Skull Mastery: A Complete Airbrush Tutorial

A full airbrush tutorial from start to finish encompassing creating texture, detail, and focal variation for a very believable finished result.
Paint used in this video: Createx 5007 Illustration Neutral Grey 7, Createx 0002 Wicked Black, Createx 5051 Illustration Black, Createx 5078 Illustration Opaque Black, and Createx 5088 Illustration Opaque White. All paint was reduced with Createx 4011 Reducer. Those items can be purchased through the Spraygunner link below.
Spraygunner link spraygunner.com/?aff=5
Other items used in this video can be purchased through the Amazon links listed below.
Skull Replica amzn.to/3z5zaO3
Iwata CM-C Airbrush amzn.to/3LxI9Pg
Artool FH-2 Freehand Shield amzn.to/40uZ6Pe
One Ounce Cups & Lids amzn.to/3M1tI6u
Stir Sticks amzn.to/2DSDK9k
Tack Rags amzn.to/3KnZdGA
I promote products that I use personally because they work. Links listed above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
#airbrush #createxcolors #spraygunner
0:00 Introduction
2:03 Design and Reference
4:45 Loading the Airbrush
6:16 Using the Stencil
8:25 Building the Base Texture
1:00:07 Cleaning the Airbrush
1:02:07 Cleaning up Overspray
1:22:16 Cleaning the Airbrush
1:24:38 Shading and Detail
2:05:13 Cleaning the Airbrush
2:07:25 More Shading and Detail
2:21:09 Cleaning the Airbrush
2:23:36 Initial Highlights
3:00:52 Cleaning the Airbrush
3:03:09 More Shading and Detail
3:07:31 Cleaning the Airbrush
3:08:51 Final Shadows and Detail
3:13:15 Cleaning the Airbrush
3:15:14 Final Highlights
3:27:19 Cleaning the Airbrush
3:28:32 Final Adjustments
3:31:30 Conclusion

[@dave57945]

You are truly amazing, who cares that it was a long video, it was done step by step as you listed, thanks a lot, continue to be great in your airbrushing.

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you so much for the kind words, very much appreciated!

[@stevestammet1616]

Amazeballs! Nuf' Sed!

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@davidlehman274]

Man dude have say probably best vid of doin skull I've seen yet thanks all tips learned few things on it great work !!!

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you! I appreciate the kind words!

[@done.bruton4766]

Your vids are great. Have them going while I’m airbrushing. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@spyuggy]

Brilliant artwork Trevor and a great tutorial, I have learned a lot just from this video alone. Thank You.

[@wickedartstudio]

I appreciate the kind words and I'm glad you found the content helpful! Thank you, my friend!

[@webdronez]

Decided to revisit cause im getting back into Airbrushing. I love your stye Trever this video is perfect for the new guys and gals wanting to Paint a skull from start to end. Good work!!

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@stanpatterson4379]

Great vid Trevor! I admire how you can talk and work at the same time, the attribute of a great teacher! While I'm working I'm too focused to talk! I also admire your patience in creating the great looking detail! I learned a long time ago that it's all in the details! People will see the details and overlook the content. Whatever you are charging your customers it's not enough! 😉

[@wickedartstudio]

Hey Stan! I appreciate the kind words my friend! I agree when it comes to the details. I learned that lesson over and over again it seems early in my career as well. That's a big part behind the reason I no longer work under tight deadlines. I want to give each client my absolute best work and have no problem taking the time needed in order to do that. I'm not the most expensive custom painter out there. I'm not the least expensive either, but I am compensated fairly for what I do, I think.

[@stanpatterson4379]

@@wickedartstudioTrevor, looking forward to more videos!

[@wickedartstudio]

@@stanpatterson4379 Thank you.

[@John-oj5km]

What a wonderful and educational post! Thanks Trevor😊

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@joywest33]

Wow, great instruction and an excellent piece of work! Thank you for sharing your talent and expertise with all of us.

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you so much!

[@billybubba600]

Morning Trevor! Another great video! Seeing it done on an actual curved surface is helpful! Hope you'll do a quick walk around of the bike once it's finished! Thanks for all your hard work.

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you, my friend!

[@3269red]

Outstanding work Trevor. Am using this technique on my latest project. Thanks for the very useful lesson 🙏🙏

[@wickedartoff-road8441]

Thank you! I appreciate the compliment and taking the time to leave a comment!

[@wickedartstudio]

Awesome! I'm glad you found my content helpful! P.S. I apologize for replying with my other account the first time.

[@kevanlloyd]

Hi Trevor, love these videos loads of fantastic info thanks very much .

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you, my friend!

[@paulbrown4193]

Fabulous video, thank you for your time and open way of teaching 😊

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@antoniogarcia9654]

I really enjoyed this video Trevor

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you, my friend!

[@wulee4880]

Danke für den schönen entspannten und informativen Einblick . Deine Erklärungen zu den Farben und Anwendungsbereiche sind immer wieder sehr hilfreich um sie wenn alles passt , entspannt zu verarbeiten 👍🍀 . Bis zum nächsten Mal und alles gute weiterhin 🍀🍀🍀 . Herzlichen Dank

[@wickedartstudio]

Vielen Dank für die netten Worte! Ich freue mich, dass Sie das Video hilfreich fanden. Vielen Dank, dass Sie zugeschaut haben und sich die Zeit genommen haben, einen Kommentar zu hinterlassen!

