Airbrush Artisans Share Talents, Techniques With Campus Audience

Air Affair East, organized to bring together well-known custom painters and airbrush artists to showcase their work and share their eye-catching technique with Pennsylvania College of Technology students and other participants, was held in College Avenue Labs last week.

The event was sponsored by Sherry Candlan, CEO of ASET Limited in West Valley, Utah. (Aset Corp. is the North American importer and distributor of Iwata automotive spray guns, as well as custom and fine-art airbrushes.)

"The original Air Affair has been held annually for the past three years in Utah," explained Alfred M. Thomas, associate professor of collision repair, who noted that past events chiefly attracted West Coast artists. "Because of subtle differences in style between East and West Coast art, Ms. Candlan believed that an Air Affair East would be successful in drawing participants."

Through a series of fortunate events that coincided with Candlan's search for a location, Thomas said, an Iwata spray-gun sales representative called on Penn College's collision repair department. After seeing the school and feeling welcome, Candlan contacted Thomas and Colin W. Williamson, the college's dean of transportation technology, to make arrangements for "Air Affair East."

The event featured artists Ron Gibb, of Toronto, Canada; Chris "Bones" Tolson, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Bob Soroka, Detroit; Jason Doll, Bismarck, N.D.; Steve Driscoll, Minneapolis; Paul Quinn, Philadelphia; and Pamela Shanteau, Toledo, Ohio.

On Thursday, more than 35 Penn College students attended free classes. Students also were invited to a catered "Meet and Greet," hosted by Candlan and ASET Limited. More than 25 participants attended Friday and Saturday classes, at which the artists taught 12 different style and techniques.

For more information about the college's School of Transportation Technology, call (570) 327-4516.

Photos provided by Alfred M. Thomas