Airbrush Step By Step Magazine Issue 79

Airbrush Step By Step Magazine Issue 79

Airbrush Step by Step is the leading magazine for airbrush artists - whatever their level of experience and expertise. Bursting with practical step-by-step descriptions for airbrush illustrations of all levels, Airbrush Step by Step offers everything from practical guidelines on basic skills to insightful tips for professional airbrush artists.

Release: March 27, 2026.

Masks & stencils: Creative tools or beginner's stuff?

There are many preconceptions about working with masks and stencils:
"Only beginners work with stencils! Art works created with masks look angular and unrealistic! Airbrush designs created with stencils is quick and cheap!"

Yes, stencils make work easier for beginners and provide them with quick, attractive results. It is also true that masks and stencils speed up the work. This is precisely why professionals also use stencils and masks, for example, when it comes to custom painting jobs. However, stencils and masks also provide them with valuable textures, repetitive patterns, and create sharp edges where they are needed. Ultimately, the difference in quality lies in the integration of the masking work: Are the textures and edges softly embedded into the design by freehand work, or do they remain on the surface like a cut-out shape? This is what distinguishes the masking technique of a professional from that of a beginner.

News

Airbrushes: Giraldez Infinity 2024 Mk II, Sagola XTech200, Harder & Steenbeck spare parts
Paint: Lumilor, Vallejo True Metallic Metal paints, Schmincke paint sets 
Accessories: Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha, XP Pen Artist 12 3rd
Community: International Airbrush Days

Step by Steps

Cyborg Girl
Sci-fi portrait
Italian Daniela Frongia shows how even with little experience, you can achieve high-quality illustrations with the help of masking techniques, stencils, and other tricks.

Molly Hatchet Chopper
Motorcycle design
German custom painting artist Carsten Kleinbongard combines the cover artwork of the band Molly Hatchet with a yellow and red metal flake design.

Zippo warrior
Lighter art
Lorena Straffi paints the surface of a Zippo lighter, which measures just 3.8 x 5.7 cm, using masking techniques and fine airbrush and brushwork.

Lumilor Monster Helmet
Illuminating airbrush design
Coast Airbrush owner David Monnig is using the Lumilor electroluminescent coating system, combined with House of Kolor neon colors and pearls, to give the Monster brand helmet an unmistakable design.

Special

From stencils to stickers: hobby cutting plotters at a glance
Market, technology, differences, and purchase criteria
Nowadays, cutting plotters are pretty much indispensable. This article takes a look at the latest generation of devices, their technical differences, software concepts, features, operation, and how to create your own stencils. 

Skate Deck Paint Contest
The winners of the Coast Airbrush competition
For the first time since 2008, the US airbrush retailer Coast Airbrush once again held a "Skate Deck Paint Contest." The three winners impressed with their creative designs and perfect use of the required color spectrum.