An airbrush is a painting tool that mixes ink with compressed air. The pressure is controlled by an artist, who then uses it to spray his creations on people and objects. The airbrush is, in fact, used in a variety of cosmetic applications and can project any paint or dye that is cut to a certain viscosity. However, painting safely and skillfully requires you to consider certain factors.
Ventilation
Only wield an airbrush in a well-ventilated area. Paint fumes are detrimental to the body and can even ignite in confined spaces. Although masks are sold that offer some degree of protection against toxic vapors, keep nearby windows and doors open when painting. If the workroom has more than one door, you can open at least two and position a fan within each door frame, so that one blows the paint fumes out while the other draws fresh air in.
Gritty Paint
Gritty and grainy spray is often the result of either thickened paint or an insufficient amount of air pressure being emitted from the sprayer. Heavy paint can be corrected through "thinning," the process of mixing it with some diluent like water or turpentine. If your spray gun is shooting a "shallow" stream, however, examine and clear away any obstructions from the tip.
Thinning
An airbrush will only spray paint that is of a waterlike consistency. Thicker mixtures must be thinned before being used in the gun. Water-based paints are easily diluted with water, while a chemical thinner like turpentine can more appropriately reduce solvent-based inks. Some paints are sold as "airbrush-ready," meaning they are prepared to spray directly upon purchase.
Types
Several varieties of airbrush paint are available to work with. Some of these are watercolors, acrylics and oils. Watercolors are somewhat transparent and give the finished artwork a "lighter" look. On artificial fingernails, acrylics provide rich, solid color and firm texture. Oil-based paints are slowly disappearing from mainstream usage because of their toxicity to people and the environment.
