How to Airbrush True Flames
Airbrushing is a method of art that has become popular since the 1980s. An air compressor is hooked up to an airbrush, which is a metal device that looks similar to a pen. Additionally, a reservoir of paint is attached to the airbrush device. When a button on the airbrush is pushed, the compressor turns on and air is pushed through the airbrush and paint is dispersed onto the surface that the artist wants to airbrush. Realistic-looking flames are often utilized by artists when detailing motorcycles and cars.
Things You'll Need
- Air compressor
- Airbrush
- Canvas
- Pencil
- Paints
- S-curve stencil
- Scotch-Brite pad
- Clear coat spray paint
Instructions
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1
Attach your airbrush to your air compressor using the cable provided with the airbrush. You don't need any tools for this; the cable should screw right on to the airbrush and compressor.
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2
Plug the air compressor into a wall outlet and turn the unit on.
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3
Sketch your flames on your canvas with a pencil. For realistic-looking flames, a dark background like black works best.
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4
Trace the flames with transparent red and then fill in the flames. It's okay if some of the paint goes a bit outside of the lines of the flames.
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5
Use candy red paint over the transparent red to make the flames blend together better.
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6
Spray transparent orange paints onto the flames. Then use candy orange to make the flames appear brighter.
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7
Touch up the edges of the flames using an S-curve stencil and candy red paint. This will ensure that the edges of the flames are sharp and precise looking.
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8
Scrub the flames using a dry Scotch-Brite pad. This will remove any rough and raised spots on the painting.
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9
Use white paint to airbrush over the flames. The white coat should be thin and light.
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10
Paint over the white with candy yellow. The yellow should be heavy enough to cover most of the white from the step above.
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11
Sharpen the outline of the flames using paint that's the same color as the canvas. You can correct any blurry edges that you might see.
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12
Spray clear coat spray paint over the flames to give them a realistic, smooth look.
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Tips & Warnings
You can buy an S-curve stencil at any art store.
Always wear safety goggles when working with an airbrush and paint.
References
- Photo Credit Flames image by Phartography from Fotolia.com
