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UpDated 12-21-21:

With the recent passing of Terry Hill (yet another icon in the airbrush industry). It seemed like a good time to bring up this blog post which pertains to the future of the airbrush industry. The question?…”What are you doing to bring new life and talent into the airbrush industry?”

Mr. Hills passing leaves a giant hole in the industry. While nobody will ever be able to fill Mr. Hills shoes as they pertain to the contributions he has given our industry over the past few decades. Eventually, the industry will need to compensate for this loss and continue with the help of a new generation of artists.

Let me start off by saying this is basically just an “opinion” piece. There is no scientific data to back up anything said in this post…just personal research and mostly observation. So take this article as just a fun read with possibly something to think about.

The one factor however that I think very few people could or would oppose is the fact that there are a lot less airbrush artists today (that are actually doing this as a living) then there was in the 80’s,90’ and early 2000’s and the numbers keep dwindling.

Based upon my own information gathered by the relationships in the industry I have built over the past 38 years, as well as observing and trolling the airbrush forums, Facebook pages, groups and other social media outlets. I have come up with an estimate that the average age of airbrush artists today is 35 and slightly above. Even further, I would estimate that 50%-60% of the artists making a living as an airbrush artist are 40 and above. Out of the over 40 number, I would say that 60%-70% of them are above 50 and 10-20% of the 50 and above are probably close to 60 and above.

So my question is…How many of you are “training” a younger generation to take over when your tired hands have had enough?

If you said “YES”, I am training new artists….how difficult is it to find new talent?

I think a lot of us with our own shops(myself included) would love to be able to pass down a family business that you have grown for however long you have been in business. I know I would love to keep “Anything Airbrushed plus” going after I am done painting….but my two daughters have no desire to be involved in the business aside from the occasional “order taking” So where does that leave a family owned business who’s “business” is something that not everyone can do?…something that takes talent and training?

The only option is to train someone(not in the family) who may eventually want to take over some day.

How do you do that with this younger generation that has so many more options than were available back when most of us started? I am not going to go on a long “Bash the millennial” or “Gen Z” generations but I think it is important to realize and accept that their way of thinking and approaching life is very different than in previous generations. There are many reasons for this, some not so nice to say and some very logical, having to do with the completely different world they have grown up in….but it is accurate to say they are harder to impress and therefore harder to get them interested and involved in an art that has started to fade slightly from the general publics view.

So back to the above question…If you said “YES”, I am training new artists….how difficult was it to find them?

One of the problems that you may encounter when trying to find and hire new talent is the “Old School” way of paying artists….by “Strictly Commission” I am not going to go into detail on paying artists but if you want more details and options you can read our blog on that subject “How to pay Airbrush Artists” But let me just give you a quick example on how this could be a hurdle if you do decide to hire and train.

Here is my favorite scenario when offering a job to someone of this new generation by offering to pay strictly commission and having them supply all their own equipment, which is the standard in the industry….

Imagine your kid coming home and saying they got offered this great job doing airbrushing at the mall, amusement park, on the beach etc… and as a parent you say...."GREAT!...How much does it pay?".....the kid replies.....”Nothing!….unless I paint something, then I get 50% of everything I do”...."oh, by the way mom and dad, you need to buy me airbrushes and paint"

...lol...I just can't imagine this scenario going over well in this day and age. But it is a standard way of paying in this industry and therefore a very real scenario.

Let’s face it…most airbrush artists today fall into the age categories above. Most have the “subcontractor/percentage pay ingrained in them….simply because it’s a “good ‘ol boy’s club”…lol… that is very hard to crack and very stubborn when it comes to change. Just because it has been this way for decades does not make it right…and in this day and age it does not make it the “correct” way. This younger generation is, in a lot of ways, smarter, more savvy, more picky and are willing to wait until a job comes along that is the right fit for them. They are less likely then in previous generations to jump at a job that only pays them when they actually do something. Trust me…a “subcontract/percentage based pay” type job is NOT for 95% of this younger generation.

