How to Airbrush with Acrylic Paints

• 1
  PalettePalette with oil paints image by petercoupe from Fotolia.com
  
  Prepare paints and solutions. Squeeze small blobs of acrylic paint in a row onto palette. Pour acrylic thinner or water into cups. Fill half way.
  Mix paint into thinner until consistency of ink. Arrange cup-ready paints in covered container. Place damp rag with palette in separate covered container. Pour sealant through funnel into glass airbrush jar. Rinse funnel. Pour varnish into second jar. Pour water into third jar. Screw lids on. Label jars, writing with marker on pieces of masking tape.
  
  
• 2
  Sandingsanding the stone image by sumos from Fotolia.com
  
  Wash and dry fabric before applying acrylic paints. Prepare all other surfaces by filling, sanding and spraying on acrylic sealant. Fill depressions with putty. Let dry. Sand the surface. Clean and dry thoroughly.
  
  
• 3
  Air compressor close-upzoom sur gonfleur ??lectrique image by Unclesam from Fotolia.com
  
  Set up scrap board in front of spray booth. Turn on compressor and spray booth fan. Attach jar of sealant to airbrush. Unscrew airbrush nozzle for broad coverage. Test spray on scrap board.
  
  Place object to be painted within reach, in front of booth. Spray thin layer of acrylic sealant over entire surface, painting with long, back-and-forth strokes. Let dry. Remove jar from airbrush.
  
  Attach jar of water. Shoot water through airbrush. Remove jar. Point tip down, spraying until airbrush is emptied.
  
  
• 4
  Idea for imageflower design on grungy background image by dip from Fotolia.com
  
  Paint background colors or images. Attach cup of acrylic paint. Open nozzle for desired width. Test on scrap board. Spray thin layer of paint. Let dry.
  
  Airbrush details. Attach cup of acrylic paint. Close nozzle to smallest opening. Practice "drawing" fine lines on scrap board. "Draw" details with quick, short strokes. Remove cup. Repeat with other colors as needed. Shoot water through airbrush after changing cups until water runs clear.
  
  
• 5). Apply acrylic varnish (unless working on fabric). Attach jar of acrylic varnish. Open airbrush nozzle for broad coverage. Test on scrap board. Spray thin layer over entire acrylic painting. Let dry. Spray final coat, overlapping strokes (wet into wet) for consistent finish. Let dry, checking for drips. Remove jar.
  
  Shoot water through airbrush.
  
  
• 6
  Running watermodern faucet and sink detail with running water image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com
  
  Clean up airbrush and cups. Scrub paint from cups with paintbrush under warm, running water. Take airbrush apart. Carefully scrub parts with small paintbrush under warm running water. Wipe dry with soft, clean rag. Reassemble.
  
  
• 7
  modern faucet and sink detail with running water image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com
  
  
• 8
  rag image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com