First project!

[Dayna]

Hi all,

Well, since I come across this online magazine, I saw the article on Armando Huerta.

One of his pictures 'TERI' caught my eye.

I'm planning to copy this artists piece of work for learning purposes. I have never airbrushed before. I have sprayed a few cars before and drawn when I was a kid. I have good pencil copying skills, but would have to say i'm not the best at painting. I feel tho that the airbrush itself could be a key for me to be good at painting as the method of use makes sense to me. I've been excited the last few days thinking about learning airbrushing.

I'm going to go in tomorrow to the shop and grab myself a Paasce VL kit. And then I have to figure out the colours I need, which could get interesting!

Firstly is it ok if I am copying this artists work and posting my progress on here?

I've attached a picture of my pencil copy. The picture stands about 116cm tall. I think tho, that maybe I should have chosen a better material to use, as its just white paper. Should I bin the white paper in favour of something else?

I guess the drawing part is only part of it. You need to be able to mix paints, have the right material etc etc. I think this picture i'm attempting will be a crash course on products I need to produce a picture and all the techniques involved.

Weeeee!

[ABD]

Certainly picked a challenge to start with..LOL.......Your drawing looks very good..Lots of small lines and parts..gonna be hard to paint:D

I Can't speak for Armondo, But I'd think you'd be fine copying this for practice..Most Artists don't care as long as your not mass producing and selling it as your own.

Have fun!!!...Ask questions along the way when ya need too....If I had a tip to give I'd say start real slow with color...Meaning, If a spot is supposed to be Red (for example)...Don't just blast in Red till it's bright....Lightly mist and fade in the colors..Gradually building them up to the color they need to be.......Good luck!!

[AndyW]

Lol an here's me thinking that I jump in at the deep end sometimes lol....

Sketch looks good, I'd go getting something like a water colour pad for acrylics, plain paper is great for blasting away on for all the practice, but that is me.

[Dayna]

cool, thanks peoplez

For getting correct colours I was thinking of using my computer to pick up say the colour of skin since I have the picture on my computer and then print out a blotch of that colour on paper. Then I could mix my paints to match that colour beside the printed colour.

Where would be a good start to learn the basics of colour mixing? My computer software I thought might be a good way of learning as you can add more red or blue say on the computer and it will show what colour your going to get.

Skin colour will be the most crucial i'm thinking. As clothing or hair colour is more personal preference than reality.

What colours would achieve a basic skin tone that I can work with?

I was going to use the bettie rocks how to for skin technique.

I know its a hard picture for a start but I like to create something I would enjoy being up on the wall, rather than creating something that i'm just going to file away. I'm going to practise on the paper drawing I have done to see how that goes. I'm then going to upsize the drawing to real life size. I reckon that would be very tripy / realistic if it was on a wall in my hallway in life size.

Does anyone know how big the original drawings are in real life?

I was thinking of contacting the artist. Is this a good idea? He may even give me tips. Who knows.

I always think it won't hurt to ask.

I ordered my airbrush today (VL paasche) and a whole lot of colours of acrylic paint and also some proffesional sign writing backing tape stuff for masking. So hopefully in the next few days will be able to start applying colour.

Should I go over the pencil and make lines more solid etc, or leave the rest to the airbrush?

Thanks everyone!

[Whit]

Here's a pms colorguide online,,,
but the actual PMS color book gives the
formula's/recipe's to achive the desired
color,,, nice lil gadgets those PMS Books !!!
http://www.vectorgraphic.co.uk/pms.htm

[jerseycrazee]

well i think jumping right in with a project like this what i would have done
as well ...a baptizim of fire .....sink or swim type of thing ...just be paitent and
(not like me ...lol) keep your cool..ask lots of questions too someone here will help...
i would make it as big as you can on a hard surface like canvas or a board of some type...this will help with the smaller details...
cheers and good luck to ya

[Dayna]

I got my new VL kit yesterday and had a play with some water colours. I tried to paint on paper and quickly learnt why paper ain't a good material for water / paint and just as Gordon said. So I'm going to get some custom wood (can get it cheap) and undercoat it first before starting to paint.

I played around doing some flames knowing what i've seen from a tutorial, and quickly using some basic colours. They turned out ok considering I was experimenting with the airbrush and didn't have any transparent paint or candy's or proper stencils.

So before I attempt this picture as above I need to draw up on a new material which will handle paint.

[XZOTIC INK]

welcome i want to see this one done,,looks like fun,,,lots of info here to learn from,,da best are online here,,:rockon:

[Dundas West]

welcome and what xzotic said

[AndyW]

Bigger is better, as it'll make it easier for yourself as well as JC says.

[redanner]

Go for it Dayna!

[East]

GOT PAINT???

[Dayna]

Hey, quick update

I just have received some Synchromatic Dr Ph Martin studen pack of paints.

HOLY! These colours are amazing... And they flow so well out of the airbrush. I could get very used to these paints.

I am now wanting to get every Dr Ph Martin paint that I can. Well I think that would be a good idea. What do you guys think.

I have noticed that these paints are commonly used.

I also have a few books which i'm reading and studying up on about airbrushing.

Tomorrow I'm going to go get some custom wood and primer it white, and if I got time re draw the girl i was going to do as stated in this post. All I need is all the paints and I'll be ready to start. I have a big roll of mask so thats sorted.

Then I will be back online to ask questions on how to achieve this picture.

Til then

Cheers!

[Kevin Gallagher]

good luck with it you are brave, thats a great thing, go for it! welcome from Ireland.