Airbrush Artists are “aging out” of this pay system. What was right for us 30-40 years ago is not going to continue to work on this age group. If you have a shop that you hope to keep going, then you are going to need to adapt to this younger generation.

This is just one example of hurdles that need to be over come with the desire to train an hire young talent in order to keep this industry going.

The next question is how do you find young people to hire. Again, I won’t go into a lot of detail in this post but you can read more in our BLOG “How to Hire Airbrush Artists” if you want to know the best ways to find young people to train.

In brief however, your best place to start is the local high school art classes and any local art schools/colleges in your area. The main thing you want to look for are “artists”…these are the young people who will be interested in a job like this…..lets face it, you are not going to call the “Wharton School of business” or “Harvard Law school” for potential new talent….lol….high school Junior and Senior art students and Art School/College Freshman are your best options. So concentrate your search where it makes the most sense.

The other important thing to do in order to help keep this industry going is to get out there and promote “the art of airbrushing”. Back when I was in college(early 80’s) Airbrush was a required course in most of the art schools in the US. These days I would wager that 80-85% of those teaching art in high school or college have never even touched an airbrush. With the airbrush being the most versatile art medium ever!… this is a sad percentage.

So what are you doing to bring this art to this younger generation?

Well, you could be getting out there and doing demonstrations, offering workshops, even teaching full courses. Not only is this a good way to keep the art of airbrushing in the public eye and on the minds of the young, but you will also find it could be a possible resource for new talent. Doing this is as easy as just emailing the art teachers in your area. Offer to come in an put on a demonstration for their classes. Art teachers LOVE having guests come in and promote the “business” of art and show their students the many different ways someone can make a living as an artist. Some schools will even pay you a small stipend for your time. So not only are you doing the industry a favor by showing off the “airbrush”, you are also possibly finding new talent to train/hire AND you could possibly be paid to do it…..it’s a Win/Win for everyone.

Recent Airbrush Demonstration at the Art Academy of Cincinnati

Recent Class at the Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center in Covington KY

Even the old Airbrush Action getaways and the current Airbrush art Circus Coast Airbrush Rendezvous and other lesser known “airbrush expos” attract more people from the 35 and up age category then they do Teenagers and those in their early 20’s. This is because the younger audience has not been exposed to airbrush as an art as those of us in previous generation were. They are not targeting the “younger audience” They have “Old School” names attracting “Old School” artists who just want to learn something different or care more about meeting a “celebrity artist” they admire more so then what is being taught in the workshops. These older age “students” are still going to “age out” of the industry sooner rather than later without possibly ever really contributing something “New” to the industry.

The point to this whole topic is that the “Airbrush Industry” as a whole is slowing reaching a threshold where age will eventually win. In order to keep our industry alive and in demand we need to do some things that will help keep it in the public eye, and possibly change some things to keep up with the times.

This means those of you that have your own shops/studios should be looking at training and hiring these younger talents. Those of you that are self employed and just do it out of your own homes should be pursuing ways to get out there and show off the art of the airbrush. As mentioned above by doing classroom demonstrations, workshops, and full blown airbrush courses. You don’t have to have a “public” studio to hold these types of airbrush events. There are plenty of local art studios, arts organizations, schools and even local body shops that would be happy to lend you their space(some for a fee) to put on these events.

Younger talent needs to be mentored and instructed in this fabulous art form if the industry is ever really going to continue to grow. However the younger talent will NEVER learn if they don’t even know the airbrush is an option to learn.

So here are a few questions to ask….and feel free to respond below or even respond on any other Group, Forum or post where you may see this posted.

1.) Are you training new artists?

2.) Do you take the time to promote the “art of airbrushing” via demonstrations, workshops or classes in your area?

3.) Do you even care or think “Age” is an issue in this industry?

4.) If you have an existing business, do you have someone that can take over for you when it’s time?…does this even matter to you?

5.) What are some things you think that should change about this industry to help keep it in the public eye? Again, This is just an “opinion” piece so lets hear your “opinions”

6.) If you are in the UNDER 35 age group, what are somethings those of us in the industry a lot longer can do to help you get involved, stay involved and help grow the industry.

Lets hear some input…