The Americans
AirbrushBobby
Hi Letterheads! I'm Robert Salyers from Clearwater, Florida whereI own and operate a business called Airbrush Now.
It started when 3 well dressed gentlemen came to my door in 1969 to award my older brother, Bobby , with an art scholarship. Well, I have no older brother Bobby.... I'm Bobby! The contest was sponsored by a County municipality and they had to give it to someone else because I was only 9 and you had to be in high school to qualify.
I graduated from Tamarac High School in upstate N.Y. in 1978 and was voted "most artistic" in my year book. In 1979, I moved to Florida to attend the Art Inst of Ft. Lauderdale which I found BORING! I felt I wasn't learning anything. So like all the males in my family I did my time in the USAF controlling airplanes. I wasn't satisfied with that, so the whole time I was in the military, I operated "Moonlight Sign and Graphics" in my home, off -base in Warner Robins, Georgia. That lasted until 1983.
I worked as a Draftsman and Illustrator, taking up the airbrush in 1986. I worked as an "Unglorified" Architect and Engineer during the days and Airbrushed on the beach in the eves. til 1993 when my wife Chapelle convinced me to go for broke and do what I like best....
With the tourist seasons changing, I went from shop to shop till getting my own shop (Airbrush Now) in 1997. Doing murals kept me away from my shop, so I felt I was paying over $1000 a month for storage. With Janette Baloghs advice and "supportive suggestions", I moved my studio to our home in Clearwater where I now work and watch my 2 children, minus the TREMENDOUS overhead.
I enjoy Airbrushing and have been taught by some real greats! (Don Ashwood, Terry Hill, Patrick Reynolds, Andrea Mistretta and a few others to which I am VERY grateful!) I've also started Pinstriping last year which I've found to be another fun challenge. I found it funny when my sign or airbrush customers find that I've taken up Pinstriping, they always purge,coax or beg me to practice on THEIR car!