[@ThePiercedSoul]

Not only is this a great piece of art, I enjoyed you explaining how and why you used different techniques to get the effects you did

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you so much!

[@21shinbones]

Amazing Art. Talking about why, what and what not is the true mastery. Keep on this format, I get bored easily but had to follow every second focused. Paint a truck and I'll take a week off.

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you very much for the kind words, very much appreciated!

[@laurent0291]

génial et superbe, merci beaucoup pour votre partage.

[@wickedartstudio]

Merci pour les mots gentils!

[@route22totalcustom49]

Great video lot of great info👍👍

[@wickedartstudio]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@kevanlloyd]

Fab tutorial as usual lots of really useful tips and techniques loved it all the way through thanks again 👍🏻

[@wickedartstudio]

@@kevanlloyd Thank you, my friend!

[@michaelmcclung5357]

I love this painting. I love to see more of it and hopefully I can get as good as you.. I am only in my second year of doing airbrush.. Right now I only have Saturdays to work on it. I will try this seen.. thank you for the lessons. 3 hours of not long enough for me to watch you to paint skulls???

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you found the content helpful!

[@PBXTeam]

Excelente me encantan estos videos completos a cámara real uno aprende mucho de los grandes así MUCHAS GRACIAS .

[@wickedartstudio]

¡Aprecio las amables palabras! ¡Me alegra que hayas encontrado útil el contenido! ¡Gracias!

[@ghostrangerp.8819]

Hey Trevor this video is amazing by the way Merry Christmas brother..

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you, my friend!

[@ghostrangerp.8819]

@@wickedartstudio Not a problem Trevor...to be honest you inspired me to start painting in a different dirección which has been petty cool...will show you my pie es that I have at a later date...

[@wickedartstudio]

@@ghostrangerp.8819 I look forward to seeing what you're doing!

[@03Manne]

Super Video vielen Lieben dank 👍

[@wickedartstudio]

Danke schön!

[@michaelpandolfi9765]

That is beyond excellent do you reduce your paint as ya go

[@wickedartstudio]

I appreciate the kind words! I generally mix very small quantities of paint before a session begins at about a 1:1 ratio. Once you add reducer to your paint you are reducing its overall lifespan. So, I only recommend reducing what you plan to use. Mixing small quantities before airbrushing gives me time to let the paint sit and acclimate for 10 or 15 minutes (allows the reducer and paint to really emulsify and become one mixture which improves the spray performance) before I actually begin painting. From there, I can add more reducer into the airbrush cup if I need the mixture to be thinner, or I can add another drop or two of paint into the airbrush cup if I need the paint to be slightly more viscous (you don't need to allow time for the paint to acclimate again when more reducer or paint is added to the previous mixture). So, sometimes I do reduce my paint further as I work. For the most part, a 1:1 mixture usually works very well for everything I do though.

[@kfergus3662]

You should sell some of your paper stencils, a friend of mine used to he made good money.

[@wickedartstudio]

I appreciate the suggestion, thank you!

[@richardgray4109]

Hi Trevor 👋 As always thanks.. I had to plug phone in, forgot it was Monday & battery warning light said 15% about half way through video 😮...l used your dots, & line on painting I'm doing, I'll send you pictures when I'm done..to your Gmail Thanks your videos sure are helpful 👍

[@wickedartstudio]

Awesome! Thanks Rich!

[@kanenaysmith9287]

Thank you for sharing. I'm finding your videos interesting and informative. Is that just standard thickness paper you use for a stencil? Thanks

[@wickedartstudio]

I appreciate the kind words! Yes, the vast majority of the time my paper cut stencils are cut from cheap 20-pound copy paper because they don't get reused. There are rare exceptions when I need or think a thicker paper will benefit me in some way, but that is pretty rare.

[@kanenaysmith9287]

@@wickedartstudio thank you

[@wickedartstudio]

@@kanenaysmith9287 You bet!

[@kevanlloyd]

Hi Trevor what base coat have you used ? could i do my artwork straight onto auto borne sealer. many thanks in advance. 👌

[@wickedartstudio]

The base coat I used was Wicked Black (part # 0002). You can do your artwork over AutoBorne Sealer; however, the sealer is not designed for use as a base coat. If you are going to use a sealer as your base coat it is highly recommended to spray a coat or two of UVLS over the sealer before spraying your artwork.

[@kevanlloyd]

@@wickedartstudio many thanks Trevor 👍

[@wickedartstudio]

@@kevanlloyd I'm glad to help!

[@Krekre226]

Mantab

[@wickedartstudio]

Terima kasih!

[@Wayneawebb]

dot-line texture... Morse code texture???

[@wickedartstudio]

I like it...

[@user-gv6iy7lq4r]

Tip size. I never hear tip size. Tip size please 😊

[@wickedartstudio]

I apologize. The Iwata Micron CM-C has a 0.23mm needle and nozzle. For future reference, I rarely change the needle and nozzle size from factory. So, regardless of which airbrush I'm using, it has the same size needle and nozzle it came with about 98 percent of the time.

[@user-gv6iy7lq4r]

@@wickedartstudio ThankYOU. That helps huge!!!

[@prohodgek]

так так так посмотрим по учимся

[@wickedartstudio]

Спасибо!

[@gusm5128]

That fake skull 💀 is a bit weird . Great job man

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!