Using Masking Fluid for Watercolors

Using Masking Fluid for watercolors is more simple than I thought it would be, I think it’s a replacement for negative painting. All you have to do is to have an old brush you don’t use anymore, wet your brush, rub it in soap for maximum impact and ease of use, dip it in the masking fluid then finally of course you begin painting and using it in the places where you want to apply the masking fluid in well in areas that you want to keep white, that’s why its important not to throw away your old brushes.

N.B: Of course you can always paint on these areas again once you take off the masking fluid, when the fluid is completely dry you can take it off by rubbing it with your fingers, AS SIMPLE AS THAT!!!!

If you want more details on how to use this fluid:

Check-out About.com:Painting you’ll find a very interesting post about Soap and Masking fluid tips for watercolors

Another great page called Art of Afrika about using the masking fluid in painting a Lion Cub and His Bone the page includes a great illustration and step by step tutorial that explains how to work on every layer, starting of course by applying the fluid.

Also on Wetcanvas you can find excellent pages and tutorials on using masking fluid Using Masking Fluid (Liquid Frisket)


I was in Paris when I bought the fluid and so it was my first time so naturally I was very excited to buy a bottle of this fluid “Gomme Liquide pour dessin” as it is said in French, I couldn’t wait to get back to Egypt to test my new gadget, I can’t describe the feeling I was in the skies!! And I think it turned out a very nice and interesting technique, it enabled me to do the above painting of trees landscape.

So I followed the instructions of my favourite Book How to Paint and Draw
By Hazel Harrison, great book that explains various techniques, its divided into four parts, this book covers all the most popular mediums: drawing, watercolor, oil and acrylic, and pastel. In this book the painter says “the great advantage of using the masking fluid is that it removes the worries and allows to paint more freely” well he couldn’t be more right, especially for a student in watercolors like me.

Well the steps I took to achieve this painting:

• Step one: I used the masking fluid with a small brush to reserve the small areas “white areas I want to keep white” on the trees suggesting light or other effects on the trees.
  Step two: Then I applied a light wash (lavis) of blue-gray color on the whole area between the tree trunks with tonal differences to create depth in the painting suggesting the foliage and the background.

• Step three: I allowed the first wash to dry and then I applied Greens and yellows in various areas wet in wet.

• Step Four: I allowed all colors to dry then I applied browns on the tree trunks and on the masking fluid, using mainly Burnt Umber Brown

• Step five: Most FUN part, I took off the masking fluid

• Step six: Well some of the white areas are so white, so I darkened some with some yellows and Ocre color
  
  For any suggestions especially for the colors used and or any other tips you want to assist me with I’ll appreciate it, please update me in the comments box.