How to Airbrush Color Portraits

Using an airbrush, you can create a color portrait.

Airbrushing is a method that involves spraying paint or a dye over a canvas or other medium to create an image. Unlike traditional portraiture in which the artist paints a sitting person or works from a photograph, creating a portrait by airbrushing involves tracing a photograph. The result is a much more realistic image. Artists who favor painting that has a photographic quality at first glance find that this method meets their needs.

Things You'll Need

• Photographs
• Airbrush
• Paint of various colors
• Illustration board
• Trace paper
• Pencil
• Eraser

Instructions

1. Print or acquire two copies of the photograph that you will use. Use one copy for outlining, and the other as a reference as you work. Some artists print a photograph stored from a file. If you are using a magazine image, get two copies.

2. Trace the original image onto the trace paper. Make a light tracing so that it will not be visible after you paint the image.

3. Airbrush the outline. Mix a lighter color to serve as your under color, then progressively use darker shades. Start painting the edges of the portrait, then move towards the middle. Remove excessive paint with an eraser.

4. Paint the eyes before any other part of the face. The eyes are crucial because when people look at a painting they tend to focus on the eyes. Move on to eyebrows, forehead, nose and other features. The nose can be the most challenging part to paint because it is composed of soft lines. Use darker colors as you move closer to completion.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with different color mixtures until you get the desired result.

References

• The Airbrush Form: Pretty Woman Portrait, Tutorial, Part 1
• The Airbrush Form: Pretty Woman Portrait, Tutorial, Part 2
• Airbrush Dreams: Tips