Iwata Medea Social Media Sites

Here's a list of our social media sites, cruise through some of these and check out what's going on.

www.iwata-medea.com

www.facebook.com/iwatamedea

www.twitter.com/iwata_airbrush

www.myspace.com/iwatamedea

There's lots to see from other artists and feel free to post your own artwork as well.

For a list of our Gold Crown dealers check out,

http://www.iwata-medea.com/index.php/buy_now/gold_crown_dealers/

Coast Airbrush Party - the Airbrush Show of the Year!

Congratulations to David Monnig and the Coast Airbrush crew for putting on the year's best airbrush event in 2009! In spite of the chillier-than-SOCAL-is-used-to weather, attendance was huge and the Coast Airbrush Party was off-the-hook!

For the second straight year the party has moved from the lot around Coast's store to the lot across the street at the Ember's nightclub. With substantially more space, Coast was able to fill it with all sorts of eye candy! Booths and tables were manned by all the major airbrush industry companies and players and also by many famous talented artists as well. Also, there were tons of custom painted cars, bikes and other objects d' art for the perusal and purchase of guests. Certainly, one of the highlights was the live music all day. Local bands, including renown artist Steve Vandemon's band, paraded across the stage jammin' out their rockin' licks.

Afterwards, many guests were invited to the Coast After-Party at Club Embers. Funky music filled the air and the ambiance was incredible. Coast sprung for some foodies and fave' beverages. Later the after-after party moved to Ryan "Ryno" Templeton's house where more debauchery certainly took place.

Coast touts it as a Kustom Kulture bash but the pics speak for themselves, this is truly the ultimate everything-airbrush event! For the pics, check out, www.facebook.com/iwatamedea

Air Affair 2007 - Salt Lake City

Airbrush fever in Utah!

The Ultimate Air Affair is a fantasy land for anyone interested in airbrush technique. Held yearly at our distributor's headquarters (ASET in Salt Lake City, Utah), is a 3-day running workshop program featuring instruction by some of the worlds top airbrush artists. Not only do attendees get the opportunity to learn from a great team of artists, (and get a first hand test-drive of Iwata Airbrushes and Artool Templates) they can also gawk and ogle at all the eye candy of work featured in the art gallery. This years artist roster at the Air Affair included:

• Craig Fraser
• Deborah Mahan
• Fonzy
• Abel
• Dean Loucks
• Bob Soroka
• Gerald Mendez
• Bones
• Steve Vandemon
• Jason Doll
• Ron Gibbs
• Ryno Templeton
• Mike Lavallee
• Dennis Mathewson
• Steve Driscoll
• Paul Quinn
• Pamela Shanteau
• 

Sherri Candland of ASET does a fantastic job of organizing the event. Even though the focal point of Air Affair is the learning and interaction with the artists themselves, Sherri also puts out quite the food and beverages spread coupled with her own special blend of down-home hospitality. There are also various vendor booths and freebies available to attendees! But the grand finale at at the end of the Air Affair ,is the raffle featuring some killer donations by both vendors and artist instructors. In my opinion, one of the best raffle prizes is a custom painted and signed panel by all of the artist instructors! Definitely a one of a kind collectible.

I highly recommend anyone interested in learning more valuable airbrush techniques, no matter what the discipline, to attend Air Affair East or Air Affair Salt Lake in 2008. If you want to plan on attending at one of next years events, call Sherri direct at ASET 800-628-5449. You will not be disappointed.

Here's some pics to wet your appetite for next year! Some of these pics are courtesy of Donn and Pamela Shanteau.


Check out this killer Monkey's guitar by Ron Gibbs!

Myself with Ryno of Trick My Truck and Mark Hebbeler from Anest Iwata USA.

A ultra-kewl hand-carved tiki by Dennis Mathewson

Craig Fraser, and his new short hair, gives the new Triple Action Handle a test spin!

Artist in Residence, Literally

We here at Iwata Medea are a very fortunate bunch.

