Pat Gaines,internationally-recognized airbrush artist and businessman,obtained his formal art education at Ringling College of Art and Design and began his airbrushing career as one of the first artists plying the trade along the North Florida Panhandle in Panama City Beach. He subsequently launched West Coast Airbrush. Under that brand name, over the course of a 30-year period, Pat and his associates opened and operated 30 stores in shopping malls in five Midwestern states and Arizona. The company also simultaneously operated seasonal and special event kiosks in Sam's Wholesale Clubs and at other venues.
He is sought after for his training and consultation. His video training seminars have been purchased and put into practice by thousands of airbrush artists across America and abroad. At the same time, leading publications for the imprinted sportswear industry, including Airbrush Action magazine, Impressions, The Press and Shirts Illustrated, and Pinstriping and Kustom Graphics magazines have published more than 60 of his articles about the business of airbrushing and the art form itself, making him among the most widely published airbrush artists in the world from 1985 to present day.
He has most recently been recognized as a 2017 New York Times 10 Best book cover artist for "Made for Love" by Alissa Nutting. The cover was also chosen as one of 2017's best by the book review, Literary Hub, who said "This cover, to me, is ultimate book design success. I love when designers find new ways to apply an already existing art form to their covers—and I think for this book the content and execution were a perfect match. Looking at it and imagining it being made fill me with joy. It’s been a rough year, we DESERVE more airbrush art."