Using masking fluid with watercolors
June 18, 2010 9:31 pm art techniquesI’ve tried to use masking fluid many times with varying degrees of success. The best type to use is colored (usually blue) so is easier to see to peel off the paper afterwards. I decided to make an art card based on Egyptian hieroglyphics that I’d seen at the British Museum. See below for a step-by-step guide and for where to buy a masquepen.
You will need:
- masking fluid
- watercolor paper
- watercolor brushes
- brushes
Where can I buy a masquepen?
Dick Blick Art Materials sell a vast range of art materials. It is an art supplies company that is based in the US.
If you order over a certain amount, shipping can be free within the US, conditions apply. Orders placed from outside the US will have a different shipping charge and may be subject to import duty. (Click on the shipping information link at the bottom of the page on Dick Blick Art Materials for details.)
Right: The advantage of using Masquepen Art Masking Fluid is that you don’t ruin any brushes and you can draw thick, thin, straight lines, or curves. The pale blue water-based latex solution is easy to see, apply, and peels away from paper easily. Use the Supernib Attachment with its 0.5mm tip for ultra-fine work.
You can get two different sets:
- The Small Set includes one Masquepen and one ultra-fine 0.5 mm Supernib. It comes with a cleaning system with a solid needle for pushing out excess masque, cotton swabs, and a water flushing squeeze bottle;
- The Large Set includes everything in the Small Set, with the addition of a Masquepen refill.
For more details, click on image.
Step-by-step guide to using masking fluid with watercolors
Ptashepses hieroglyphics, Egyptian Room, British Museum, London
I based my art card on a tablet showing hieroglyphics seen at the Egyptian rooms of The British Museum, London, England.
This is a detail of a false door of Ptashepses. Don't ask me what a false door is for or who Ptashepses was. That's what it said on the label and not much else. I was attracted to it because of the face and the snail.
Masking fluid
You can buy masking fluid and use it with a brush, but I decided to try a Masquepen.
The Masquepen is basically a container of blue masking fluid with a device at the top that can be used as a pen. You have to rotate and pull the top off to reveal the nib. The nib I used measured 0.8mm. The lid has a stainless steel pin that stops the masking fluid from bunging up the pen.
Step One
Use the masking fluid to outline the shape of the hieroglyphics. Some masking fluid makes, such as this one, are blue which makes it easier to see it once it is dry.
Step Two
Once dry, you can correct or change any areas that you are not happy with by peeling off the masking fluid and reapplying.
Step Three
I decided to use five watercolors: cobalt blue, burnt umber, perylene maroon, vandyke brown and cadmium yellow.
Step Four
I painted a base colour first, a mixture of the perylene maroon, vandyke brown and cadmium yellow.
Step Five
After the watercolor had dried completely, I peeled off the masking fluid.
Step Six
A good masking fluid will be easy to peel off, will leave a sharp line and will not tear the paper. Sometimes thin, cheaper paper may tear when you peel of the masking fluid.
Step Seven
I outlined the shape of the hieroglyphics with a darker color.
Step Eight
Using the cobalt blue, I painted in the fine detail such as the face and lines.
Finished hieroglyphic art card or ACEO
The finished painting resembled the original sculpture.
Verdict for this project
The Masquepen Art Masking Fluid is difficult to control and the fluid tends to flow out more quickly from the nib than I wanted it to. At times air got trapped in the bottle, which meant that it blew out bubbles making it difficult to draw a fine line. Practise on a sheet of scrap paper first.
Pros: The masking fluid is blue and is easy to see on white paper. The Masquepen Art Masking Fluid offers a way of drawing with masking fluid which doesn’t ruin your brushes.
Cons: The Masquepen’s nib is very fragile and could easily be damaged. The lid is also fiddly to place back on. Air can get trapped in the bottle and blow out bubbles. The liquid tends to flow very quickly producing big puddles if you aren’t careful.
sarah :
Date: July 28, 2010 @ 9:14 pm
and this is supposed to be an example of great art? really? it the pen is so great can we see a real artist using it?
Diane :
Date: July 28, 2010 @ 9:46 pm
thanks for your comment. The name of the website is how-to-be-a-bad-artist.com!