Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Fill your airbrush canister with a solution of artist grade acrylic paints. Pigments are finer in these paints and can get through the airbrush nozzle easier than less-expensive paint.
Practice shading, blending and layering for intensity on scrap paper before applying paint to your finished stenciling project.
Tape or use adhesive spray to keep stencil from slipping. If you are flipping stencils for mirror images, tape works better than spray adhesives. Paint is applied to either side of stencils but is removed easier from the shiny side.
Make a border of masking tape that is two pieces wide. Leave the outer edge of this tape border lifted to deflect any overspray.
Spray a light mist of paint over the stencil. A light layer of color is best to start your stenciling, building layers of color as you proceed. Set air pressure to low for best paint atomization.
Point the airbrush nozzle directly at the stencil. If you spray at an angle from the right or the left, the paint may get under the stencil.
Spray colors over the stencil in layers; go from light to dark colors. Cover less area with each layer, so you can see the variations between colors coats.
Start with light yellows. Shade heavier at some edges, as around the eyes. Leave part of the yellow layer untouched by subsequent colors.
Shoot a light mist of red over the yellow layer. Direct red to the bottom of flames or other details and fade it as you move up to get an orange area.
Place some color in the eyes and teeth. Keep any black very light so it appears as gray. Outline the entire skull in gray to delineate contours. Hold the airbrush back from the surface to diffuse the paint.
Shade and tone down bright colors with their complementary color. Color wheels help determine which colors are complementary. Raw umber also mutes colors without causing them to turn gray.
Add white to a color to lighten it.
Use freehand elements to finish the skull design. A quick, gray shading around the outside of the skull can simulate rising smoke. Add cracks in the skull; check reference photos for ideas on finishing details.
Clean stencils with warm, soapy water when paint builds up on them. Use a toothbrush to scrub small areas carefully to protect any protrusions. Paint thinner removes spray adhesives.
Store stencils on a flat surface.