Watercolor: Realistic Painting

THE AIRBRUSH

There are four essential elements for airbrushing—an airbrush, air hose, compressor, and paint. Your budget will dictate your selections. Keep in mind that when properly cared for, good-quality supplies will last a lifetime.

The airbrush is a small pen-sized tool that uses compressed air to spray paint. It was invented in 1893 by Charles Burdick, whose original intention was to use it for watercolor painting. It became popular, however, for photo retouching and, for many years, continued to be used mainly in the graphic arts field. Only in the past 40 years has the airbrush entered into a new major role as a tool for the fine artist. The airbrush is an excellent tool for artists who want to expand their working capabilities. It extends ...