The Airbrush Getaway: A Good Solution in a Bad Economy

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Airbrush Action

The Airbrush Getaway: Have no Fear
As many of you know, the Airbrush Getaway is coming to the Rio Suite Hotel in Las Vegas, October 17th-21st (a Monday to Friday pattern). In this down economy the Getaway is a great bet for people interested in discovering new ways to make money, regardless your perceived degree of talent.  With the latest, cutting edge technology and techniques (plotters, projectors, stencils, etc) taught, hands-on, the “I can only draw stick figures” argument is a thing of the past.  I can’t even begin to count the number of people who have entered the program with very limited art experience and graduated with the ability to make money immediately.  The Getaway really does work.

A sense of intimidation is also common among newbies; the fear that they won’t be able to keep up, that they’ll slow down the class, and the biggest of all: that they’ll be the only beginner in the group. This perception, however, is not the reality.  In fact, the Getaway was originally intended for beginners, and today it caters to all skill levels, including professional artists.  Invariably, those who do take the plunge are glad they did, experiencing a strong sense of camaraderie and family (it may sound corny, but it’s very true), that the instructors are far more down-to-earth, friendly, and accessible than they imagined, and that they learned more in four or five days than they would in months or years on their own.

For the uninitiated, the Airbrush Getaway is typically conducted in a 16,000 to 18,000 square-foot space, in an open forum where you’re encouraged to check out the other classes.  It is also the World’s largest, most dynamic, and unique airbrush workshop program.

The Getaway offers the following 4-day courses: Photorealism with Dru Blair, Automotive Graphics with Ryno, Power Portraits with Jerry Ott, Ultimate Airbrush Techniques & F/X with Terry Hill (new class), Airbrush Mastery with Gary Worthington, Pin-Up Art with Lorenzo Sperlonga, Murals
on Steel with Jonathan Pantaleon, Wildlife Art with Denis Mayer (new class), T-Shirt Airbrushing for Fun & Profit, and Airbrush Tanning & Body Art with Lamari Millot.
1-Day classes include: Intro to Airbrush, Intro Automotive Graphics , Intro Murals on Steel, Intro to Pinstriping, and Airbrush Tanning.

Also, if you haven’t yet bought an airbrush and related accessories and equipment, DON’T.   The Getaway will show you exactly what you need for your setup, which can add up to a savings that is probably worth the price of admission alone!  There is no better place to test drive the various airbrush models, spray guns, stencils,
surfaces, paint, etc. before you buy.  In fact, you needn’t bring anything to the Getaway barring a pad and pen for notes; everything is provided for you.

So, if you’re ready to expand your talent, and be a part of the largest paint party in the World, please feel free to call me (yes, I will take your call) at 800-876-2472 or, for international callers, 732-223-7878.  Just say, “Cliff, I read your blog and demand that $50 discount you promised!”

Getaway Factoid: Students range in age from their teens to their
70′s!

 

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Shooter of Mark Rush Arrested

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Airbrush Action

Man charged in home invasion

PANAMA CITY BEACH–An Alford man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a  home invasion robbery that happened last year, according to  a Bay County   Sheriff’s Office release.

Arrested was Christopher Shane Harrison, 23.

Authorities said that on Aug. 8, the victim was on the back porch of his home  on Pine Drive when he spotted a man walking along the side of his home toward  the back. The victim confronted the suspect and they wrestled, tumbling into the  home. The suspect had a gun and fired at the victim, grazing him along his head  with the bullet. The suspect pistol whipped the victim and began to ransack the  man’s office, demanding money. The suspect pointed the gun again at the victim  and pulled the trigger. The gun jammed and the victim was able to throw the  suspect from the home. The suspect then fled.

Evidence collected from the scene led investigators to identify Harrison as  the suspect, BCSO said. During questioning, Harrison told investigators he had  committed the home invasion robbery, BCSO said. He was charged with home  invasion robbery with a firearm and aggravated battery.
Read more:  http://www.newsherald.com/articles/home-93549-invasion-city.html#ixzz1WC7zb6tE

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Posted on April 13, 2011 by Airbrush Action

I’m in Vegas working on future Airbrush Getaway plans: dates, venue, etc.  I’m excited that our 26th Anniversary issue, May-June 2011, will be printed and released early.  Also, we’re awaiting approval from Apple to go “live” with our new Airbrush Action app on the iPad.  You will soon (hopefully in a week or less; I’d dread any longer) be able to subscribe, and we’re working on adding many free back issues for the iPad as well.  On a regular basis I will post fun and interesting factoids on  a wide variety of things.  Even if it’s not about airbrushing, I thought I would mix things up and make the blog more interesting.  I’d love your feedback on that and everything else we do.

