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Changing people’s preconceived ideas of learning to airbrush:
One of our biggest problems is convincing adults and teenagers
alike, that they do not need to have any prior art or drawing
experience in order to learn to airbrush. Nor do they need to have
developed artistic “talent” or “creativity”. Many people look at
the standard of our students artworks and cannot accept that we can
teach them to do this without having extensive art or drawing
experience. We can!!
Prior experience with an airbrush can be a hindrance rather than a
benefit. These people often have to “unlearn” before they can learn
our system. “Talent and “Creativity” have nothing to do with
learning systematic, measurable rendering systems. We are all
talented and creative but these abilities mean nothing in our
classroom.
Let
us explain . . .
We
teach “Rendering” not “Art”:
We do not teach “art”. We teach systematic rendering methods, in
how to replicate each shape, texture, focal value and colour you see
in a photograph. If a photocopier can do it, we can teach you to do
the same.
You could say that we simply teach people to copy, to copy images
accurately. We are; but this is what all artists are doing when
they have a person sit for them, or go out and paint a landscape,
they are painting what they see. We will give you this skill in a
systematic way.
Our students do not need to know how to draw, because we use
lightboxes and overhead projectors for all the preparation of the
line drawings, to ensure the proportions are accurate. A question
for you; “Can you trace?” The answer is simple, everyone can
trace. Even this process will be taught to you in a systematic way.
If anyone tries to tell you that tracing is “cheating”, get them to
google artists such as Chuck Close, Richard Estes, John Salt or
Howard Arkly, fine artists who’s artworks sell for hundreds of
thousands of dollars and use ohp’s. It is a legitimate part of any
painting process, and will be important to you in your early years
of training.
Why
make it hard for yourself? . . . doesn’t it make sense to use every
“trick in the book” to make learning to airbrush as easy and
enjoyable as possible. Later when you are a fully trained and
experienced airbrush user, you can choose to airbrush without the
aid of these tools. We will use every tool we can, to make your
classroom experience as systematic and rewarding as possible.
You do not need “Talent”:
You do not need to have “talent”. All you need is the desire to
learn and the commitment
and persistence to break through and become an independent airbrush
renderer. If you have the ability to learn measurable systems and
like the idea of tightly structured learning then you will enjoy our
courses, regardless of your “talent”.
You do not need “Creativity”:
We do not want you coming to class and being creative with the photo
references we teach you to paint renderings of. We want you to
learn to paint highly accurate renderings; you can be as creative as
you like at home with your own artworks.
The
process of creativity is something that you can put into your
artworks after you have the systematic methods to build on. In
fact, genuine creativity can only be developed when it is based on
strong methods.
Using
computer software programs like Photoshop will greatly assist you to
be creative with your photo references
before
you start airbrushing your artworks.
Learn an “Engineered” System of Airbrushing:
The Venturi Method is an “engineered” system of airbrush rendering.
After 20+ years of research we have managed to “boil down” the
process into very simple fundamentals such as the diagrams shown . .
.
There
are only eight fundamental strokes that you can create with an
airbrush as the diagram shows. Each has a simple symbol (much like
written music) and when you begin your training we will give you
written “Reconstructions” (like musical compositions) that you will
simply play like a properly trained musician. The example shown of
an eye, will be the first freehand image that you will play in the
course.
Again, Airbrush Venturi does not teach art, it teaches systematic
rendering methods that anyone can learn, even if they have no art,
drawing or airbrush experience . . . it does not matter!
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