AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE MAGAZINE ISSUE #9
Airbrush artist Rick O’Neal from Newport, Washington, de- schemes, one on Side A and the other on Side B. Since my main
scribes how he creates his true fire flames step by step includ- goal is to demonstrate my personal flaming style, we are skip-
ing the materials used in this article on his flaming mail box. ping the steps I took painting the border and the name and will
“I’m flaming out a mailbox using two slightly different PPG color get right to creating some fire.
“The materials used are listed here:
◊ Bull Dog adhesion promoter
◊ DX103 (sprayed once at the start for antistatic)
◊ DX320 Prep.
◊ PPG’s Orange and Sunset Red pearl mixed in
DBC500
◊ PPG DBC basecoat reduced 1-1 with DT885
◊ Radiance II Candy colors reduce 1-1 with DT885
◊ Candy colors mixed 2-1 with reduced DBC500
midclear
◊ PPG Concept 2021 Clearcoat
Before we get started I’d like to remind you to make sure you
thoroughly tack each coat before you move to the next step.
1. “On both Side A and Side B, after applying my adhesion pro-
moter and giving proper flash time, I mark out the general path
of my flames at random with my mixed pearls.
2. “Now that the basic path has been set I’ll start highlighting ange. That way the edge of each flame is highlighted with pearl
along the edges covering most of the pearl lines with Molly Or- over spray giving it a nice glow in the sun.
AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE MAGAZINE ISSUE #9
AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE MAGAZINE ISSUE #9
I continue with the Molly Orange painting most of the flames try- flame right over it so it’s ok to experiment. Once I’m happy with
ing not to cover to much but at the same time give it a shading the way the flames look I again leave it to flash.
character. If I see something I don’t like I can ‘swoop’ another
3. “DMD643 light chrome yellow is the next color I use. It will it a light mist in the darker areas to lightly fill in the flame body.
give the flame a nice green tint. I try not to over do and just give On side B, I added some Cobalt blue candy over this coat of yel-
4. “Using the orange candy, I lightly cover the project leaving candy coats than others, covering all the dark areas. I like to
some green or blue tints untouched while concentrating on use my red candy in and around the flames where the pearls
dividing the flames, setting some back (adding depth) with more show through to blend and keep the pearls from over powering.
AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE MAGAZINE ISSUE #9
AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE MAGAZINE ISSUE #9
5. & 6. “DMD639 medium chrome yellow is used to give us or just left behind intentionally with the molly orange, I now fill it
our true yellow fill and highlights, starting with the main lines with this yellow
and lightly filling in behind as I go. If I see something I missed
7. Three or four coats of candy yellow goes over the chrome yellow highlights.
AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE MAGAZINE ISSUE #9
8. For any new yellow flames that I added, I go back with the the original flames when I again shoot my candies.
molly orange as well as add brighter shading for extra depth to
9. More orange candy to blend the yellow into the molly orange. On 10. Bright white for ‘true highlight’ is now added, being careful
side B I used both candies together. to keep the edges sharp while misting off into the flame.
11. A final light cover over the white with yellow candy leaves Careful, it’s hot!!
only a glimpse on the white.
AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE MAGAZINE ISSUE #9
AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE MAGAZINE ISSUE #9
Final clear and you will see the distinct color differences between A closer look:
Side A and Side B. These differences were realized by applying
more DMD639 and adding the Cobalt Blue to Side B
TECH TIP
The below tip was submitted to the Magazine support web site
www.airbrushtechnique.com by Blair Elliott or Kicks as many of
you know him.
The big companies have done it for years. Go into any shop and
you’ll find an AC Delco clock on the wall,... a Snapon calendar on
the wall,... the guys will be wearing tee shirts with a 3M logo or
a paint company logo like PPG or Sikkens. Everybody likes to get
something for nothing,... it just human nature. Two salesmen
come into the shop with comparable products, you buy from the
guy that dropped by just before xmas with the coffee mug and
tee shirt that didn’t fit. Obviously we can’t afford to compete with
expensive swag all the time,... but the principle works. Instead of
going into the local bike shop and dropping off a business card
that gets thrown into a drawer with a million other cards and for-
gotten ten minutes later,... paint up a panel in your spare time,...
go to the dollar store or craft store and buy a clock works, and
take them in something that is cool,... will end up on a wall some-
where, and will draw the attention of employees and customers
alike to your name and the kind of work that you do. Here’s one
that I did and will drop off at the local HD shop,... it doesn’t matter
it ends up out in the shop area,... it will still get noticed. Other then
a couple of dollars and a few hours,... what have you got to lose.
AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE MAGAZINE ISSUE #9
