How to Use an Iwata Airbrush

In the airbrushing world, Iwata is a brand that continues to stand out from the rest of the competition. Its products' craftsmanship and performance continue to be unrivaled. In this article, you will learn basic skills and techniques in operating an Iwata airbrush.

Things You'll Need

• Double-action Iwata Airbrush Iwata-compatible air hose Oilless diaphragm air compressor 18- by 24-inch pad newsprint paper Flat piece of cardboard or cheap plywood Easel Tube of any color airbrush paint

Instructions

Single- Versus Double-Action Airbrushes

1. Airbrush artists use single- and double-action airbrushes. In this article, we discuss the Iwata double-action airbrush. A single-action airbrush has no needle inside of it, and the air and paint comes out at the same time when you press the trigger. Double-action airbrushes, on the other hand, have needles inside that enables you to have a greater diversity of lines. Furthermore, when you push down on the trigger, no paint comes out--just air. You must pull the trigger back while pushing it down for paint to come out. Essentially, a double-action model requires more control in airbrushing that the single-action type.

2. Relax and have fun. Do not worry about making mistakes, because you will make plenty of them. After you have all the proper equipment connected in the proper order, practice different strokes.

3. The first, most commonly used stroke is called the "dagger stroke." It looks similar to a cat's claw marks. This stroke is used to practice going from thick to thin when spraying lines. To begin, position your airbrush approximately 1 to 1.5 inches from the canvas or desired surface. Slowly pull the trigger back while pushing it down to create a noticeable dot on the canvas. As you guide the airbrush down, slowly pull the airbrush away from the canvas. You should see a shape on your paper that resembles a comet, the top of which should be considerably thick, then evenly and gradually getting thinner on the way to the bottom of the stroke.

4. The loops is another commonly used stroke. Think of it as making a continuous stream of cursive lower case "Ls" or "Es." This stroke may be a little easier than the dagger stroke. Starting from the left side of the paper, press and pull the trigger until you get a basic dot continues as the lines. Spray in a continuous cursive "L" shape all the way across the paper. Do your best to make the Ls all the same size. This exercise will help you develop greater control and precision with your Iwata airbrush.

5. Remember: A line is nothing more than a dot that has been stretched. This exercise is great for getting familiar with line thickness. Start by spraying a small dot at the top of your paper. As you move further down, make each dot a bit bigger than the previous. Continue until you have at least five to seven dots on your paper, each larger than the previous one. Finally, go back to the first dot that you sprayed and make a continuous line the same thickness as you did the dot. Keep going down until you have sprayed the lines for the other dots on the page with the same thickness.

Tips & Warnings

• Take care of your Iwata airbrush, and it will take care of you. Here are some tips to keep your IWATA airbrush lasting long and spraying to the best of its ability: Always clean your airbrush after using it to prevent paint from drying, caking, and building up inside and at the tip of the airbrush. You can buy a special cleaner and restorer at the same place that you purchased your Iwata airbrush, but rubbing alcohol mixed with water will sufficel. Tip dry is the airbrush artist's worst enemy. Occasionally, disassemble your Iwata airbrush completely for a through cleaning. Use a small cloth to remove all the paint from the needle of the airbrush. Soak the smaller interior parts in a cleaning solution; push a small pipe cleaner through the airbrush to thoroughly clean the inside. Doing this from time to time will keep your Iwata airbrush spraying like it's brand new.

Resources

• Where Airbrush Artists Gather
• Iwata Medea Products