A True Figure Painter!?

[Lancer]

Hi All
I came across a former student a few days ago (I did some how to classes in my hobby shop about 10 years ago). He made a comment that has left me wondering. In essence he stated that he had passed the teacher because he was a true figure painter and didn't cheat with the airbrush like I do! Whether he is better or not is of no consequence but the last few days I've been wondering if he had a valid point. I think back to the medals I got at some of the shows and wonder if could have done better with more brush work and less airbrush. Does he have a valid point?? Your comments would be appreciated!!

P.S. I use a Badger 150 airbrush and would spray about 80% of a 54 mm figure, closer to 90% on larger scale figures and busts. I still use oils for washes, for flesh tones and I generally hand paint any colors I'm not satisfied with. Here is a picture of a airbrushed piece.
Thanks All
Mark

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Mark,

No, I dont think that airbrushing is "cheating" per say. It is just another technique which to me would be harder to do then brush painting. It is all a matter or personal preference, to me it is all the same. Decals for eyes, now that is cheating IMHO because you didnt do it your self, but airbrushing is just another way to use your creativity.

 

[Einion]

Hi Mark, no such thing as cheating in this context. If it were cheating then so is using MagicSculp for sculpting instead of something cruder If you do the work yourself the results are all that matters.

If anyone thinks it's so 'easy' they're more than welcome to try to do the same themselves. The airbrush is merely another tool, one that takes a lot of the gruntwork out of the equation and gives superior results than are achievable with a brush in many cases.

Einion

P.S. By the same token this is like an acrylic painter saying that using oils is cheating because you can blend and they can't :lol:

 

[Lou Masses]

Mark,

I have to echo the comments here. Definately not cheating. Obviously certain effects can only be acheived with a brush, but if you could do them with an airbrush (for example a 54mm face) you deserve a medal!

Airbrushes can take longer to gain skill with than a paintbrush and as mentioned is just another way to do it! A Paasche Turbo requires a degree in operation!

As for your student who "surpassed his teacher", methinks he needs a slice of humble pie.

Lou

 

[JL Segundo Jr.]

Lancer,
No way is using an airbrush cheating. It reminds me of what is said about cheating the weight up in Powerlifting-Body Building (Primary Interest) On occasion it is o.k. to use less than perfect form. The end result is what matters! (large muscles) or in this case another beautiful figure.

Just my 2 cents worth.
J.L. Segundo Jr.

 

[Joe Hudson]

Hey Mark,

Just look at the work of Mike Mcgowan (sp?)

Joe

PS Nice bust!

 

[Brad S]

Mark

I ditto all the above remarks. Airbrush is not cheating! If one can paint a 54mm in partial airbrush, more power to them. I t would take a lot of skill to do that. Its just another technique. I love any chance I get to use my airbrush (Iwata HP-B). Wish I could paint a 54 in airbrush. Maybe I'll try it some day.

Brad Spelts

 

[quang]

Airbrush IS cheating.

True figure painters ground their own pigments and use hand-sharpened bamboo sticks as brushes. Like I do.

Q.

 

[carpo]

I use an airbrush for priming - does that make me a cheater? If so I will have to go and melt/burn all of my figures at once!
I propose a meeting where we can all ceremonially destroy our works because your student does not approve of our methods.!

But seriously - it is only cheating if it is against the rules - hmmmmm, can't seem to find my copy of the rule book.....
Anyone lend me theirs?
Carpo :lol:

 

[quang]

Bruno,

C'était une blague! :lol:

Au moins 50% de ma peinture est faite à l'airbrush avec des acryliques Vallejo. Pour des raisons de rapidité et aussi parce que j'étais illustrateur et professeur d'aérographe dans une autre vie.

Quant à ma peinture, tu seras peut-être intéressé de savoir que la première fois que je me suis inscrit à un concours de figurines, on m'a fait remarquer que ce n'était pas comme cela qu'on peint une figurine.

La vie est un long fleuve tranquille. Ce n'est jamais la même eau qui passe.

Q.

 

[frank h]

Hi Mark,
The air brush is Just another tool among many we call upon to
keep shifting our standard and this hobby of ours forward.

