For the fish carver, there are two kinds of paint to consider. One is water acrylics, and the other is polymer lacquers. Water acrylic paint is the safest way to paint, and I do not recommend lacquer paints, especially for the novice airbrusher, since they are very flammable and have dangerous fumes. Special precautions are a must if lacquer paint is sprayed. Some advantages of acrylic paints are: fumes non-toxic (should still have good ventilation and wear a mask); non flammable; relatively fast drying; easy cleanup with soap and water, and far less harmful to your skin.

I would recommend using airbrush ready-to-use paints when learning to airbrush. They may require thinning if you are doing detail work, or if they have been left open for any length of time. Once you are familiar with the airbrush and paint viscosity, you can try preparing or mixing your own paints. You will find that some colours are more difficult to spray, as they clog the tip quicker. White seems to be the colour I find most difficult, especially for detail spraying. There are several airbrush ready paint brands, ie: Polytranspar, Golden, Medea Com-Art Colors, Badger, Wildlife Colors, Hydromist, etc. Try several brands to see which you prefer.

For the paint to spray properly, it must have the correct viscosity. Even with airbrush ready paint, you must shake or stir it well.

If you are having problems with the tip clogging quickly, more than likely the paint should be thinned. Thinning paint to the right consistency is a trial and error process. Use clean water, and some artists use distilled water or isopropanol alchol. Do not use too much water or adhesion to your carving may be affected. You can also add a product like Liquitex Airbrush Medium, which is a premixed blend of acrylic polymer emulsion and flow agents designed to thin acrylic paint. Check information provided by the manufacturer and always test first before spraying onto your carving. I usually add a few drops of distilled water and medium and test spray, and add further drops if necessary.

A method to check the correct viscosity of paint is as follows: with a sample of paint that sprays well ( known mix), place a drop on a piece of non-porous surface. Now place a drop of new mixture beside the known mix. Tip surface and watch the paint run downhill. If the new mix runs like the known mix, then the mix is correct. You can also see how the paint drips off a stirring stick. The amount of thinning will depend on the paint and the size of the nozzle in your airbrush. A 0.5mm nozzle will spray thicker paint than a 0.2mm, given the correct air pressure being used. The higher the viscosity or thickness of the paint, the higher the pressure will be required to spray it properly. Airbrush ready paint like Golden brand, would be an example of low viscosity paint.