What is airbrushing?

In the strictest sense, “airbrush” refers to spray guns that allow liquid paints to be sprayed finely and precisely. Unlike all other painting techniques, the airbrush never touches the surface when applying paint. This makes it possible to paint on any material or surface. The airbrush technique is characterized by a particularly even, fast, and thin application of paint, which dries immediately upon application—when used correctly and depending on the surface material. These properties make it possible to create very smooth color transitions and shading, which give a subject a particularly realistic appearance. 

Areas of Application 

The technique originated over 120 years ago and was used at that time for coloring and retouching photographs because it allowed for the application of an extremely thin, transparent layer of color. From the 1920s through the early 1990s, the technique—essentially a precursor to today’s computer graphics software—was primarily used as a tool for technical and photorealistic illustrations and advertising graphics. In the fine arts, airbrushing is still primarily used today in the realm of realism to create photorealistic effects.  

At the same time, starting in the 1950s, the trend of vehicle painting—known as “custom painting”—originated in the United States. In the context of car and motorcycle tuning, custom painting is now, from an international perspective, the primary application of airbrushing. Another currently very popular area of application in the field of commissioned painting is wall and facade design, in both private and public spaces.  

Model making also plays a major role among airbrush applications. Model makers from all fields enjoy decorating their models with airbrush; the special properties of this spraying technique are particularly favored in the field of weathering. In the fields of model making and fine art painting—but often also in custom painting and wall design—airbrushing in Europe is predominantly practiced as a hobby and leisure activity or as a side business. Only a few artists can make a living exclusively from freelance or commissioned airbrush work. 

Over the past 20 years, airbrush technology has also been gaining ground in the cosmetics industry. Recently, it has experienced a resurgence in the wake of HDTV technology, which demands even more finely pigmented and even makeup. Airbrushing is also a popular creative tool for creating special-effects makeup in makeup artistry, “fake” tattoos, or body painting for events and marketing campaigns. Another key area is nail art, where airbrushing effectively complements the traditional brush on very small surfaces.  

Other applications of airbrushing include porcelain and doll painting, as well as pastry arts for decorating cakes and chocolates with chocolate and food coloring.  

Airbrush Techniques 

Contrary to widespread belief, airbrush work is usually created using mixed media; that is, in addition to the airbrush, other painting tools such as brushes, colored pencils, or even spray cans are used. In addition, there are four characteristic working techniques when using an airbrush: the freehand technique, the masking technique with adhesive masks, the loose stencil technique, and the scraping and etching technique. Each of the four techniques achieves its own unique effect, so they are used depending on the subject, the surface, and the artist’s preference. Often, combining all these techniques leads to the best results. 

The freehand technique involves guiding the airbrush freely, like a regular paintbrush, without any additional tools. Simply by adjusting the controls on the airbrush, the user can create gradients, thick and thin lines, and more.  

Stencils and masks generally make it easy to create borders and repeating patterns. In contrast to the loose stencil technique, adhesive masking materials lie directly on the surface, ensuring extremely sharp edges. Adhesive masking materials used include masking film, masking tape, and transfer film (application tape). When using loose stencils, their distance from the surface—and thus the sharpness of the edges—can be varied. The loose stencil technique allows for faster work than the masking technique and is therefore often combined with freehand work. Any materials can be used here—from ready-made stencils to self-cut paper and cardboard stencils, as well as nets, curtains, saucers, and other everyday objects.  

Furthermore, the use of erasers and scraping tools (e.g., scalpels) is widespread and characteristic of the airbrush technique. Because the paint is applied in a very thin, usually transparent layer—and especially when water-based acrylic paints are used—it can be easily removed from the surface. Erasing or scraping is typically used to create highlights, which saves on the use of white paint, particularly when working on paper or cardboard.