How to Make Money at Airbrushing

by Jonathan Lister , Demand Media Google

The skills necessary to become a successful airbrush artist have applications across a variety of industries, including auto body customization and fashion. The most difficult part of becoming a successful airbrush artist is finding the means to pay the start-up costs, which can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Purchasing the Tools

Making money airbrushing requires that you have the necessary tools of your trade. The required equipment, including an air compressor and airbrush nozzle, can cost between $2,000 and $10,000 depending on quality, according to Entrepreneur's website. Buying the correct paint for the task is also mandatory to mitigate the risks involved with airbrushing. For example, paint designed to adhere to fiberglass or steel should not go on the human body. Failing to take the appropriate safety precautions could result in customer injury.

Auto Body Paint Work

Airbrushing to create new decals and images on automobiles can become a regular job if you're able to secure employment with a private customization business. Landing such a job usually requires that you have a portfolio of your airbrush designs to show to potential employers. This shows business owners that you have the artistic skills necessary to do the job at a high level. According to Entrepreneur's webite, you can make up to $60 an hour plus your material costs while working as an airbrush artist for a custom auto body shop, as of the date of publication. If you're able to sustain at least 30 hours of work each week, you can earn an annual salary of $86,400. This figure doesn't factor in tax obligations or periods of the year when work might not be as plentiful.

Airbrush Tattoo Business

Temporary tattoos, including airbrush tattoos, can be an ideal business if you live in a sunny location close to a public beach with an established boardwalk or shopping area. Setting up this business requires that you lease a commercial space close to the beach. You could also rent a kiosk to serve as your airbrush tattoo store for the summer tourist season. How much money you can make creating temporary tattoos for tourists depends on your costs and how much you charge per piece of work.

Airbrush Clothing Line

As an artist, you can make just about any surface a medium as long as it's within the boundaries of the law. Creating a clothing line using your airbrush skills can allow you to establish a fashion business filled with signature designs. According to, creating your first clothing line can cost as much as $10,000 to create samples and develop ideas. Once you have the merchandise, setting up an online store to sell your clothes can take as little as a day. Social networking can help you market your products for no cost, while you focus your business efforts on shipping your clothes to customers.

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