Airbrush Stencils
Airbrush stencils are one of the most important tools you can use as an airbrush artist, especially in the fields of temporary tattoos and airbrush nails. In fact, quality airbrush stencils with exciting designs can be your key to entering the world of airbrush art without great artistic skills or years of experience. Of course, some of the great airbrush artists create their own airbrush stencils or work freehand but the beginner doesn’t have to.
Airbrush stencils are made of material that is thin but strong, usually an adhesive-backed vinyl that is flexible enough to fit curved surfaces or on the body. They are reusable, with better airbrush stencils allowing 25 or 30 uses in the hands of a careful artist. Some airbrush artists actually enjoy using stencils, even after they have been in the business for a long time. They are the perfect tool for someone who is just starting and wants to offer temporary tattoos, decorated nails and so on.
A good example of airbrush stencils use in airbrushing is the decoration of fingernails and toenails. These small stencils come in a wide variety of designs, allowing you to offer a lot of options to customers. Airbrush stencils are available from nail salons and airbrush suppliers. After a base coat and/or background are applied to the nail you carefully place the stencil in position. This can take practice but you should be able to get the hang of it rather quickly. There may be some “overspray” on the finger or nail that has to be removed with acetone. Cover the finished image with a protective coat to give it longer life.
For larger applications – shirts, wall art etc. you should put down a border of masking tape to help control overspray. Experienced artists advise spraying straight at the airbrush stencils so that the pressure of the air/paint mix doesn’t lift the stencil. Taping the airbrush stencils only at the top allows better access if you are working with multiple colors and layers.
