Airbrush is go!

[clevermanka]

Here's my first sketchbook page using the airbrush (baby's first airbrush)! I'm really happy with it. Might not be up to using super tiny, detailed stencils yet (it's a trick holding them down without actually sticking them to the paper which is...not an option for obvious reasons and will take some coordination practice), but the large design was fine, and didn't smear or anything when I moved it.

Counting only actual production, not the time hauling stuff out (sometime I'll get a picture of my work area after I work on a piece like this--it's bananas) and figuring out the correct consistency for the paint to go through the airbrush (~2 paint to 1 water using cheap Folk Art brand acrylic), I only spent about 45 minutes on this. Fucked up the tape transfer (used the cheap tape because sketchbook) and the photo is pretty terrible but eh (because sketchbook). The important part is the airbrushed stencil running down the center! Which looks great, imo! God so much better than stippling with a brush.

The words (I love using words as visual texture) are lyrics to a Starset song that was playing at the exact moment I was trying to figure out what to use for text. Wish I'd thought to include it in one of my playlists.

I feel it pulling me
I feel the past that's died there
I hear it calling me
"You can come alive here."
I hear it beckoning
Until I am inside

Riding the horizon
Falling into you
Feel the vessel tighten
I feel you pull me through
A new world is breaking
Your heart is unveiling
Breaking into pieces
In the gravity of you


I haven't made any art in ages and this felt so good.

Comments

[clevermanka]

In case anyone's interested, materials used:
Acrylic paint
Rubber stamps
Masking tape
Paper ephemera (printouts, newspaper)
Tape transfer
Crayons
Micron pen
Paint pen

[asya_ana]

Oh so pretty! I'm glad you're arting again :D

[clevermanka]

Thank you! ME TOO. 🤣

[jo_lasalle]

That looks really cool!!! And wow, good lyris.

[clevermanka]

😙

I love Starset SO MUCH. Emo hard rock science nerds FTW.

[naye]

Ooooh, how gorgeous! I love the whole set, but those lyrics - oh, right in the heart.

[clevermanka]

I preach the gospel of Starset to anyone who will listen. I LOVE THEM.

And thank you! It's nice to get my feet under me after so long. I've got a ways to go before I'm ready to make the name badges for the con, but I hope to get in enough practice by next week. The con is coming up fast.

[starandrea]

This looks amazing! I particularly love the colors, and the way the central stencil (?) looks like a broken infinity loop! ♥

[clevermanka]

Thank you and bless you for noticing that! THEIR LOVE IS ETERNAL

[riventhorn]

I love all the colors in it and the stencil turned out very nicely!

[clevermanka]

Thank you! I'm looking forward to doing another page today and will post it if it's not embarrassingly bad. =D

[rheasilvia]

It's so vivid and expressive! And I agree that the words really are perfect for these two. :-) Excellent work!

I'm also very glad to hear you had such a great time with it. Are you planning on filling the entire sketchbook?

[clevermanka]

Thank you so much! I noticed the paint and glue on my nails this morning and it made me so happy. Looking forward to doing another page today.

I do plan to fill the sketchbook--well, "sketchbook." It's a kid's picture book that I bought at a library book sale for fifty cents and tore out every other page to allow for the bulk added with collage art. So there's only, like 20 full-page spreads in the whole thing. Shouldn't be too hard to finish it...

[kazoogrrl]

Whoa, this looks great! I'm glad the airbrush is working for you. If you have any particular questions let me know and I can ask J, though he tends to jerry rig all his gear so who knows what he did originally!

I think the best part is that it makes you feel good!

[clevermanka]

the best part is that it makes you feel good!
YES!

You know, what I'd really like are cleaning tips and tricks. I worry about getting it completely clean. Even though there's no more paint coming out, I'm still paranoid about clogging it. So if he has suggestions for that, I'd love to hear them.

[kazoogrrl]

I asked and this is what he had to offer:

"I used paint that was soluble in alcohol so I would blow some through to clean after each use."

[clevermanka]

I'm using acrylics which are water-soluble so I'm using water to clean it (as instructed). I'm just paranoid that's not going to be enough...

[mekare]

Ooooh this is fantastic!

[clevermanka]

Thank you!

One of my favorite things about working in a sketchbook (that I always forget about when I fall out of the habit of working in a sketchbook) is not paying attention to composition, color combos, etc. Just playing with texture and technique to see what works. If it comes together and looks nice, great! If it doesn't, great! As long as I get something on the page that helps me practice/improve, that's all that matters. Why is that so hard to remember (and do)?

[mekare]

Ha I don't know, I only got into a semi-regular habit last year via drawesome. Regular challenges worked wonders for doing stuff more often.

[khellekson]

I. LOVE. IT.

And good for you, all artistic and powerful!

[clevermanka]

Guardian has been very inspiring. =D

[write_out]

Awesome! Go you with the excellent arting!

[clevermanka]

Gotta get in enough practice so your badge looks good, bb!

[seascribble]

Super cool! I thought airbrush was only for those tacky beach tshirts. This looks much neater.

[clevermanka]

Airbrushes are amazing!

I don't want to put in the time it takes to develop drawing skills (did that back in college, not inclined to do it again), but I sure do enjoy using it for textural effects. You can't see it very well in the photo, but I also airbrushed over almost the entire spread in the same color as the stencil to blend all the elements together. Airbrushes are very neat tools for all sorts of things.

[moodsong]

Fantastic! I'm glad this is working out for you.

[clevermanka]

Me, too! Gonna do another spread today.