Oddly enough he is showing the same narrow minded attitude
Charles Burdick the inventor of the airbrush encountered
when the Royal Academyof Art in London refused to let him
exhibit saying the air brush was not a painting instrument.

I think you should give your former student a verbal slap
and tell him to grow up

nice job on the highlander

Frank

 

[michelange]

:lol: Bravo Quang!! J'ai marché à fond, j'ai couru même!!
J'adore l'humour surtout au second degré, mais là, pris dans la traduction...j'ai rien vu!!!
illustrateur et prof d'aérographe.....cela explique en partie le coup d'oeil et la qualité de ta peinture. En plus de tes qualités de sculpteur...bouh hou, la vie donne tout aux mêmes!!!
Bruno

 

[garyjd]

Cheating? No way. Everyone has their own methods and materials that help them along the way to achieve their own individual results. As for the humble pie, force-feed him and entire pie and repeat the process until a change of attitude occurs.

As for me, all my sculpting tools are hand forged and my two part putties and sculpey I use are actually family recipes handed down through the generations. What my forebears used it for is beyond me, maybe I've been eating an unknown quantity of the stuff for years.~Gary


P.S. Quang, Hand sharpened bamboo sticks and ground pigments? My brushes are still unsharpened sticks, and my paint comes from boiled nuts and berries, Though I have not used them in a while.

 

[quang]

hair coming from the pubic area of a grasshopper

FYI, I use Series 7 grasshoppers, a variety found only in the north-eastern part of the Mekong delta.

On moonlit nights, of course!

Q.

 

[Patrick Kirk]

Cheating, I don't think so...achieving the effects that you do with the airbrush is more a work of art at the 54mm scale than at any other. I submit that the "student" you have taught needs to realize that our art form can be achieved by any method (except applying eye decals ACK!). Art is in the eye of the beholder, and a 12oz can of "whoop arshe" has a very humbling effect...

The other option is to cut ties with this pouch and let him find another teacher...

All the best

Patrick

 

[Lou Masses]

Gary-

No you're cheating. Nuts and berries? Where's the challenge in that? Grinding quartz crystals then blending them with the natural extracts of rattlesnake oil (freshly captured of course). Now that's a true figure painter!

Apllication must of course be done with brushes made from one's own flesh so it can be said that you part your soul into it!

Man did we digress!

I wish I could paint a figure with an airbrush!

 

[vince wai]

Originally posted by quang@Sep 29 2004, 06:32 AM
FYI, I use Series 7 grasshoppers, a variety found only in the north-eastern part of the Mekong delta.

Hmmm........didn't you told me a while back that you use the grasshopper's () as airbrush ?


vince

 

[zyclyon]

I always believe it's not what you use but rather how you use it.
This brings me to open another can of worms which is the direct use of decals in lieu of hand painting insignias or patterns. I myself know a couple of painters who staunchly impose that every milimeter of the figure be painted by hand using grasshopper hair

Calvin

 

[Lancer]

Thanks Guys
I always considered an airbrush as just another tool. Initially I started out just roughing in base colors, then I started adding shawdows and highlights until finally I was looking at a piece and couldn't think how I could improve it anymore with oils.

For those who might be curious, the trick is a good compressor with an air regulator. I stripped my Badger 150 so I can manipulate the needle from the end as well as the trigger. I use super thin paint and spray at about .5 psi (the needle on my guage never leaves 0), it's time consuming because you have to do multiple passes to get the colors showing. I once signed a check to show some friends how fine a line you can get this way!

As for my former student , no worries. When you have been to SCHAAMS and MFCA and other shows you quickly learn who the true figure painters are, and I'm glad to see some of them here at Planet Figure. If he ever gets to a show or online here he'll find that out as well!
Thanks very much guys!
Mark

 

[yeo_64]

Hey Mark,my compliments on your being able to use an airbrush to paint 54mm figures;now that's SKILLFUL ! As for your "student",tell him to post his work here and let the rest of the "planet" community be the judge as to whether or not he has surpassed his teacher and become a true figure painter.BTW,your bust ROCKS ! Cheers.
Kenneth :lol: