The illusion of detail

[AirDave]

I have made a couple of comments and replies about being able to create detail with the airbrush that isn't really there.

Its amazing what you can do with a little blast of highlight and shadow.

Simple stencils and colour effects can give the "illusion of detail".

Learning how to use the airbrush is of course the first step.
The airbrush is only a tool, you need to learn how to operate the tool
Then the airbrush will do alot of things on its own!

Steelhorse's "rivet" and "water drop" are excellent examples of creating a detailed and 3D effect with only simple stencils and paint effects.

I will try to post some examples and hopefully give you explanations...

[AirDave]

I was asked to paint a couple of Tees with a Lancaster bomber in the artwork.

I had painted some planes and Lancs recently, and was bored with the images.
So I tried to come up with an interesting and new idea..
and I found an old wartime photo, shot from a Lancaster cockpit.

...the result was these 2 Tees.

Anyway, the customer was "blown away" by the artwork and the original concept I had come up with (instead of just another run of the mill view of a Lanc).

But the biggest praise I got was for the "detail"...
I was told I had captured the bent and beaten look of sheet metal and the rivets on the engine cowlings.

The bent sheet metal was creative placement of light and dark blotches and the rivets were literally one quick blob of white next to one quick blob of black!! No effort, no thought, no detail!
But the illusion is there!!

[White tends to move to the foreground (in the minds eye) and black recedes.]

And the Lancs in the background?...literally, quick paper cutouts from 2 or 3 photocopy blowups, held against the shirt...quick spray of black, then blob some small white blobs in strategic spots...and voila!! half a dozen more Lancs!!

[blinddog 99]

Dave, I'm speachless, wow, just wow......:worship:

[AirDave]

LOL
LOL
yeah okay....
LOL

[Whit]

Looks Great Dave,,,
now ya gotta give a speach !!!
-
SPEECH,,, SPEECH,,, SPEECH,,,

[blinddog 99]

Jeez, sorry for the SP. I had 30 seconds and still got in trouble for being late!

[tnailsalon]

Oh yeahhhhhhh, those r awesome...I love this site! No snobs, and willing to show their stuff..ty Dave

[AirDave]

WOW SOMEBODY FINALLY GETS ME!!

I might make a few speeches, and I might ramble on a bit...
and sometimes I might "show off" a little.
(please don't think I am an expert at this??!!)

...but when I started out, I found that a lot of other airbrush "artists" were quite willing to "show off' but usually unwilling to show you "how".
I think for many years airbrushers were just scared of the competition.

Hey, I don't really wanna teach 50 other guys in my area, how to steal my business! But, I still offer any help or advice I can...

So, I will continue to explain as much as I can...
I wish I had gotten the same help when I started out!!

[AirDave]

Check out Redhouse's EXCELLENT How To (Woodgrain flames)

and my new How To (Stencil a Wooden Baseball Bat)

to see more examples of the illusion of detail.
(some simple brush and stencil techniques give the illusion of realistic detail)

[Clem]

Dave your work is great and your help is really appreciated. Now I have a hard one for ya. Give us new folks a how to get around all this practice stuff.

I know ya would if ya could but I am serious about the looks great and thanks.

Clem

[AirDave]

I got a job to do next week using a stencilled design.
Hopefully I will get a good set of photos to use.

Then I was thinking of pulling out some old Airbrush mags,
and redoing one or two of the "basic" practice designs.

Maybe others will post something in the meantime?

Otherwise, be patient, I am having fun with this!
I will try to get something up asap.

In the meantime, check out the Wooden Bat How To.

Sorry...but you have to practice the basic skills first.
Maybe a couple of years of that will get you ready? LOL