Airbrushing with Freehand Shields

[@southpawje]

The very fact that someone thought of using shields and other methods of obtaining a certain look is in itself creative art. Take for instance using screen wire to create thousands of tiny windows in a skyscraper, it’s just cool

[@wickedartstudio]

I agree. It's simply thinking outside of the box in order to achieve a certain look or effect. I've used countless different materials over the years for the same reason. A stencil or shield doesn't have to be designed specifically for airbrush use, it can literally be just about anything.

[@amplogik]

I do most of my work "freehand", but purists that think there's something special about that, kinda make me shake my head in disbelief. I've always felt, you use the tools you need to get the job or effect you want. In fact, my skill freehand would never, ever have developed without using frisket, masking, stencils, shields, good drawing skills, etc. They are vital tools in any airbrush artists arsenal. And yeah, I still use them on occasion when precision matters, or I have a deadline. The real reason I slowly went freehand, was that I got good enough for sharp lines over time, and it was easier (and I was too lazy), than dragging out other stuff, dealing with masking, weeding and waiting for paint to dry on a shield edge, etc. But to get to that point, you have to be really, really, really comfortable with your airbrush, air pressures, reducing and having spent 1000s of hours painting. So if anyone ever criticizes someone using shields, masks, or any other tool.... I'd tell them to get bent. Working without them isn't a super power, it's just a skill that develops over time, and is sometimes just the wrong way to approach a project. At the end of the day, it's about the image you produce for yourself or a customer. It's not a competition to see who can make things hard on themselves. :)

[@wickedartstudio]

Hey Kim! You and I seem to share the same mindset and your comments always contain valuable points that I failed to bring up. I couldn't agree more! The "purist" arguments are nothing more than bragging rights from my point of view, although I'm not sure who they are trying to impress. I said it in the video, and I'll repeat it. Why limit yourself? Thank you for sharing your experience with us my friend!

[@louisliguore7199]

Great instructional video, keep them coming!

[@wickedartstudio]

I appreciate the kind words! I've been away for a while, but I will get back to creating content as soon as things slow down a bit.

[@finalaccuracy7695]

Yay!!!!! Just going to make some stencils so this video is perfectly timed

[@wickedartstudio]

Awesome!

[@Tomicide36]

I like your approach, comprehensive and easily understood. Thank you!

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@TattooGhost-nr3rt]

I'm new and you are a inspiration thank you so much

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@karlbecker8775]

Yet another very informative video, Trevor. Thank you!

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you, Karl!

[@medic27503]

Oh Wow ! So glad I seen this. Please keep that stuff coming. Great job. I be a Newbie, LOL

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@mikedeloach6849]

Fantastic timing.....mine arrived today! I haven't even opened the pack yet.

[@wickedartstudio]

Awesome! If you have questions don't hesitate to ask!

[@handsofrhythm3415]

Thank you Trevor, this was a great video detailing your approach to using sheilds. Combining techniques, building up the lines to create depth and a more natural look is something I'm going to work on. Being a beginner I've found it hard to know how much sheild is too much sheild. Thanks again.

[@wickedartstudio]

I appreciate the kind words! Deciding how much to use shields in a given artwork is completely up to the individual artist. It's only too much if you decide it's too much. Freehand shields, as well as other tools, are valuable assets, especially for a beginner because they assist the artist in creating something they may not have the ability to create on their own. With time and practice, you'll likely find yourself relying on those other tools a little less, but they are still valuable assets for an artist with a lot of experience. I use them all the time. The key, as you realize, is finding a way to make your art look natural when using those tools!

[@Zigr72]

Useful video! Thank you for your work

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@bigmike8808]

Hey Trevor. I really appreciate your instructional videos. You are one heck of an artist. I’m just getting started into airbrushing and I am going for automotive realism of all types. I bought an Iwata HP-TH at first because I liked the trigger style. Come to find out that’s not a detail oriented brush. So I went ahead and bought the Custom Micron CM-C Plus and frickin love it. I love everything except the MAC valve getting in the way of the holder on the new Power Jet Pro. Question: which airbrush model would you go with that’s just a step down from the CM-C Plus? I’m thinking about the Custom Micron Side feed Takumi. But I see and hear a lot about the eclipse. What would you do if you did it all over again from scratch? Yeah more $$ than brains I know lol, but I’m super passionate about learning this for something to get my mind off of life at times.

[@wickedartstudio]

Hey Mike! I apologize for the late reply. Yes, the HP-TH is not a detail brush. It's great for covering large areas quickly and you can get some nice detail with the conical nozzle on larger projects, but it's not ideal for more intricate work. Any Micron is a good brush to have in your arsenal. I own several. Having said that, I honestly don't use my Micron's that often. I use an Eclipse HP-CS for most of what I do. It's the brush I learned to airbrush with and it's still my "go to" workhorse brush after nearly thirty years. The CM-C Plus has a 0.23 mm needle and nozzle. The Eclipse HP-CS has a 0.35 mm needle and nozzle. The Eclipse would be a great compliment to your Micron and the HP-TH in my opinion. In the hands of a skilled artist, the level of detail achievable with the Eclipse is also impressive. If I had to start all over again from scratch, I would still choose the Eclipse HP-CS as my first brush.

[@bigmike8808]

@@wickedartstudio Thanks for the reply! Ok that seals it then! The next brush in my arsenal will be the Eclipse HP-CS! Hopefully she’s more forgiving when it comes to the thinning of medias. That micron is great when you put exactly the right mix of paint and thinner, but if not I’m spraying brail! Lol. I will get that brush ordered asap! Thank you for your input sir!

