AIRBRUSHING BASIC FORMS

The four basic forms—sphere, cylinder, cube, and cone—have been recognized as the four elements (singular or combined) that make up almost anything an artist draws or paints. Being able to render these forms with an airbrush (on illustration board) helps in creating more advanced objects, such as an apple, orange, house, box, or fence post.

SPHERE

1 Draw a circle in pencil, overlay it with stenciling film, and then cut with a craft knife.

2 Remove the center of the stencil and spray the edges and right side with any color you like.

3 Spray the right-hand side of the sphere to create shading with ivory black gouache.

4 Spray a permanent white gouache highlight to add interest and shape. Then remove the stencil.

CYLINDER

1 Draw the cylinder. Lay stenciling film over the cylinder, and then make and number two cutouts.

2 Remove the first cutout and spray at the top.

3 Remove the second cutout and spray the side of the cylinder.

4 Add permanent white gouache highlights on the side of the cylinder, and then remove the stencil.

CUBE

1 Draw the cube and overlay it with stenciling film. Then make cutouts and number them in the order they will be sprayed.

2 Remove the first cutout, and then airbrush that side of the cube.

3 Remove the second cutout; then spray the first and second cutouts, creating two degrees of darkness.

4 Spray the third cutout lightly, creating a cube that appears to be three-dimensional. Remove the stencil.

CONE

1 Draw the cone. Place stenciling film over the board and make two cutouts on the cone.

2 Remove the cutout at the bottom and spray that area. When dry, replace the stencil.

3 Remove the stencil on the side and spray that area.

4 Add permanent white gouache highlights to the side of the cone, and then remove the stenciling film.