these days there are allot of good painters out there, you will need to have the confidence to go out and talk yourself and your work up to people e.g. gallery curators/owners and get them to hang your work. Even trendy restaurants hang art for sale if it catches the eye of a diner who knows? I used to eat at a place in Raglan a local surf town and there were some great oil paintings with beach scenes (surf art) hanging all over. One day I asked about the artist and discovered the paintings were all for sale on consignment so I bought one that I had been staring at for a while that lunch bill was nearly 2k and I went away happy. After word got out there were more sales and this from an eating establishment.

I had a few conversations with gallery types who thought that airbrush work on canvas would not sell, but people like what they like and will buy it regardless of what some stuffy artsy gallery owner thinks. Just get your work out there and when it sells they will want more for simple economic reasons (To Make Money) airbrushed art is still unique and impressive up close.

To be honest the online auction sites are probably not the best place to sell your work IMO, as people usually expect to get art for next to nothing and sometimes consider the artist's to be a little desperate. My sister in law has a friend who sells art online and barley covers the cost of materials. If I ever put anything on an auction site I would definitely use an alias :lol:,,, there are allot of sites out there though if you are willing to give them a go do it. As far as using the internet to sell your art, I would suggest you get or build yourself a website featuring your work that you can advertise and provide contact details and info about yourself advertising shows etc. There are tools that you can use to sell online as well.

You should also keep painting as much as possible, besides honing your skills you will have a body of work that you can drop at a show on short notice. When you have time to paint take it, so you won’t have to worry about getting caught out with a killer exhibition invite and no work to hang.


Just a few more thoughts Good Luck Mate!

[pinups]

Hi and welcome!
nice work so far and yes keep the artwork coming!

[airpaintbrush]

Well it looks I'm starting to get some where as I called a friend of a friend up and he seems to be interested in having his drift racing car airbrush so I've just sent him a small portfolio of work.

Thank you Te Wheke for all the great ideas, there are alot of trendy restaurants that love having new artwork in them so I think I'll have to print off a some of my work unlike last time, carrying mdf boards for 10kms and getting blisters on my hands and feet(Can't wait to get my license). I may have to adjust my taste in art to get into some of them but can't wait to put all these great ideas into action and see them working out.

Thank you everyone once again for your encouragement.

[airbrush_ken]

Mate,
I have been holding off till I saw what others said.

You are young and may have a lot to learn about the art industry here in Sydney.
1) Loose the term "Airbrush" when describing your work. Use the terms acrylics, water colours, etc. If you start with the airbrush term at your age they will think you spray cars, not fine art.

2) See about joining the National Association of Visual Artists. It been a few years since i was a member, but for a small yearly fee, you can get access to legal advise, contracts and tax information.

3) Materials, do not use house paints, Createx, Tony's Protex or anything along that line. Contact say Matisse in Sydney about Gesso's, base colours and finish clear coats. You want your work to look professional and to be professional.

4) I know it's hard to nail one thing, but from my experience in Sydney you should focus on one market to start with... like commercial murals for clubs that type of thing, custom paint or fine art. You can't do them all well at the same time. Preparation ...sounds silly, but that's the key to all those substrates I just mentioned. Contact companies and find out what you need to do for each project. Example: murals... you need to understand what sealers, primers (under coats) you need for say a masonry wall or an exterior old painted block wall. Know what you are talking about, when you speak to the owners.

5) Business Plan. Again I know it's hard when you are 18 to slow down and do a business plan, but it is the best way to start. Check with the Small Business Association of NSW and see if there is a mentor program. In the 90's I was a mentor for two different artist as part of the Federal Business enterprise program.

6) Photo's of your work... get some one to do professional shots of your work. Phone camera isn't an answer.

7) Copyright laws ... find out everything you can about them. Australia has signed the international copyright agreement some time ago and there have been a few changes. It is up to you to make sure your work complies with the law. For your own protection, sign your work, take a photo and print it.... sign and date the print. The post it "registered and certified" to yourself... don't open the letter, just lock it in a safe somewhere. You are covered.
Do not just grab a photo, project it and paint. You must find out who may own the copyright on that photograph or is it in public domain. There are many web sites with copyright free pictures. I am sure Sam knows some links.

8) Don't trust your friends or your family! Their hearts are in the right place, but unless one of them is a successful artist, their praises and recommendations may lead you astray. They love you and care about you, so often they are not always the most truthful critics.... your sales records will be.

I hope this helps you,
Ken

[airpaintbrush]

Thanks alot for all the helpful advise Ken, I am actually located in melbourne of Victoria but all that advice should definetly be helpful and I'm checking to see if they have something for small businesses in Victoria.

I use Tony's protex and was actually tutored by him as well (excellent teacher). I've heard him mention that alot of airbrush artists that show their work in galleries strictly refer to their works just as paintings.

It's definetly a good idea to focus on one market because at the moment I find my myself running all over the place trying to get work where I can, I'm sure I'd save alot of energy and be alot more successful if I specialised.

I'll definetly have to look into that copyright stuff as I have already recieved one 'black letter of death' when I was using a image of Bob Marley which I just grabbed off google, I'll definetly do a search to find some of that copyright free stuff.

Thank you once again everyone for all of this invaluble advice.
Paul.

[ProfessorGreibowitz]

Nice paintings! I wish I could have started at 18. Well, I am living my 2nd life. 1st was as a guitarist. heheheh So, maybe I'm a part-time painter now. No advice on business. I am cursed in that regard but seems you have a good idea of how to paint so good luck!


Tim

[airbrush_ken]

Paul,
When you do an airbrush course or any art course, it's legal to use copyright images for student projects or for practice.

I won't go into it here, but there are some instances where using such images in say photo montages or similar projects it's legal.

Ken