Hi’ all,

Malc said:

Hi’ all,
from an old newbie. I’ve Just decided to try airbrushing with my paintings so hopefully I will get a good start from this forum.
Looks like there is plenty to keep me occupied with ideas and tutorials.
As a first question. Could some of the members recommend a good starting kit. I have in my head the idea of spending around £150 so would be looking for a kit that I wouldn’t outgrow for a good while.
The idea is to use airbrush paints, but also to try acrylics and watercolour.
Any recommendations and advice would be most appreciated.
Regards, Malc.

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SiRoxx said:

Hey Malc, glad to have you aboard.
To help answer your question about a starter kit, what kind of paintings are you wanting to do? Is it realistic portraits / landscapes, Hotrod / Tattoo type art? The more info we have, the more we can help. Do you have a compressor already or is that included in the budget?
If you’re wanting a compressor and an airbrush you won’t outgrow quickly, you might struggle with a £150 budget. It’s not impossible though, so somebody may chime in.
Last question would be where about son the planet do you call home? There’s no point someone suggesting a kit that doesn’t ship to your country.


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Malc said:

Hi’ SiRoxx,
Thanks for the reply, I live in the UK and the proposed purpose would be for genaeral landscape and animal painting.
Cheers, Malc

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SiRoxx said:

Cool. When I’m sober tomorrow, I’ll make some sensible suggestions LOL.


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Daroc said:

Hi,
From Florida - tried to keep it inexpensive and didn't so you want better advice than mine.

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Malc said:

I hope you were drinking something go

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SiRoxx said:

Indeed, that was last night [emoji3].
Jord beat me to it with pretty much exactly what I was going to say.
I started with a compressor like this.
https://bartsharpairbrush.co.uk/product/bartsharp-airbrush-compressor-tc80t/
I added a small desktop fan to help cool it during the summer months or if I wanted to work all day.
I only upgraded because I wanted to be able to run a small mini gun.
As for airbrushes, The Iwata Eclipse is often recommended here as they’re reasonably priced, they’re pretty tough so take a good deal of the beginner accidental abuse and they’re not so fussy about the paint thickness being put through them. Also, it will last you a lifetime interns of quality and performance. Many full on pro artists regularly use Eclipse brushes.
This is a good site based in the U.K. for brushes.
https://www.air-craft.net/acatalog/Iwata-Eclipse.html
Those would be around £200 before paint, Reducer etc. But that would be a kit that lasts.


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Malc said:

Thank you gentlemen for the replies so far. Much appreciated.
Regards, Malc

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JackEb said:

Welcome aboard from Australia Malc,
Many of us started like you, not wanting (or able) to spend a lot of money to find out if we liked this airbrush thing that looks really easy.
The honest truth is that this is a steep learning curve, so just remember that when you first put paint in the airbrush and don't get what you expected at the other end
The good thing is that you found your way here, so with the advise that you get you can hopefully minimise any purchases that you don't need at this early stage and the good people have already steered you in a great direction with the Eclipse airbrush. @Robbyrockett2 @ DaveG have several non iwata brushes that they regularly recommend, so they will probably pop in shortly and we are newbie friendly and happy to help guide you to get something recognisable onto paper (or canvas/textile/steel etc)

Do you have any art supply local to you ? if so what sort of paints do they have in stock, we may be able to suggest a brand that is newbie friendly and available readily if you need it in a hurry

"Airbrush and paint" have ETAC efx paint in 2oz bottles, its a very user friendly paint and some of the guys here use it with jaw dropping results. Don't get to shocked at the price of any airbrush paint.... a little really does go a long long way !
http://www.b082d9.42.ekm.shop/etac--efx--airbrush-fine-art-colors-33-c.asp

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Robbyrockett2 said:

For UK You probably cant get much better than @SiRoxx 's suggestions. A mr hobby procon ps289 might save you a few bucks (price difference isnt all that great over there) and be a little more upgradeable/detail oriented but for easy parts im guessing you can pick up iwata spares nearby (many will go on the procon as a direct replacement but thats more to learn) . Nothing like being able to just grab a new nozzle when you need it.

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Ttxela said:

I'm a total beginner, FWIW I was also on a tight budget having just been made redundant.

I bought an airbrush off ebay for £16 which came with a hose and numerous bits and pieces - some of which I still haven't identified and used the rest of my budget to go on the beginners course at the Airbrush Academy (about £160). I didn't try anything until I went on the course and was frankly astounded at what I was able to produce in the 2 days I was there.

I came home, bought some paints off ebay and connected the brush up to the old tyre inflating compressor in the garage and did some stuff that, whilst certainly not impressive by any measure, was encouragingly passable enough to make me persist.

I've now upgraded to an Iwata brush but still use the old compressor and am (I think) steadily improving.

I'm pleased I spent my initial budget as I did, primarily on training - I imagine if i didn't I'd have made a few blobs on something, got discouraged and left the thing in a cupboard until my wife cleared it out

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