Airbrushed Look

[ReneeCanady]

Does anyone know how to get the airburshed look using leather dyes? I came across a nice project today, but it looked like they used an airbrush. When I read the item description it said it had been hand dyed. It was almsot all baby blue but in the center of each part was solid white that sprinkled out into the blue, like an airbrush sprinkle. I am guessing it was done with acrylic paint dyes, but I have tried a few ways on scrap leather and it's just not right.

[JustKate]

You can get a very similar effect using a bristle brush by loading it dry and working from the edges of the area you want to shade in towards the middle. Peter Main's books on coloring provide very good instruction on this technique.

[ReneeCanady]

Thanks! I will try this for sure

[Cyberthrasher]

You can get a very similar effect using a bristle brush by loading it dry and working from the edges of the area you want to shade in towards the middle. Peter Main's books on coloring provide very good instruction on this technique.

Which book is that? I've been looking for more information on coloring techniques.

[Spinner]

Does anyone know how to get the airburshed look using leather dyes? I came across a nice project today, but it looked like they used an airbrush. When I read the item description it said it had been hand dyed. It was almsot all baby blue but in the center of each part was solid white that sprinkled out into the blue, like an airbrush sprinkle. I am guessing it was done with acrylic paint dyes, but I have tried a few ways on scrap leather and it's just not right.

Kate's got the right idea with the bristle brush (aka Stippling brush). They can most commonly be found in art/craft stores with the stenciling crafts. It's is also possible to do via airbrush. The technique involves turning the air pressure down low (1/2 or normal or less) and then triggering for a large load of paint causing the stippling effect. At the low pressure, the airbrush doesn't atomize the dye/paint nearly as much and ends up spitting it out instead of a controlled spray. Another cheap alternative is a tooth brush. It can be used as a traditional stippling brush for controlled areas/effects and if you want a wider, even more random pattern, load the tooth brush with dye/paint and then run your finger over the bristles like fanning a deck of cards. The 'snap back' action of the bristles will cause them to make a nice chaotic spray pattern but again, this is for less controlled results.

Hope that helps!

Chris

[Which book is that? I've been looking for more information on coloring techniques.

Bottom book: "The Main Technique of Coloring Leather". Drop Peter a line via his email below, he gets them sent out fairly quickly. Worth every penny of the $20.

I own that one and the "Australian Leather Carving" and refer back to them when I need some inspiration. (image is linked via Peter's website).

He also produces one of the nicest modeling tools I have seen but doesn't advertise them as they are made in small lots and the wait list is usually a batch or so deep. I got one a year ago and it handles 95% of all my modeling tasks.

Edited April 26, 2012 by Spinner

[ReneeCanady]

See this is the item I am talking about, I love the idea. Might even just be the colors on her that look so nice. Thanks all for your responses!! Edited April 26, 2012 by ReneeCanady

[Domino]

See this is the item I am talking about, I love the idea. Might even just be the colors on her that look so nice. Thanks all for your responses!!

Looks a bit like the results from two tone rag dying - leatherlearn website

http://www.youtube.com/embed/MQ7zgeGavKw

[Spinner]

See this is the item I am talking about, I love the idea. Might even just be the colors on her that look so nice. Thanks all for your responses!!

I'm thinking airbrush. It's very common to see items called hand dyed and use a variety of techniques. It also appears to be dye base colors (white & blue/green) and then hand painted acrylics for the decorative patterns. That semi-metallic/irridescent silver isn't possible with dyes, it would need to be a top coating type of medium like a stain or acrylic.

I'm also thinking airbrush was used due to the overspray, which wouldn't happen with bristle or rag. If you look closely at the chestpiece section, main panel you can see where the overspray collected in the wrinkles of the leather when doing the fade out (blue shadow effect on the inner most ridges). It's a common thing to see this when doing fade outs to the inside versus the outside of the piece. At first I thought it could simply be lighting/ambient color reflected from one of the other pieces like how snow looks at early evening but then realized that it's a flat finish & none of the other pieces show a hint of reflecting ambient colors at any angle.

[JustKate]

I'm thinking airbrush. It's very common to see items called hand dyed and use a variety of techniques. It also appears to be dye base colors (white & blue/green) and then hand painted acrylics for the decorative patterns. That semi-metallic/irridescent silver isn't possible with dyes, it would need to be a top coating type of medium like a stain or acrylic.

I agree, it definitely looks like it was "hand dyed" using an airbrush. If you aren't determined to do it without the use of an airbrush, that is the method I would prefer. Although there are times when it's really useful to know how to get a similar effect using other methods. As Domino mentioned, the rag method is another way, but I use that when I want the piece to have a little more of a crude/distressed/rustic appearance.

[ReneeCanady]

My thoughts exactly Spinner. As for the two rag method, that was actually one way I did try and it looks nice, but it wasn't near the same as the image I posted. However, the two rag results were pretty neat in an entire different way. I was wondering if that effect was even able to be done with dye, and I see that it is Eitherway, I am going to pass on it for now I suppose, but will be getting an airbrush in my future lol! I am attempting to make that set although I am a newb it's coming along ok so far. I am worried about the breast part the most. I think I have managed to copy everything else pretty closely. The good news about the breasts is I kept the patter I made so I can just make it smaller, more round, more pointy etc.. if need be.