Airbrushing Realistic Rivets & Metal Panels on Metallic Paint (What Actually Works)

This video combines two full airbrush demonstrations covering realistic rivets and riveted metal panels painted over metallic and pearl basecoats.
The focus is on techniques that hold up under real lighting, not just in the studio.

In the first section, I demonstrate a common rivet painting method using opaque black and white over a metallic basecoat. While this approach can look convincing under controlled lighting, it often creates dull or “dead” highlights once the artwork is cleared and viewed in sunlight. I explain why this happens and what causes metallic reflectivity to be lost.

In the second section, I show the method I actually use when painting rivets over metallic and pearl finishes. This technique relies on transparent candy colors (aniline dyes) instead of pigment-based paint, allowing the metallic basecoat to remain visible and reflective. Contrast is built gradually using light layers, negative space, and controlled shading rather than opaque highlights.

This video also covers:

Choosing and maintaining a consistent light source

Using negative space instead of white highlights

Cleaning freehand shields during use

Adjusting contrast without over-darkening

Rendering butt-joined riveted panels

Rendering overlapping metal panels

Creating realistic panel gaps and distortion

Evaluating results after clearcoat application

This is a real-world airbrush workflow, shown without shortcuts or hype, intended for artists who want their metal effects to look correct under actual lighting conditions.

Chapters: This video contains two full demonstrations combined into one continuous presentation.