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Airbrush Designs from Steven Lane

Today’s story is from Steven Lane, Australian artist, who started using airbrush just a while ago but already loves it. What is also interesting is that he does not limit himself to some special “one” particular style and I feel like he may give you some motivation to try something new. It’s also a help to someone with imagination or perhaps brings back the inspiration. Steven Lane will show us some of his airbrush designs and will tell us his story.

Since childhood I have been painting and drawing as well as taking things apart and putting them back together (That would usually get me in a lot of trouble!). I had seen what an airbrush was capable of but had never picked one up or even understood how they worked. I used to work with different mediums but my favorites were pen and ink, pencil and oil painting.

It wasn’t until I left the US and came to Australia that my styles started to change. I started working as a graphic artist and technical illustrator in the auto and print industry. About 2 years ago I decided to purchase an airbrush and give it a go.

I did some research on the web and chose the Iwata HP-CP airbrush since it was considered “the workhorse” of the airbrush world and received the highest ratings from everyone. And everything I read was true, this is a great airbrush. While I was waiting for it to arrive, I read about techniques, how to thin the paint, etc. I was even able to get some used motorcycle helmets so I could practice when it came. Here are a couple of the first helmets I painted:

I also started painting PC cases

And started using some of the techniques that I was reading about on my sculptures.

For my equipment I now have 3 airbrushes: Iwata HP-CP, Iwata Revolution CR and a Paasche Model H. I’ve experimented with different types of paint but I’ve found that Createx Wicked Colors has been the best to work with, I also like to use ink, but that’s only with my work on paper.

I’ve also come up with a few tricks of my own, I use them for my sculptures and customizing projects, here are a couple of good ones:

  • I paint a lot of mannequins so I try to add more realistic features to them. A good way to make realistic veins is hot glue. Just run a bead of hot glue very quickly and thinly to create a vein, you can branch it off using the same technique to make a more detailed vein. Once the glue has dried paint it blue and let dry, after that you can cover it with any flesh tone and the blueness will show through creating a realistic looking vein. You can use the same technique for scars too!
  • To create a weld bead use hot glue again. This time run a bead going slower and thicker. Once the glue has dried, spray it with silver. You can then spray the glue with over reduced black or brown to give it a bit of texture, then use over reduced blue and spray parts of the bead to look like the bluing that metals get when welding.

If you would like to view some of my work or visit my website here are the links:

Website:
www.stevenlanedesign.com

facebook
http://www.facebook.com/StevenLaneDesign

I try not to limit myself to any style, I love to try anything different and I love to paint on anything. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next!

Here are some more examples of work I’ve done, hope you like them!

I think some of Stevens works are unusual in airbrush world, that’s why they deserve to be seen and brought to broader public. If you like this artist please share his story with all your friends.

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