Money Saving Tip:
Alternatives to Airbrush Canvas

We all wish we had endless amounts of money so we could practice painting on the best airbrush canvas or illustration board possible, but, realistically - that would cost a lot!

So what can you use instead? Any surface that is

• fairly smooth
• fairly solid
• readily available
• can withstand a little abuse

Bristol Board is definitely readily available, sort of solid and somewhat smooth. Some brands are a little too smooth - these types have a shine to them so try to avoid that type.

On the abuse side, there are a few things you have to watch for when using this material. Because the material is smooth paper, it can't withstand lots of scratching with an exacto knife or lots of erasing. You can scratch and erase a little bit, but if you do it too much in one spot the fibers in the paper will start breaking up which results in a "fuzzy" area.

Also, if you are using frisket (sticky back plastic) to paint your work make sure you cut the frisket very lightly so you don't cut the bristol board too. If the bristol board gets scored when you lift the frisket sections the top layer of the bristol paper will lift away.

Foam Core Board is a nice alternative to airbrush canvas too! I actually prefer it to bristol board because it is more solid and is not as likely to get "fuzzy" when you scratch or erase on it. With this material you also have to be careful with the cutting with an exacto knife because, again, if you cut into the foam core the paper outer layer of the foam core will lift.

Finger Painting Paper!! This is a new find for me!! Most big box craft stores have pads of finger painting paper in the children's section. This stuff is perfect for practicing on because it is the perfect smoothness, doesn't absorb paint like paper and it it DIRT CHEAP!

The only downfall is that it doesn't handle abuse well because it's quite thin - so it is likely to tear and crinkle.

I find it really good for when I am practicing the same thing over and over again and don't want to waste airbrush canvas or illustration board... for example, if I am trying to perfect a waterdrop I will use the finger painting paper and paint dozens and dozens of them without feeling guilty about wasting materials.

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