[@richardgray4109]

Hi Trevor...thanks again for your time..injoy your videos, for me it's like being in a airbrushing class 👍 for eye lashes..could you use a fine pin strip brush? Still working on getting my dagger strokes done proper

[@wickedartstudio]

Hi Rich! I always appreciate the kind words from you, my friend! It's refreshing to learn it's like being in an airbrush class when watching some of my videos because that's my end goal a lot of the time. I want to teach viewers. This video was a bit of a train wreck because I more or less made all of that up on the fly. Ironically, that's how most of my videos are created. I'll start with an idea or a suggestion from a viewer and just put something together. I don't have a script or put a lot of thought into some of my content. Painting the eye wasn't part of my initial idea for this video. That idea popped into my head while I was filming. I think it was a good idea, but some of the information was a little scatter brained and there were a few things I wanted to cover that didn't get brought up. So, I'll likely do a follow-up to this one in order to clarify a few things. You could absolutely use a pin stripe brush, or even a regular thin paint brush, to paint eyelashes. Another option is to use colored pencils or paint pens. There are a lot of other ways to pull off those types of effects. There's no rule that says you must use your airbrush for every part of a given painting. I said it in the video, and I'll repeat it here, why limit yourself? Keep practicing and you will get to the point where you can use your airbrush to create anything you want! Until then, use whatever tools you have at your disposal.

[@billybubba600]

@@wickedartstudio If you had not told us, we would never have known you do not spend tons of time thinking and planning these videos. I always get tips and ticks from your videos and always look for the new ones you post. Thanks for helping us out and I also feel like I'm in a class when I watch your videos, except it's more like a one on one lesson. Good job explaining free hand shields and which ones are the "essential" list.

[@wickedartstudio]

@@billybubba600 Well, my reply to Rich may not be entirely accurate. I wouldn't say I spend a ton of time thinking about and/or planning the vast majority of my videos, but I probably spend more time than I realize thinking about a particular topic and what information I want to convey about the topic before I begin recording anything. Sometimes I forget to cover some of the information I intended to cover. Sometimes I have another idea while recording and things go in a completely different direction. From a personal perspective, creating these videos comes easy because I've been doing this for thirty years and I have a pretty good understanding of the material I'm covering most of the time. From another personal perspective, creating these videos is hard because I either don't have time to cover all of the information or I just forget to cover some of it. Most of the time I don't realize those mistakes until I sit down to edit the footage. That's the point where I start second guessing myself wondering if my approach and/or explanation was simple enough to understand for those with little experience as well as those with more experience. So, it's reassuring when viewers like you share your feedback, and I very much appreciate that! Thank you, my friend!

[@finalaccuracy7695]

I have a troubleshooting question. Iwata eclipse. New O ring but when I push down for just air I get paint spurting. Also, happens with .5 nozzle and needle

[@wickedartstudio]

Hmmm... It's difficult to troubleshoot when I can't put the airbrush in my own hands. My initial suggestion would be the nozzle has an obstruction within (dried paint build up) that won't allow the needle to seat properly. The nozzle could be cracked or out of round which would also prevent the needle from seating properly and allow paint to escape when only activating the air. However, those solutions are less likely if the problem occurs with a two different needle/nozzle sets. Which O-ring did you replace?

[@finalaccuracy7695]

@@wickedartstudio I replaced the one that seats near the nozzle. I have it completely disassembled right now soaking in acetone. I discovered the Air Valve Piston O ring and I am really suspicious of that part but just don't know enough. Going to replace the air valve system if you think it might help. It was not a new airbrush. Found it in a box a buddy gave me before he moved.

[@wickedartstudio]

@@finalaccuracy7695 I apologize for the late reply. I've been without internet for nearly two weeks. The air valve assembly has nothing to do with paint flow (paint and air cannot intermix at that point in the brush). If the brush has been sitting for a long time in unknown conditions, it's probably not a bad idea to replace the O-rings in the air valve assembly though. Realistically, the only way paint can escape while only pressing the trigger down for air is with a damaged needle or nozzle that isn't sealing correctly. That could be true on either end of the fluid nozzle because the back side is a compression fit on the Eclipse. I would suggest making sure the body of the brush where the fluid nozzle has a compression fit is good and clean, clean the inside of the fluid nozzle as best you can after soaking those parts in acetone, put the brush back together and try it again. If the problem still exists. I would order a new fluid nozzle and needle.

[@finalaccuracy7695]

@@wickedartstudio I think you nailed it with your diagnosis. When I soaked it I got a ton of residue out of where the nozzle fits, even though it looked clean. I won't know for sure until the spring I ordered gets in. Somehow it decided to migrate between cleaning and reassembly.

[@wickedartstudio]

@@finalaccuracy7695 Good to know you likely figured out the problem! And I've suffered the migrating small parts issue myself.

[@PENFOLD1962]

It all depends on what distance the image is to be viewed at.

[@wickedartstudio]

I'm not sure I would agree with that. I generally use the same level of detail, or lack of detail regardless of desired viewing distance.

[@LabRat6619]

Back in the day I used to create photo realistic paint jobs on vehicles. Now there is no appetite for artwork of any sort, people are tired and angry.

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you.

[@icedog75]

The technique is informative but not nearly as much as the knowledge of anatomy that is required to properly apply the technique.

[@wickedartstudio]

I agree; however, that wasn't really the point behind this video. The techniques and tools used can be applied to anything, not necessarily an anatomy specific subject. I paint a lot of portraits and chose to use a human eye for this demonstration simply because it's a relatively easy subject for me to paint based on experience. Looking back, that may not have been the best choice as I didn't address anything related to anatomy. Thank you for keeping me on my toes!