Posted on 8th Apr 2011 @ 5:01 PM

ALLENWOOD, NJ -- Interest in learning how to airbrush has reached a fever pitch, thanks to TV hits like Pimp My Ride, Sunset Tan, American Chopper, Trick My Truck, the new Car Warriors, and others. And there may be no better way to learn than at Airbrush Action magazine's Airbrush Getaway Workshops. Celebrating their 21st anniversary, the workshops will be staged this year at the Doubletree By Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, Wednesday, May 21st, through Sunday, May 25th.

According to Airbrush Action editor Cliff Stieglitz, the internationally esteemed program-now offered annually in Orlando-is ideal for artists and non-artists who seek to learn new skills or take their art to professional levels.  "Students come away learning how to make thousands of extra dollars airbrushing."

All of the one-day introductory courses will take place Wednesday to prepare for the following four-day hands-on seminars: Ultimate Airbrush Effects and Techniques, Airbrush Mastery, Achieving Photorealism, Automotive Graphics, Automotive Murals on Steel, Airbrush Tanning, Makeup, and Body Art, Power Portraits, Wildlife Art, Pinstriping Mastery, and T-Shirt Airbrushing for Fun & Profit.  The courses will be conducted by some of the world's top talent, including Terry Hill, Dru Blair, Jerry Ott, Javier Soto, Ryno (of Speed Channel's Car Warriors), and other well-known artists.

Sponsored by Auto-Air Colors, SEM, Iwata Airbrush Company, Artool, and Anest Iwata, the Airbrush Getaway Workshops launch careers by teaching how to profit handsomely in art despite self-perceived artistic limitations.  A comment echoed by many Getaway alumni is that more is learned in four days at an Airbrush Getaway than in four years in college.  Joe Stanford, of Grass Lake, Michigan, thought he had finally reached airbrush nirvana. "One day you see a celebrity artist in Airbrush Action magazine, and the next day he's looking over your shoulder helping you.  That's priceless.  A lot of people might be leery of attending a Getaway because they don't know anyone, but it's like you're a part of this huge family as soon as you walk in. There are no cliques or egos.  I loved the Murals class.  Where else can you find all this amazing talent under one roof?"

Nicholas DelGrado, Sanford, Florida, adds, "It was great to experience the huge pool of talent from all over the country.  This is better than college because it's geared toward exactly what I do (skulls and flames). In college you have to extrapolate the bits and pieces that apply to you, and that can represent a lot of sorting. In fact, in the course of only four days, a student who never used an airbrush before turned out a piece of art that was really exceptional!  I would absolutely recommend that someone take an Airbrush Getaway." 

Seven-time alum Shena King, Hanson, Idaho still benefits from the Getaway. "There's so much information.  The instructors don't hold anything back and offer everything they know.  A Getaway is absolutely the best way to learn to airbrush. Learning on your own can be so difficult because there are so many little secrets that they teach you here that would take forever to learn on your own; and much of it comes on the first day!"

Curt Bacon, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, echoed many of the students' sentiments. "I've been painting for 20 years and this class has taken me to the next level. The Airbrush Mastery course is well, well worth the money." 

"It was interesting," observed instructor Terry Hill, "to see the strong response to the one- and four-day Pinstriping classes featuring Jeff Styles, a remarkable veteran talent.  This is the first non-airbrush course ever offered at a Getaway, and I'm impressed with its success."

"I really enjoyed watching the progress of the students," said Jeff Styles. "It energizes me to think that I can impart knowledge that has taken me 25 years to learn, in a concise manner, that doesn't require the drudgery of experimentation. It's a proven method I've developed for teaching a very profitable art form.  I can tell by observing a student's body language and posture where to correct the bad habits before they become lifelong habits."

As an added bonus, Styles often stripes a student's car or motorcycle as a class demonstration.  His performance on either surface is reputed to be mesmerizing!

According to Joanne Mock, Carlsbad, California, "Ryno's Automotive Graphics is very hip to everything contemporary and new, and he was excellent at showing you all the nuts and bolts.  This is a great course."

A one-day introductory course is $150, a four-day course $575 ($50 is discounted if you take both).  Classes include all the necessary equipment, materials, and supplies (airbrush, air source, substrates, paint, etc) at no extra cost.  For more information, or to register, call 800-876-2472 (732-223-7878 for international callers) or visit the Orlando Getaway Workshops brochure page. Group and alumni discounts available.