Some Big Dog Garage Art

[Roaddawg]

You are off to a great start. Get some reference pics online of camp fires and flames and refer to them as you paint. I notice that one common theme on your flames is that you tend to keep the flames long and connected, almost like streamers. Look at real fire and you will see separate and distinct licks, or shorter, unconnected flames. The layering is really starting to come together, remember to work in light, transparent layers to give it that 3D look.

I use Iwata eclipses and love them. They are workhorses and will spray just about anything. With practice you can get some super fine detail with them.

Here's some flames on some Harley exhaust endcaps I airbrushed





and on a mailbox

 

[Twisted]

Wow, that's some great airbrushing, flames look amazing :2thumbs:. Thanks for the tips, I agree, so far mine look more like a cross between hot rod and realisctic, kind of a stylized flames, which I think look cool too. I tried messing around on some cardboard this weekend, think this it a little more on track, gonna keep playing around and see what happens.

Do you recommend all transparents or do you add candies?

 

[geoffmt]

I kinda want one! It's awesome

 

[D L]

Looks pretty good to me..:2thumbs:

 

[Twisted]

Thanks guys , I'm getting there. I like both types, the realistic and the stylized. I was always a hot rod flame guy so I guess that's why I like the defined type of flame too. I'm gonna keep messing with this new technique too, I'd like to do another Bigdog sign with the more realistic fire, see how that comes out. Also want too see what doing it this latest way would look in a green or blue, see if it translates over.

Thanks for the feedback, criticism , and tips, its all helpful.

 

[Roaddawg]

I use candies, since they are transparent, and can be layered over each other for subtle color changes and blends. The more you layers you add, the darker the shade. Remember, real fire is organic, there is no strict structure to it. So try to stay loose in your design, and use light layers.

Your work is progressing rapidly. It doesn't look like it will be long and we will be asking you for advice

 

[Twisted]

Thanks Bruce, I've been using a mix of transparents and candies, the water based candies don't seem to cover very well, I'll try all candie once I switch to urethanes. Heres a revised Big Dog sign I did, I want to get some metal sign blanks and make a nice one for the garage. This one I did a transparent red base, made some shapes with white, covered with a transparent sun gold/red mix, followed by another white layer, then covered the whole thing in a candy sunset then clear, all with Auto Air waterbased. Came out good, but I think its a little too busy.

 

[Roaddawg]

The latest sign is looking good. Your fire is definitely starting to flow better. And your self evaluation of it looking a little busy is right on too. Think about adding some depth by layering some candy apple over the flames, then going back and hitting some of the same spots again with the yellow. The candy apple, being darker will push those flames toward the back, but being candy, it will still be transparent and see through, giving it depth. Also, using the red and orange you will get from spraying it over the yellow, will make it a bit more realistic as true fire isn't usually all one color, value or hue.

One other note is to keep working on not being so symmetrical. The overall shape of real fire is constantly changing, so it is almost never "symmetrical" is that the center is always the highest point, or that the sides are exactly the same height and width.

But wow, you must be putting some time, because it is coming along great! Are you also doing the clear coat? The tanks look great and appear to have some depth to the clear.

 

[Twisted]

Thanks for the feedback and tips, I'll try them out, I'm working on it! Actually I wish I had more time, basically everything posted in this thread are all the times I've used the airbrush with the exception of some practicing when I first got it, work, kids and wife take up most of my time. But I got all the time in the world, that's what makes it a hobby!!! And as for the clear, everything so far has just been rattle can, eventually I'll pick up a quart, would probably end up being cheaper then $5-6 a can, but for practice its fine. Hopefully once the holidays are over, I can spend some more time out in the garage and get some good practicing in. Thanks again for taking the time to help a brother out!!!