In our minds, we get to live in one of the most beautiful places in the country in Portland, Oregon; our local basketball team [Trail Blazers] just got Greg Oden; and we have the best airbrush products in the world to promote and distribute in Iwata. However, one of the most fortunate situations that we currently enjoy is having a respected and distinguished airbrush expert right here in our building!

Kirk Lybecker is one of America’s foremost and successful fine-artists. He is represented in galleries locally and nationally and has won numerous prestigious awards. He specializes in hyper-realism and most of his subject matter is flowers and exotic plants, (typically in watercolor), and architectural [urban] imagery, (typically in oil paints). As you can see, his painting style is beautifully matched with the capabilities of the airbrush.

As an educator he has also taught many classes on airbrush technique across the country. As a requirement, new employees are indoctrinated into the world of airbrush by getting to “spend a day with Kirk” on their first day of job. Having a first-hand understanding about our airbrushes and compressors is a vital for all employees regardless of their title or position. Besides, spending a day with Kirk is like spending the day with any “guru”. You hear the passion in his voice for the airbrush and its many splendors and you’ll be able to see the pain in his face as he talks about the carnage he occasionally endures if someone returns abused or mistreated airbrushes for repair. Alas, there is no land for Misfit airbrushes.

Kirk is also our in-house Technical Advisor and Airbrush Specialist here at Iwata Medea. His gallery and studio is in our building as well. On any given day Kirk is often seen by our staff meandering around the office discussing the finer points of “relative airbrush theory” or listening to his newly favorite audio book while working on his next masterpiece. Imagine this, for us having Kirk in our midst is like having Mario Batali as the Chef at your local family restaurant or Mario Andretti instructing at your local driving school. Here are five questions from a discussion I had with Kirk and his replies.

How did you first get introduced to airbrush technique?
A. I first saw an airbrush being used in graduate school. There was an artist who was doing some things with an airbrush that I really was impressed by. When we graduated I bought his whole rig, paint, brush, and compressor. I was doing oil paint at the time and having quite a problem keeping the brush clean. About then I took over a watercolor class for a year and found that the airbrush was much more useful with the watercolor than in the oil paint.

As an artist, what motivated you to include the airbrush as a tool in your own work?
A. Simply put, I am lazy. Or shall I say I am not an advocate of unnecessary work. The airbrush can do things that are difficult if not impossible to do any other way. So either learn how to make even transparent washes or use an airbrush. Artists through out history have been of the mind that if a tool works for a particular job, that is the tool to use.

What airbrush in your stable of airbrushes is your “secret weapon”?
A. I find that the Custom Micron series of brushes tends to be my main tool. It is one for the high end details, the things that make a painting pop. I also like the Eclipse CS. When it first came out I didn’t think much of it but I am now a believer. It is my brush for most of the general shading of things. I also use it on the oil paintings as I can use the .5mm nozzle. This is an easy brush to clean and does not seem to be bothered by thicker paint. I also am a big fan of the LPH 50 because it will cover a large area and put down a drop-dead flat wash.

Who are some of your favorite artists that use airbrush?
A. Audrey Flack, John Salt, Don Eddy and Daniel Tennant. Keep in mind that the best airbrush work will never let you see it.

What is ONE IMPORTANT piece of advice you can give to a new airbrush user?
A. Take a class. There are so many things and tricks that will make your experience better. The airbrush is not a particularly intuitive tool. (I know this because I had to teach myself and I can’t say I care to learn things that way) A good teacher will show you how to clean and maintain your brush. This will make your life much easier.

Fast facts about Kirk Lybecker

* He personally does the repairs on each airbrush that is sent in for repair. Fortunately there aren’t many, so he spends good quality time on those he does get.
* Although Anest Iwata in Japan tests every airbrush prior to delivery to Portland, Kirk personally inspects and re-tests every Iwata Custom Micron a second time prior to shipment to our customers. See for yourself!

* Kirk tests all new products prior to it going to market. You’ll often here him say “Ah a new toy for me to try?”
* He loves to golf almost as much as he loves to paint.
* Kirk’s wife is also an artist

Check out Kirk at www.lybeckerstudios.com or maybe call him here at the office!