After many years of mounting several types of Waterfowl, I have come to a conclusion, my air brushing skills really suck. My color blending stinks, and I constantly fight with my airbrush. I am never happy with the finished color of the feet and the bills. Everthing I have learned , it was self taught. There has to be someplace to learn how to use these things efficently. If anyone out there knows of a school or person that gives lessons , let me know!
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I have been self taught as well, and I really believe that is the best way to go. You can buy several different manuals(Breakthrough has one) with paint schedules to guide you, but when it comes down to it...All the print help in the world won't paint those feet or bills...You have to physically do it yourself. I'm still learning everyday.
The only tip I can give you is to start light and go darker slowly. If you have any specific questions feel free to email me? Good Luck!
and practice,practice,practice.I also am self tought.Hobby stores often offer classes on this subject.Also there are airbrushing practice sheets with the air brush showing different patterns and strokes and ajustments to practice with.Best thing to do is keep after it.Don't give up and have patience.Good luck.
.....Three kinds of people using airbrushes, you'll have to figure out were you fit in this scheme of things.
#1. No matter what kind of airbrush they have they will never be able to use it! These people are only qualified to use a roller for painting.
#2. The higher quality the airbrush, the better the work produced. This is where most of us fit! Practice! Practice! Practice!
#3. No matter how crappy the airbrush, some people can can make them do wonders. This is NOT you, you've already figured that out. And they are extremly rare anyway!
This'll ruffle some feathers, but the truth hurts. I struggled with nozzles clogging, paint spreading and running wild, spitting and sputtering, etc. I went to the infamous orange button and found plenty of debate. I was using water based paints at the time because that's what the first person I asked used. The archives were full of different perspectives, but the general consensus seemed to be, safety with water based paints out weighed the benefits of using laquers. I talked with experienced taxidermists that could paint with incredible detail, and they ALL told me to use laquer based paints. I wear a mask and use laquers now. The difference was like night and day. The laquers didn't rub off the way water based paints did either. Others will argue on behalf of water based paints, and that's fine. They just didn't work for me.
I could show you some fish guys that use waterbased paints and only a number 3 tip that'll prove that a quality job can be done with waterbased paints as well. The key as you stated is truly to find the system that works for you. They'll all do the job in the correct individuals hand...