Fun Info About Thursday, April 13th

In 1742, Georg Frederick Handel conducted the first performance of Messiah at Dublin, Ireland. Handel also was the harpsichordist. In 1962, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published. Birth anniversary of Thomas Jefferson, third president of the US (1742-1826). Birth anniversary of authors Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) and Eudora Welty (1909-2001). Thailand: Songkran Festival (Aug 13-15). Today’s Birthdays: Peabo Bryson, Bill Conti, Al Green, Garry Kasparov, Davis Love III, Ron Perlman, Paul Sorvino, Lyle Waggoner, Max Weinberg

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Mea Culpa

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Airbrush Action

I try to keep up with the many airbrush forums, tweets, and blogs to maintain a pulse on what people say about us.  Good, bad, or indifferent, I love it all.  We listen, and much of the way Airbrush Action has evolved over the years is a direct result of this feedback.  One of the most frequent complaints concerns “the ads.”  I, too, agree that there are perhaps too many “house” ads in Airbrush Action, and a couple of issues ago, we eliminated about two pages worth with more chopping to come. Unfortunately, we publish in an industry that does not support Airbrush Action with enough advertising to even justify the magazine. The house ads keep it all going; they’re our fund-raisers, or life-line, if you will. Without the revenue streams of the DVDs, books, and Airbrush Getaway workshops, there would be no Airbrush Action. In fact, two former publishers of airbrush magazines have echoed: “Now we know what you go through, and man, we don’t know how you do it! We have a new-found respect for you.” The good that we’ve done as the World’s longest running, and leading, airbrush publication (we’ll be 26 this May) by far outweighs the negatives. Most of the “celebrity” names in airbrush that you know well, admire, and even emulate owe much of their notoriety to Airbrush Action, and we’ve done more, hands down, for their names and the crusade of airbrushing than any other publication or source in the industry. And, we do listen to our readers. Hey, we’re not perfect, but our determination, commitment, and success in keeping an airbrush magazine alive are unmatched. NOT bragging, just proud. 2010 and 2011 have and will be especially solid editorially.  Some of the upcoming incredible art and features will blow you away.

About the Jan-Feb issue. I truly apologize to any loyal subscriber who felt left out by not receiving the now notorious free DVD. We absolutely meant no harm or snub by it. The DVD version of Jan-Feb was a very expensive promotion designed to increase sell-through on the newsstand, introduce Airbrush Action to an entirely new audience, and to promote the effort’s major sponsor, Auto-Air Colors, whom, by the way, has been the most generous and progressive company I’ve ever worked with. As a personal aside, Auto-Air’s Craig Kennedy is a true visionary. I know he’ll hate me for saying that (he’s an overly modest dude), but I believe it to be accurate. Because of your collective response, and our error in judgment (I must say that to satisfy today’s quota of Jewish guilt), we will never exclude subscribers again. I welcome all to contact me personally (ceo@airbrushaction.com) with any issues, questions, or comments you may have about Airbrush Action.

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Getaway Commences Monday!

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Airbrush Action

It’s not too late to register for the Las Vegas Airbrush Getaway, which starts this Monday (February 27) at the Rio Hotel.  The Getaway is an incredible airbrush party that features some of the World’s best artists as your instructors.  I don’t mean to be heavy-handed here, but for the uninitiated it will take your art to the next level and beyond.  If you’d like to speak to me personally about the Airbrush Getaway, call 800-876-2472.  Even if you can’t attend as a student, feel free to stop by and check it out.  Hope to see you in Vegas next week.

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Let’s all wish Ryno our best

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Airbrush Action

ryno airbrush workshop and tv show I’m excited for Ryno, and very much look forward to his new TV show, Car Warriors, Wednesday, Feb 23, on the Speed Channel.  Ryno is a great guy and a super personality; an asset to any show or event.  Let’s support him by tuning in.  Also, Ryno has evolved into one of the best airbrush instructors on today’s scene, so if you’d like to take his hands-on airbrush course, Automotive Cheap Tricks & Special F/X next week in Las Vegas at the Rio Hotel, you’re in for a real treat. Continue reading →

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After the Funk and the Slump, The Airbrush Action Blog is Back

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Airbrush Action

I gotta be honest.  I was in a deep slump for more than a month and I’m happy to report that I’m back physically (the shoulder’s doing very well) and mentally.  It was a combination of a number of things: the shoulder surgery, Holiday funk, a brutal winter, and the enormous stress of publishing the January-February Airbrush Action, which, I believe, is one of our best.  Did I actually experience post-partum depression from the issue?  The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.  The 90-minute airbrush instructional DVD (a huge success, by the way, and an effort I’m very proud of) we included ran late and over-budget at the replicator.  As a result we had to pay exorbitant rush fees, and overnight the shipment (for Saturday delivery no less!) to Wisconsin from Brooklyn, New York for a whopping $3,900!!! 

Also, this issue was, to be candid, good by accident.  We really had no great airbrush cover feature, and had to put our best foot forward because of a $10,000 promotion we committed to that better penetrated the Canadian market (Wal-Mart Canada, 7-11, Macs West, and others).  Ah, the price for airbrush evangelism.  I turned to my biggest weapon, airbrush pin-up artist, Olivia, and she was generous enough to help out last minute.   Historically, all Olivia covers sell out.  She and her husband, Joel, are wonderful people, and I love ‘em to death for always being there for us, and for their dear freindship.  By the way, many of our strongest issues have come via serendipity. 

