Painting...

I'm a pretty artistic person and a "perfectionist". So I figured I'd make a good custom painter. Anyways, I was wondering if anyone knew of any good online resources or books that help teach the art of custom painting. I want to learn it all from full body painting to custom airbrush designs (flames, stripes, etc.). I'd also like to learn airbrush for painting interiors and other small items around cars and trucks. Also, do technical schools around the country have automotive painting classes you can take? I know most of them have welding classes and such, so I figure maybe a few will have automotive painting course.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

I applaud your ambition, and your willingness to ask questions. I used to have a body shop, so here's my advice to you. Yes, tech schools that have a body/paint class would be an excellent choice to learn. You'll get a proper grounding in the basics, you'll get to meet visiting speakers from the various paint companies, and you'll be able to use the latest in equipment as most schools who are serious about these things will have the best guns, materials, and boothes. You could also go directly to work in the industry as an apprentice. You'd probably start as what's called a prepper. In other words, the "grunt" work, or at least what appears so. At that level, you'll learn how to clean a car properly. How to evaluate existing surface condition for proper preparation. How to get the surface ready to paint. You'll learn how to sweep floors and stuff trash cans. Then how to tape and mask. And how to clean the surface..........over, and over, and over again. Once it's ready to shoot, the "painter" takes over.

This may sound strange to you, because most people who don't paint think the spraying is the glory part. Wrong!! Prep is king!! If it isn't prepped right, putting shiney paint on it only emphasizes the wrongs. The biggest draw back to going straight into the industry and apprenticing is you might end up in a place where they won't, or can't, take the time to teach you correctly. That's why I would suggest a tech school.

While your artistic talents can be very useful, the key to being a successful painter is attention to detail and dedication to the craft. And experience, experience, experience. It can be very frustrating and time consuming when things don't go right, which WILL happen, and it can be one of the most rewarding crafts as well. Making beauty feels good.

Is there a website that contains a list of all paint/bodywork schools? I type stuff in search engines and get abunch of books and other useless items.

Hi cod,
I have been an Automotive Paint Technician for 26 years & it has made me a nice living.
I had a helper that went to WyoTech : http://www.wyotech.com/courses/coreP...onRefinish.asp
And his skill level was pretty good right out of that school when I hired him.
He Just left after 2 years of being with me to become a full fledge
Auto Painter & is painting for a good shop & is making 17.00$ a paint labor hour now. I must of did something right ......LOL

I did a Google search using this : Auto Body Schools & it came up with quite a few listings, so you might take a look there.

I would pick up a cheap air brush & go to your local hobby store & use india inks to learn how to use it. They wash up with water , and can be cleraed over with a spray bomb can of enamel clear, to see what your finished product looks like .

SprayTech

Quote:

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Originally posted by Streets
PS Cod, I looked for 20 minutes for a tech school and finaaly came up with "Page has moved, been deleted or just NOT found"
So, I gave up.. BOCES is a good bet for now, run by your public school system as a continuing education course..

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That's all I could find as well. There is an automotive tech school about 15 minutes from me that offers diplomas in Automotive Technology and such; guess I need to check them out and see if they have any bodywork/paint courses for CE.

Thanks for all the help y'all.

It might be a good Idea to check out some Illustration classes offered by your local college to learn more design basics, graphics and color thoery... Some schools also offer airbrush illustration courses... I am currently a Creative Director in the Advertising field with about 20 years of experience in Design and Illustration... I do all of my own paint work on my projects and graphic design backgroud comes it handy, plus it gives you the kind of eye for detail that you need to do body work as Bob mentioned above...

Hope this helps...

Dave Brisco

Cod ,
I almost forgot Kansas has a great automotive restoration school,
it's the one Jay Leno endorses. http://www2.mcpherson.edu/academics/auto/index.asp
I have never had the oppertunity to go & check it out , but have heard its a good school, its also a 2 year course.

I know Leno has taken several of his personal cars there to be restored, to give the kids something to learn the restoration process on .

I quit using un -catalyzed paint as it can lift or wrinkle when you put a catalyzed clear over the top of the one shot type paint..
Today's paints are very finicky on what is compatiable with one another anymore. I'm not saying it cant be done, but it does open a big can of worms at times.

I have come across way to many Earl Schibe, Macco, & backyard paint jobs that I have had to try to repair & they usually end up Blowing up in my face & taking it in the shorts money wise to Waste My Time to get it right !!!!!!!.
If your going to be a do it yourselfer make sure you know your products , So you or someone else can repair it later on if need be . Do it right the first time !

SprayTech

if you use one shot you can use the activator for the clear you intend to use instead of mineral spirits. if you trully want to be a custom painter get an old icebox and go crazy on it. you can wash it off with any solvent and start over. ive painted most of my life and thats how i learned to do airbrush and stuff. good luck

I took a 14 week class (1 night a week) a couple years ago on auto painting. I've been a car fanatic all of my life and have done a little painting over the years. This class was just enough to make me dangerous. I'm no expert by any means but it was a great start for me. Painting can be very rewarding, but I've suffered through some frustration as well. I will say, experience is the best key!!

Also, I'm a graphic designer (freelance too), which has helped me alot in designing graphics for cars. If you do have difficulty coming up with ideas, thumb through some magazines for inspiration.

And if you ever need help, let me know...designing paint schemes is my specialty!