In fact, there isn't much you can't do when you learn how to use an air brush - and now Mount Isa residents can learn.

Glenn Crotty, who has been using one for over a decade, said there was nothing better than seeing someone pick up an air brush for the first time and after a few days of practice create a beautiful work of art.

Mr Crotty is a sign writer by trade but now owns a successful business running airbrush courses in Australia and overseas.

The Brisbane-based spray guru has taught everyone from makeup artists to car buffs the ins and outs of using an airbrush to perfect their trade.

He said his job was to teach people the skills to create art, but what they did after they left his class constantly surprised him.

"I had one guy come in and all he wanted to do for the whole course was create a single painting, that was all," he said.

"I ran into him years later and he said it was already working for him.

"Apparently he would bring girls home, show them the painting and tell them he was an artist and it worked every time."

Some people take the classes for the joy of learning a new skill but others have devised ideas for unique and profitable business ventures.

Mr Crotty said he had another student who was using their new skills to start a business custom painting doors for residents in London.

Intricate spray effects on the doors made the home appear as if someone was standing in the doorway to ward away unwelcome visitors.

Mr Crotty said although he can paint just about anything with a spray gun, his favourite subjects were animals.

"Portraits are fun because that is how you learn photo-realism," he said.

"Animals are interesting because they have so many textures and they are a real challenge to paint."

Mr Crotty will bring his four-day training course to Mount Isa next week, and said he was keen to teach some locals who don't think they've got one artistic bone in their body.

"We look to teach people with no artistic flair because they don't have preconceived ideas of how to create a painting," he said.

"We show them how and why a portrait is created in a certain way so at the end of the day if they want control over any art tool they already know how to use it."

Air Icons visited Mount Isa last year, funded by the Regional Arts Development Fund, but without support from the community Mr Crotty said he may not be able to return his upcoming April 26 - 29 course at the Mount Isa Potters Group workshop.