Customer Reviews

Airbrush Painting (Watson-Guptill Artist's Library)

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I remember buying my first airbrush over a decade ago. A Thayer and Chandler model. As a naive teenager, I was so eager to get stuck in, I didn't realize the paint was supposed to be diluted into liquid form first. Much to my frustration, nothing happened. That was before I bought this book, succinctly titled "Airbrush Painting".

Like most books about art technique, "Airbrush Painting" (1988)starts off with a list of materials and equipment, the tools of the trade employed by both fine artists and illustrators. This is followed by diagrams, troubleshooting and step by step projects, before finishing up with a gallery of work by the professionals, all of which are guaranteed to awe the novice. Out of the list at the back, Chris Moore was the only name I recognized.

Most people will agree that the airbrush is an intimidating tool at first, but this book explains a lot about it in easy-to-understand language. In fact "Airbrush Painting" is very similar to another book I own called "Creative Airbrushing" by Graham Duckett. Both covers show a hand holding the airbrush over a piece of highly finished artwork. In fact, the books are almost identical in content and format.

Despite the advances in desktop publishing, I like to think that airbrushing is not old hat. Airbrushing is a useful skill to have when the computer breaks down. In the past people have expressed reservations about the airbrush, believing that it's a form of "cheating". I find this amusing. Like all technology, the airbrush is meant to help the artist complete the job quickly and more efficiently. It makes life easier. Is it cheating when a farmer uses a tractor instead of a plough?

Just as the car hasn't stopped people riding horses, the computer hasn't stopped artists using the airbrush. The technique (which dates back to the time of cavemen) is just as popular today. Whether you're an artist or an illustrator, "Airbrush Painting" is a valuable book to have.

I'm a true bigginer in airbrushing and I bought this book along with two others and this one just isn't very impressive. Its about as thick as a thick magazine and it really doesn't go into much detail. I only paid $3 for it used so i DO think I got my monies worth. I'm not dissapointed just not impressed. Could be because the other two books i ordered were just so much better. Big Book of airbrushing and Complete Studio Handbook. Most impressed by the Complete Studio Handbook from my beginners perspective.

I read a lot of good reviews on this book for starting out with airbrushing and unfortunately I did not find it helpful. The pictures were nice, but that is about all.

Folks don't waste your money! I have read countless instruction books on many different subjects, and I can say without reservation that this is the worst one yet. This book never once tells the reader how to properly hold and manipulate the airbrush. After briefly touching on inks, gouaches and acrylics,it never explains the different types of paint and how to use them. It starts demonstrations without adequate instruction on how to set up or prepare for the exercise. It completes complex demonstrations in five or six steps, leaving out numerous intermediate steps; and the last step simply states,"the exercise is now finished". This book is a surprise from Watson-Guptill, the publisher of many fine books. By itself, this book will set up the beginning airbrush artist to become frustrated and fail at this interesting craft. So, if this is not your intent, pick another instruction book that is more reader friendly and one that will help, rather than hinder, the beginning airbrush artist.

It has everything in it from basic gradients, to complex photo retouching techniques. Everything is there. If you manage to find this book anywhere, you should buy it immediately. It is INDESPENSABLE!

This book has some great airbrush tips and lessons in it. I highly recommend that you get this book if you are interested in learning to airbrush.