Cecil , if you out there, jump in.. Your work looks Out of this world.
I'm a beginner, no previous training and would like to start practicing. I'm going to buy Air Brush technique videos and fish painting videos. Or anything you recommend..
I've never used an Air Brush.. Considering that, would you reccomend a Double Action, since I'm not used to anything yet? Or would you still reccomend a Single Action?
Also what would you reccomend for Brand?
I was doing some research and it just seems everyone has a total different opinion.
I honestly don't know what to go with..
Thanks
Brad
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But MY OPINION is still that for the money, the single action Paasche (H series) is the best bang for the buck. These super competitive guys that do work that looks like they are still swimming can use all the expensive air brushes they'd like, but for a beginner, nothing's simpler to learn TECHNIQUE with. Then once you've learned that, you can spend that extra cash if you'd like.
I've used a single action brush for nearly 40 years and I've been stupid enough to buy several double action ones along the way. Every time, I end up back with my old dependable single action. It will do ANYTHING those fancy brushes will and for the price of one of them, you can buy 5 or 6 single action ones.
I wouldn't limit my advice from just one person on the forum. The worlds best fish taxidermists frequent this site and provide great advice. Do another search and read responses from GB, Rick Krane, Marty, DaveT, Cecil, etc.
BTW, I think Cecil is still down in Florida (something about volunteer work with the "Jeb Bush for president" campaign.)
Great advice from everyone...I am certain of one thing... that all of those guys mentioned didnt start out as the worlds best fish taxidermists no more than Brad is now...and Im sure they had their share of frustrations learning to use one. When I started using an airbrush nearly 20 years ago I started with a double action and grew frustrated with it quick...on some "beginners advice" I got a single action and adapted pretty quickly, with less frustration (for a beginner)...Although I have more than one VL now, I still use my H much more often.
I teach all beginers how to use a double action brush. They in my opinion are the only option in airbrushes. With that being said the best airbrush for you is the one that you get the best results with. You will need to try a few to decide what you like the best. I would give up taxidermy tomorrow if I had to paint without the Iwata Custom Micron. There is no better brush to get consistant,fine detail in a timely manner.
...Cecil. Whom I believe also uses the single action Paasche. Whenever I need to get finer detail I simply pull out the artists brushes. If I need to hide the harsh edges from the brush these details are done before other coats of paint are put over them to achieve a softer edge.
One point that I think has been brought up before and I'll bring it up again is that we're talking commercial taxidermy here, not competition. Gary is on a whole 'nother playing field. And I don't believe he does enough numbers each year that would put him in the commercial fish taxidermist category. He is in a higher end "niche" market that most of us could never ahcieve. (Please jump in here Gary and correct me if I'm wrong). We all have to cut corners somewhere in commercial taxidermy as it's simply not feasible to spend 20-30-100 hours on painting each fish. Personally, depending on the specie, I spend between 3 and 8 hours painting each fish. And that's probably double, triple or quadruple the amount of time most commercial taxidermists spend on the painting stage of their fish.
I had trouble with a double and sold it. Went back to my H with a number three tip - which I use exclusively. But, it really is a personal choice. There's no doubt in my mind that IF I set my mind to it I could've mastered the double. I think it probably takes more time to master it. But, having more controls SHOULD allow you to create finer details with a double. It's just (I believe) a lot of people get frustrated with a double and quit. I think a single is a much better recommendation for a beginner. And once you master it, you'll be amazed at some of the things you can achieve with practice. Certainly everything you'd need to from a commercial standpoint...
It will probably be the last air brush you will ever own! I used a Paasche h for several yrs. and find them to be way more finicky than the Iwatas, Seems the paint has to be just right the air just right, different paints spray different. The Iwata I just dump any brand of paint, any color and sprays well. Run some cleaner through when im done and its ready to use the next time hassle free. no clogging spitting, no tearing it apart to clean all the time. In my humble opinion, you will be a better air brush artist quicker with an Iwata and have more fun doing it! Good luck .
I shoot many paints straight from the bottle w/o thinning or retarder with no problems. BUT, I practice-shoot the paint at the base of my stand until I get it where I want it and then IMMEDIATELY go up to my fish and start painting. If you wait a second or three, manytimes the paint will indeed dry on the tip and you'll have problems. Especially if you don't thin it. 90% of painting can be done set at 35 psi and simply adjusting the tip open or more closed.
I also usually shoot several colors thru it before a quick cleaning (blow-out) with water and then Windex. That takes about 30 seconds. And, I'm still going on the same tip after 11 fish painted last week w/o tearing it apart and cleaning/swapping the tips. And even then, it's 3 minutes to swap out the tips and the dirty ones go in the acetone and I'm good to go with the new ones installed. The "H" with the open cup has to be the quickest cleaning air brush out there. I know I have very, very little down time cleaning my airbrush.
After about 2 yrs. I never figured it out! 1st. time I used an Iwata it worked great and has been working great ever since.
The first airbrush I had was an off-brand and it was quite simple to use.
When I trained in fish taxidermy the gentleman I learned from had the H and that is where I learned the above tricks. W/O having somebody to show me these tricks things probably would've much more difficult. I could see how it would be quite aggravating having that paint dry on the tip and clog all the time. Now it's in the archives here though, so if somebody hunts around a little bit they can learn how to work around these issues. Once you get use to keeping that paint blowing until you're ready to hit the fish, it is truly quite simple to operate...