Make Your Own Airbrush Paper!

[@Pavelek88]

You're a true life-saver for beginners like me. Thank you SO MUCH!

[@theartworkshop]

Hope it helps!

[@rockweiler777]

Right ON, man!

[@darranthompson8202]

Thank you I've been looking for a video like this. I've always had trouble eareasing now I know why no gesso on my card.great video.

[@dustyart580]

Cool.. Great tip man..

[@theartworkshop]

Thanks!

[@alexrodriguez3211]

I appreciate the simplicity of this process. Thanks for sharing. Can you speak to how you mount this paper for display. I noticed in your varnish video that the "Candle" study was mounted on a thick board. Was it MDF? I would appreciate knowing a bit more about this. Have a great day and thanks for your content.

[@theartworkshop]

Hey Alex, I just use the MDF panel as a smooth surface to mount the paper vertically on a wall or easel while painting. Any smooth surface will work for this though. Once I finish the painting, I then remove it from the panel. If you use a desk or drafting table for painting, no sort of mount is needed for the paper. Then for display I will cut out a mat for the borders and get it custom framed with an under non reflective glass. Happy New year to you!

[@alexrodriguez3211]

@ Great. Thanks for sharing your methods with us. Happy New Year.

[@Oldking3]

As it’s so easy to remove I assume after completing the piece you have to seal it? What do you use ?

[@adepamph7073]

Thank you so much for your useful tips.

[@BlondeResin]

Could this paper then be rolled for shipping? Thank you!

[@theartworkshop]

I'm not crazy about rolling up paper, especially sheets under 20". It's too easy to damage the work. I'd recommend keeping them flat. Hope this helps!

[@currenjohn9020]

Thank you so much for the tip , where can I get a bucket of gesso without burning a hole in my pocket please

[@theartworkshop]

I recommend liquitex basics. It's one of the least expensive and almost as good as their professional line. I use it all the time! amazon link- amzn.to/3uU1a67

[@currenjohn9020]

@@theartworkshop Thanks for the link.

[@cyrilpreece2658]

Would Carson Art Board be better than paper or is there little difference?

[@theartworkshop]

yes, I prefer a studier surface like art board over paper. Much better than normal paper for me.

[@babel232]

Hmm have to try that , last yupo paper i bought, really sucked when I taped the edges , the coating peeled right up on removal , wasn't impressed, wasn't the effect i was going for at all.

[@sean3278]

I'm not sure if you will see this comment but I was at a bnh store the other day and noticed they had a roll of this type of paper. it was fairly expensive but it was a 24"x50' roll. it was the "Epson hot press archival paper". have you ever tried that paper? I assume you could buy it in smaller packs. I think it said 500 GSM it might worth it for the amount you get and the ability to get whatever size you'd like

[@theartworkshop]

from B&h photo? It sounds like a paper for large format printers. I've painted on canon matte photo paper before and it's pretty good to practice on.

[@sean3278]

@@theartworkshop I happen to be going back there tomorrow morning to see if I can get a smaller pack or roll to test. I also believe it's for large format printing but if it works it works. It would be worth the price for me personally because I would be able to get 60-70 sheets from it at my preferred size of 12"x17"

[@sean3278]

@@theartworkshop they had a box that was returned as "defective" that I was able to get for over half off and I was able to test it today. In my opinion it's just a thicker version of the arches paper. Almost identical texture especially after coating with gesso.

[@theartworkshop]

@@sean3278 that sounds like a good buy to me then! thicker paper is always better for gesso.

[@Cyril-eu4gf]

This is my biggest problem with airbrushing. To Gesso to get a smooth surface is messy beyond belief and time consuming. Other surfaces like airbrush paper and clayboard are expensive especially for practice and learning. When all said and done basic cartridge paper is fine as long as you don’t want to erase and by learning to airbrush without erasing opens so many doors for substrate choices.

[@theartworkshop]

I agree with you. Gesso is a messy process and isn't for everyone. Remember the most important rule- there are a million ways to paint a picture. You have to find a surface that makes the process fun and works for your techniques. Gesso sounds like it's not for you. Cotton/rag paper like arches without gesso is a great surface. Another nice surface is illustration board. It's basically paper with a cardboard backing so it's rigid to work on. You can paint on it and erase into decently. It is absorbent so its more difficult to erase than a non absorbent surface. You can also paint without erasing, and just opaque colors for your highlights. Keep exploring and experimenting Cyril. Find the surface you love, because you eventually will.

[@darranthompson8202]

erasing