My Airbrush Sprayed Paint With Air Only — What Went Wrong and How I Repaired the Painting

While airbrushing this skull, paint unexpectedly began coming out of the airbrush when I activated air only. At first glance, it looked like simple user error — pulling back too far on the trigger — but when I slowed the footage down, that wasn’t what actually happened.

In this video, I break down what caused the problem, why it happened, and how mechanical issues inside an airbrush can lead to unexpected paint flow. I also discuss why immediately wiping a mistake is often the worst response, and how allowing the paint to dry first prevents additional damage.

The second half of the video shows the full repair process. Instead of trying to erase the mistake completely, I work strategically with erasing, texture, and light layers of paint to turn the damaged area into something that no longer reads as a mistake.

Repairs don’t always work perfectly, but attempting them builds experience that can’t be gained from flawless demonstrations. Understanding what went wrong — and how to respond calmly when it does — is what actually leads to improvement over time.