What it takes to Airbrush Shirts

So what does it take to be a professional airbrush shirt artist? This is a question posed by many artists who are interested in the field of airbrushing in general. The thought of being financially secure doing what you love is not only shared by artists, but by the public as well. Fortunately enough starting your own airbrush business inside your garage or studio takes minimal investment which we will cover here.
Where to start? First and foremost, learn to airbrush. A statement like that may sound easier said than done but in fact the process is quite simple. If you have any artistic talent and a basic knowledge of Roy G. Biv, being an airbrush artist may be more natural to you than you think. For added resources go to you tube and do a search for "Learn to airbrush". There is a wealth of information out there that can provide you with the basic knowledge and techniques used to airbrush shirts.
Next you will want to choose your equipment. This may take some time (and I recommend that it does) as you will want to familiarize yourself with the industry. Find out what airbrushes are out there and, if you can, try some out. There are great manufacturers that make brushes specifically for airbrushing shirts so do some homework and find which one best suits your needs. Some of the more popular brands are IWATA and Badger. As you begin you may find that your funds are low. This is fine as you will be able to get by with a single airbrush setup that can get you through. As your business and funds grow, you will most likely want a multi brush system that can churn out more product in a much faster timeframe. With that, you can also purchase a small air compressor from your local home improvement store. It should come equipped with a holding tank for built up pressure and a pressure gauge. Also look for an available water tap and you have a great starting point at around $200. Mind you it will be very noisy, but better than no compressor at all. When your business increases you can look into purchasing a unit with less noise.
As for paints, I would recommend looking around for sample ones to use first. These can be obtained fairly cheap, if not free. The purpose is to use the samples on a scrap shirt and wash according to the directions. When the wash is done you will be able to see which paint stood the test. Remember that customer service is a big part of business and if your customers don't like the paint, they won't return to your shop.

Ruben is a local writer with a focus on Airbrush Kits. Visit his website to learn more!