Broke out the old Paache VL Airbrush

[Dottonedan]

It's been years since I've used this. Maybe 10.  Then another 10 before that. Like riding a bike, but the more you use it, the better you get at riding that bike.


Whipped this Photo back drop (below) out in an hour for my wife and our event we are having here tonight. I know for you artist, it looks like it was done in an hour, but hey, it works.   The thing is, we could have bought a vinyl digital backdrop from the dollar store for a few bucks but people see/notice the those little special or more personal touches we put into stuff and having a more hand done job adds in a bit to it.


It's not the quality of the art, but the thought on this one.  So don't grade my art on it but it works well for the average viewer getting a photo. 


We partnered with some surrounding businesses for this event that is held here in our down town district every 3rd Fri of the months.


In front of our store tonight, we have a live musician playing Jimmy Buffet tunes, Gourmet Popsicles, A food vendor, A Pool business, Mary kay cosmetics, A realty Co and more, right at our corner. So we should get some good exposure.  We will have about $70.00 into our cost. About an average of 200 people swing by usually, but tonight, we expect a good bit more with all that is going on.

[californiadreamin]

Nice Dan! It brings back memories. We used those to airbrush surfboards 30 years ago,
like you, listening to Jimmy Buffet. I love their "simple" design, both in looks, and construction. I first saw these in the 60's on the boardwalk in Daytona, doing T-Shirts.
In fact, I still have it, and I still use it on a board or two!
winston

[Inkworks]

That stuff is coming back up here. looks great!

My 9 year old son is having a lemonade stand in front of the shop today...sorta along the same lines 

[ScreenFoo]

Are you trying to say you keep riding a bike but you can't get better at it?   

I think anyone who's airbrushed a backdrop or mural knows better than to give you any crap for that image.  Looks good.

[Dottonedan]

Thanks all.


I used to airbrush tee shirts at a shop in the Mall for a season or two when I was young lad. It was pretty fun simply because it drove you to get faster and expanded your experience at rendering a wide range of things. You get pretty fast but even that business "is business".  The artist get competitive due to trying to be the fastest (and still be good)...so those that are, get picked to be working that day with more hours. They only had so many gun stations.  Faster turn time means more money for the owner of the shop. The more you bang out in a day, the better for all....but that RACE gets tiresome fast. Sometimes we'd do 15-20 tees a day on average (per artist). At 30-40% of the sale, it was good money if you could fill your day.


The various airbrushed hand lettering was cool also.  Ya know, Debbie heart's Bob stuff.

[mk162]

Dan, I have an old van, can you airbrush the side of it?  I am trying to up the creepy factor on it.

[Dottonedan]

Dan, I have an old van, can you airbrush the side of it?  I am trying to up the creepy factor on it.

Funny you mention that.  While the digital wraps are in and popping, Anyone can get one now. Whats different, is to have an Airbrushed vehicle and they are still being done. The difference is, those that are done (or everything that I've seen done with it) is stellar art work. It all flows together with the vehicle. No more average art and no more gaudy stuff. The art is usually amazing. What that tells me is that their is a high end market for authentic high calibre airbrush art on vehicles still. They must be fetching a good price.

[Grumpy Ole Artist]

Good to hear airbrushing isn't a dead duck! Like you, Dan, I haven't had occasion to break mine out in many moons. (Co-inkiedinkily, my last project is kinda similar to your backdrop!) The Paasche VL series is a workhorse...I always loved being able to swap a few parts, and have a different size brush. I also have an Iwata HPSB that I love. Nice backdrop, man!