Airbrush Action Getaway

If you don't want to read what I have to say about it feel free to go straight to their website and read up on it yourselves:

Airbrush Action's Website

Note: If you do sign up for the event let Clifford S. Stieglitz, Publisher & Executive Editor of Airbrush Action know that I recommended it to you - maybe someday he'll give me a discount or a coupon code that I can pass along to you for all my praise ;)

My Comments

Airbrush Action Getways are held four times a year, twice in Las Vegas and twice in Orlando. I have only been to the Las Vegas version - but I have to say, this is a world class event.

I attended my first Airbrush Action Getaway in 2006 and had absolutely no idea what to expect. Even though I had no expectations, anything I could have imagined was EXCEEDED.

When I arrived, it was obvious right away that this was a really well organized event. I was greeted at the door by someone handing out name tags and as I entered the ballroom (it was held in several hotel ballrooms) the scene that unfolded before me was amazing.

The entire ballroom floor was covered in plastic, there were stations of airbrush tables set up for each of the classes (more on this later), a large product exhibition was set up to the side selling books, clothes, products, and anything airbrush you can imagine.

The best part of the Airbrush Action Getaway? There were at least 200 artists there. 200! All ready and eager to mix and mingle and meet new people and learn from the best of the best.

When I say the best of the best - I mean it. Dru Blair, Kent Lind, Corey St Clair, Cross-eyed, and many more.

The way it works is you sign up for one of the 4 day airbrush classes in a genre that interests you. The classes available at the Airbrush Action Getways change all the time - new ones being added, old ones being phased out - typically there is a fine art class, a t-shirt class, a murals on steel class, a stencil based class, a pin-ups class as well as others. Check out the website to see the details.

But here's the cool thing... just because you signed up for one class doesn't mean that you don't have access to all the other classes. Students are encouraged to walk around at breaks and see what everyone else is up to. It's a very interactive learning environment.

The class I signed up for was Dru Blair's photorealism class - but the commentary I have about the caliber of the instruction goes across all the classes I stopped in at. The class sizes were small, maybe 20 to 30 per class so there was lots of one on one training as we worked on our pieces. Many of the instructors had set up video cameras and TV monitors so that you could see more clearly what they were demonstrating. Many had assistants that would also come around and help you with your work.

But it gets better.

Every student is given their own workstation and a brand new, right out of the package IWATA airbrush to work with. After the classes you can purchase the airbrush you used at a significantly reduced price.

Living in freezing cold Canada, I opted to take my mom to Las Vegas with me as a bit of a holiday. While I was at class she could shop and gamble and we could meet up later after class. WHAT A MISTAKE!! While the brochure and website say that these classes run from 9 to 5 - that is a complete and total LIE! These classes run into the wee hours of the morning! The instructors really want to make sure that you get your money's worth out of these classes and stop at nothing to do that. Most classes wrapped up around 8 or 9 at night. Dru's class went to 1:00 am one day. I got over 50 hours of airbrush instruction in 4 days for my money! It is well worth the investment.

Speaking of money - Airbrush Action Getaway classes are pricey. Close to $600 USD - not including travel or lodging or food. I'll admit I completely flinched at these prices and felt incredibly guilty about going...

But ... after the experience I had, the friends I made and most importantly the skills I learned ... I would pay it again and again (and plan too). My airbrush skills advanced SO much from that four days. Somebody once asked me how long it would have taken me to learn those skills on my own through practice and perseverance and to be honest - I would have to say YEARS! I learned in four days what it would have taken me years to learn on my own. YEARS.

Airbrush Action Getaway Rating: AWESOME!!

If you want to help me get to another Airbrush Action Getaway so that I can share what I learn with you here on airbrush-guidance.com please feel free to donate to the "cause" (hehe) by clicking the donate button below. I will share what ever I can - promise!