As the leader of my company, I’m certainly responsible for motivating my employees, but there’s really no one to give me a boost when I need it.  For anyone going through this, all I can advise is work through it and know that you’ll rebound.  It’s a difficult process, but you’ve got to tough it out and have faith. 

Again, as always, I thrive on your feedback about Airbrush Action, and airbrushing, and wish to know how we can make it a better airbrush publication for you.  Airbrush on.

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I Survived the Surgery

Posted on November 13, 2010 by Airbrush Action

Please excuse the brief message but typing with one hand is not easy or very pleasant a this point. The shoulder surgery went well, and I want to thank all those who showed concern and sent well-wishes.  Your responses meant a lot.  I’ll continue the blog as soon as I’m able. Warmest wishes to all of you.  Cliff

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SEMA 2010

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Airbrush Action

I reluctantly attended the SEMA Show last week in Las Vegas.  Reluctant because I had covered it for so many years that it started to become a drab experience for me.  Alot of the custom painted vehicles started to look the same year after year, and frankly, in this economy, I strongly predicted SEMA’s worst year for attendance and far fewer eye candy to photograph.  Also, this would be the first time in five years that HOK, Anest Iwata, Artool, Coast Airbrush, Iwata, and Airbrush Action magazine did not sponsor the usually hotly anticipated Airbrush Confidential party.  The grudge, however, quickly evaporated.  I was most pleasantly surprised to experience an oddly fresh show with a much higer than expected attendance, and some really cool cars, trucks, and bikes to shoot for Airbrush Action and this blog.  For the second year in a row, House of Kolor’s booth was, in my opinion, the best-of-show with an amazing display of over-the-top art on skateboard decks, cars (Jon Kosmoski’s was extraordinary), canvas, a refigerator, the ever popular carbon fiber (or is it fiberglass?) bombs, and more.  Featured artists included Mike Lavalee (his new series of fine art, skelebrities, was worth the price of admission alone), Craig Fraser, Eddie Davis, Steve Vandemon, Javier, Soto, Armando Serrano, Steve Driscoll, and other greats I just can’t think of at the moment.  Major kudos to HOK’s Nick Dahl for staging such an immense and impressive effort–once again–and to Fraser for recruiting a knock-out team of great talent–once again.  Other standout booths belonged to Anest-Iwata/Iwata, and Badger Air Brush for their displays of art and artists.  I discovered some new talent this year, caught up with “old” industry friends, and on the overall had a highly productive show and learned that, from now on, I should never even consider missing it. Look for extensive coverage in  the January-February issue of Airbrush Action.
Excerpt  
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Mark Rush, Legendary T-Shirt Artist, Shot in the Head

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Airbrush Action

I’ve known Mark Rush, renowned T-shirt artist, for nearly 30 years, and I was shocked to hear that he was shot in the head recently at his home in Panama City Beach, Florida.  T-shirt airbrushing gained a super boost in popularity from Rush’s cover feature in the now defunct Airbrush Digest in 1982. The following is an excerpt from an online report:

August 2, 2010
PANAMA CITY BEACH — Seconds after a trespasser put a gun between his eyes, 57-year-old Mark Rush shoved the gun up and it went off, slicing through his skull.  “It felt like a branding iron going through the top of my head,” Rush said Monday from his hospital bed. “I immediately put my hand up there to see if my brains were hanging out.”

But the struggle between Rush, a Panama City Beach resident, and an as-yet-unidentified suspect, did not end with the first shot. As Rush was down from the gunshot wound, the suspect, who had entered Rush’s yard uninvited, was now in his house and going through his things.  “He was twitchy as hell the whole time,” Rush said. “He kept yelling like he was on something.”

For Rush, who was bleeding heavily, the situation looked dire. “I thought, ‘No shit, this is it.”  And the trespasser was not done.  “He said, ‘I shot you once; I’ll shoot you again,’ ” Rush recalled. “Then he shot another round. He missed me.”

Despite his injury, Rush managed to tackle the trespasser. “I figured, if I can get ahold of his gun again, I can turn it on him. It’s my only chance,” he said.  After a subsequent struggle, Rush, who has a concealed carry permit and owns several guns and other weapons, the assailant fled. “I didn’t follow him out ’cause I figured he could shoot at me again,” he added. At that point, Rush called 911. His harrowing Sunday afternoon that began with a strange visitor in his yard ended with a trip to the hospital.

“The neurosurgeons today said I was really, really lucky,” Rush said. He has 50 stitches in his head and blood on his brain, he added.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident. They say the suspect is a white male in his mid to late 20s, about 6 feet tall, weighing 150 to 175 pounds, and has big ears, bad teeth and a thin face. He has medium-length dark hair, a tattoo on his left arm of a sword or a cross, and possibly a tattoo on his right leg. Authorities said a reward likely will be offered for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

We at Airbrush Action wish the best for Mark’s recovery and future.

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