If anybody knows Nate Tsosie then they are probably one of many who have gotten in line at a bazaar or school fair to get a name airbrushed on a shirt or a hat.

Not many people knew the extent of his abilities because he’d chosen other career options before he became a famous airbrush artist.
But with growing requests for shirts with custom-made designs, Tsosie took the big step towards the direction of his dream that has brought him a life and a legacy his family could be proud of.

Tsosie grew up in Page and is a local favorite with appearances in town events or on social media videos where he can be seen effortlessly airbrushing.
Those appearances used to be too few and too far between for the people who anxiously  waited for a unique piece of Nate Tsosie clothing. Almost every time he made an appearance with his airbrushing equipment the line formed quickly.

Tsosie is self-taught. In 2009 he taught himself how to use double trigger airbrushing equipment.

“It took me half a year to get proficient with the airbrush equipment,” said Tsosie. Soon after he began his own company ‘Sevens’. The name comes his family’s birthdates. All of them have the number seven in their birth date.

He began making wall art with brushed metal, a learning experience that turned into a labor of love.

“One of the hardest things [about airbrushing] is we can’t rest our hands on things. Are hands are free-floating.”

Since Tsosie has had no formal education. What he’s learned has come through instinct or trial and error. One such trial-and-error lesson came while painting a large piece of brushed metal.

“I did an eagle on a panel,” he said. “I didn’t understand the chemical aspect of auto paints. I know now and I fixed the process, its very difficult.”

“I never imagined doing this as a living,” he said. “It’s something I originally just wanted to do on the weekend down at a swap meet, events or a fair, just for fun, just for extra money. Small events are always fun. But sending pictures on Facebook opened a lot of doors and people could see what I was doing.”
Now the line for original Nate Tsosie art forms in the heart of a Las Vegas Casino, Circus Circus, where Tsosie has a booth on the weekends. Now people from all over the world, including celebrities, wear his custom-made clothing.

At Circus Circus Tsosie works as part of a company of artists. The company from Circus Circus also makes video tutorials on airbrushing for the airbrushlasvegas.com website.

The challenge of competing in Las Vegas forced Tsosie to elevate his talent and skills to the next level.

 
His venture into the larger airbrush art world has placed him in venues such as the Mine Craft Video Game Event where he was part of drawing a crowd of 18 thousand people that set a record in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest crowd at a video gaming event.

He will also be a featured artist in the first internationally published Airbrush Action Magazine in May. This past fall he was featured in a video documentary called ‘Airbrush 2 Success’ that will feature the top artists in the field from across the country.

“It’s kind of intimidating to be featured in something like that with the pros,” he said. “There are really good artists out there. Just to be featured and to be known in that way is a pretty amazing accomplishment on my part.”

Taking that first step toward his dream came with ideas about the longevity of success.

“I think I was going with the attitude that I realize I was probably not going to airbrush forever,” he said. “And while the opportunity was available now I was just going to jump at it and make the most of it while I can. I think I also underestimate myself, I think I do a lot more than I give myself credit for.”
Tsosie’s next opportunity will take him to Hollywood where he’ll open a new shop in Universal Studios called Airbrush Studios.

“t will be the busiest airbrush shop in the country,” he said. “It’s out of the Universal Studios in Florida and the team [from Las Vegas] is assembling a new team with more west coast artists because styles from east and west coasts are very different. I’m kind of intimidated again and there is some really good artists coming out and I’m the Lead Artist. I have a lot to learn and a lot to prove. It’s a pretty huge accomplishment”

Tsosie gives respect and credit to his family who supported his dream, adding that his road to success has a big behind-the-scenes foundation.
“It’s been hard on my family, the kids, being away from home often,” he said.

“Everything that you see me doing is just frosting on the cake. You don’t see my family taking the kids on the weekend, or kicking me 20 or 30 bucks for gas or borrowing a car. So many things my family friends do that we don’t put out there and they don’t get the credit. But it’s because they believe in me, and my talent, that they give it up so I can be successful. It’s about having a good foundation at home. They’re unselfishly willing to give and that is really huge. Thank you to everybody for supporting me.”

Part of Tsosie’s dream is to reach out to the youth in Page and the Rez and encourage the ones who have the raw talent to also be successful.

“I remember growing up with friends that were artist. When I talk at the high school I see so much talent in Page and the Rez; it’s amazing. It’s my hope is to see more kids pursue something like this. Again, you have to dedicate yourself and be willing to take a risk. It’s a gamble. I would like to see Native youths step up and really use something that comes natural to them… to use what God has given them. Its fun and you can do it as business.”

But Tsosie has not left Page for good, which is good news to those who are ready to line up for his work.

That ability to draw a crowd is still a pleasant sight to Tsosie when he is keeping it real with his hometown.

“Its home, and my family is up there, and I will be up to see family. I will be coming back.”