Airbrushing: The Essential Guide

This book is a great point to start from for using an airbrush. I had been using an airbrush back in the days of manual, hand drawn drafting and technical illustration as a way to give depth and realism to the isometric drawing I had been doing at the time. Now many years later I decided to pick up the airbrush for photorealistic art. This book got me started with re-familiarizing myself with the airbrush, media and techniques. I would call myself an intermediate user and I still found this book helpful. Unlike so many others which just show the completed artwork and an interview with the artist. This book gets down to really useful information. However, that information is a decade old. The book could use an updating to modern developments in airbrush equipment. This would help considerably. As the book stands today, combined with helpful videos on YouTube. I seem to have been able to get by fine.

I bought this book to learn how to airbrush. This book delivers in so many ways that you can have the basics covered by reading the book. The author is amazing in his knowledge and getting it to you so that you can understand. There is even a sheet that I copied and made extras for the viscosity of paint and what air pressure to use....its invaluable!!! If you want to learn to airbrush....GET THIS BOOK!!!

Great book. Only complaint is that I purchased the ebook version and am unable to use the viscosity chard since there is no way to gauge the size of the chart which is critical if one is to use it. Also there is no instructions on ow one is to gain access to the author to purchase a copy of the full size chart. Getting the chart was my prime reason for purchasing the book.

This book is filled with some great tips and airbrushing how to instructions. The viscosity chart is very helpful. It's worth the price. Though I do question the fact that it's supposed to be new. It had not cover jacket and the cover was dented. If I would have know I would have opted for a used and cheaper version.

I bought the book only to get a chart to measure PSI required for the thickness of paint. The images in the book are good, unlike the awful cover. Using the chart, place 3 drops of paint at the top of the page and as it drips down it lands on a line indicating how the compressor should be set. I’m a beginner, and trying to gauge when the paint has the viscosity of “low fat milk.” This seems more precise. I made copies of this chart so I can figure out how much reducer to use. The info and history is interesting.

Great book to get started airbrushing

This is an excellent book for someone who knows nothing about airbrushing and is just considering the challenge. It may not make sense to anyone else, but to me it was worth knowing in advance that it is not for me !!! When I set about doing art work, the tool is but an instrument. If I must be a slave to it, then it defeats the purpose. The details of maintenance and use with all the intricate parts told me I would probably be spending more time fussing with it than actually using it productively. Very candid and honest book. I recommend it highly to anyone who is uncertain if this is what they want to do.

A fantastic read and beautiful illustrations. I will definitely make this a part of my library for airbrushing. Great design and extremely informative.

Very good at helping me understand what and how to operate my airbrush

Gift for a friend

I have bought a few airbrush books and found them too advanced and in depth regarding theory. Fred Crellin has produced the perfect comprehensive introduction to both the mechanical and artistic aspects of airbrushing. The descriptions, and layout is easy to follow and there are plenty of photographic illustrations. In addition, Fred has developed a guide to thinning paint for the airbrush - this works and is the cherry on the cake for me. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone thinking of trying this beautiful art form.

Lots of great information

After studiying industrial design and modelling at university, the author Fred Crellin now owns his own company specializing in portraits and cartoons created by airbrush. In this 2013 hardcover book, Crellin takes the inexperienced or part-experienced airbrusher through the development of the airbrush, choosing and maintaining an airbrush and the materials and equipment needed before getting down to the different techniques involved: basic patterns, landscapes, masks, freehand airbrushing, frisket film and cutting stencils using a computer. There are chapters on airbrushing 3-D models using masking tape, cake design and creating designs on cotton and leather clothing, and on vehicles. Overall this is a good guide written to inspire confidence in the aspiring airbrusher by equipping him with all the basic tools and demonstrating what can be achieved with a little imagination, time and effort. The writing style is engaging and the book lavishly illustrated in colour, with step-by-step instructions for each different technique. Recommended.