I'm excited to do this class! I've never considered masking fluid as a medium before.

Here I've gathered my tools.

Discovering Masking Fluid - image 1 - student project

Here's my selection of masking fluids. The WN and the Maskoid are VERY old and may be dried out! I purchased new Pebeo and the Fineliner and a new rubber cement pick-up. My ancient one with a chunk cut out of one corner (who knows why?) is a bit stiff. Dish soap in a reclosable container.

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Finally found my old watercolor palette!! Hello old friend! I had the foresight back in the day to write each color on tape below each well on the outer walls of the palette. Yay me!

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Some old, some new inks. Purple, several browns, basic black, blue, green and burgundy. I also have yellow and white.

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Test papers.

Canson cold press 140#

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The Pebeo is working the best. The WN is not completely dried out, but is more of a gel consistency and will not flow, although it will spread like butter! The Fineliner has less control than using the dip pens, so I prefer the dip pens. The Maskoid can't even be opened, but I'm sure it's completely dried out. UPDATE: Finally got Maskoid opened. It was indeed completely dried out!

Unknown wet stretched cold press just for comparing.

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After adding watercolor.

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After removing masking fluid.

Canson cold press 140#

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A bit too much dish soap in the first few strokes of the brush. Toothpicks worked surprisingly well as they softened up and acted like quills. Paperclip was also surprisingly effective.

Wet stretched cold press

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Not sure what happened with the toothbrush section. Perhaps too much blue dish soap? Same observations as Canson, but the wet stretched was rougher, so had to press harder to create lines.

Abstract

Oops! Forgot to take a pic of just the masking fluid. Here's after applying color.

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Here's after removal of masking fluid. The painter's tape was stickier! Tore some of the paper off along the edge. Very interesting with the different tools for application.

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On to the Teacups! Used large brush to apply masking fluid. Using Canson cold press tablet for all exercises. More economical.

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Decided to go with a different color ink than the paint. I love the result!

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Now the oranges. I used a small brush for the shapes and toothpick for the dots on the whole oranges.

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Found these watercolors to be better quality with pigment: Kurataki Gansai.

First yellow-orange wash.

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Dark Green wash.

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Final with light green leaves. Original idea for thicker outlines was to represent the thick orange rind. using artistic license, a thinner line would be better. Pardon the paper warping!

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Now the pebbles. Here's the masking fluid step. To create the criss crossing lines, I used small brush, paperclip and toothpick. Small flat brush to paint out background.

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Paint application.

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These came out lighter than expected, but I like them!

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Final. Added shadows under the stones.

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Hawthorn Flowers

I used this photo reference.

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Masking stage. Used Q-tip, paper clip, toothpicks, brush.

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Paint applied.

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Masking fluid removed.

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After looking at my finished painting, I realized the flowers are too close together and I need to space them out more to put in more branches so the individual flowers stand out better against the green background.

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But otherwise, I'm thrilled I was able to do this painting, as I was initially quite intimidated! I found a pink gel pen to use for the flower anthers (ends of the stamens). I added tiny bit of line work with green ink to separate the buds and flowers.

Whaleshark

Masking using Q-tip, toothpick and paperclip to make the dots.

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First watercolor wash

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Final

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Spaghetti

I drew my small cast iron pan with pouring lip.

Masking step. I tried using my dip pen, but the lines were too fine. I then tried a toothpick, but that wasn't working either. I wound up using a small brush, but the lines are a bit thick.

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Paint applied.

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Final. Spaghetti is too thick, but it was a good exercise. I am ordering the Blue Pumpkin nib from Amazon!

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Daisy Meadow

Masking step. Used large and small brushes, toothpick, paper clip and toothbrush.

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Paint applied.

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Masking removed and daisy centers painted in. I forgot to do the tree line at the previous stage, so I put it in here.

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Final with sky added. I'm rather pleased with this as with the Hawthorn, it seemed quite daunting at first, but wound up coming out ok!

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Fruit and Veg Net Bag

Forgot to take pics of the masking and fruit/veg painting stages! Here's the final masked with background painted.

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And final image! I had a bit of trouble with the masking fluid lifting off some of the pigment for the fruit and veg, particularly, it lifted all my beautiful color off the aubergine! But, I'm done! Class completed!

Discovering Masking Fluid - image 39 - student project

Paula Chan

Designer, Photographer, Baker, Rock Climber!

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