How to use masking fluid with a Masquepen

I've tried to use masking fluid many times. Some of my efforts were more successful than others. Then I saw this new product in an art shop in London. Eureka, I thought, a way of using masking fluid that doesn't ruin my brushes. It's the perfect solution, or so I thought. I'm an eternal optimist.

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 that measures 0.8mm. The lid has a stainless steel pin that stops the masking fluid from bunging up the pen. I decided to use the Masquepen to create a ACEO (essentially a miniature watercolour measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches) of some hieroglyphics that I'd sketched and taken a photo of at the British Museum.

The hieroglyphics shown here (left) are to be found at the British Museum in the Egyptian rooms. 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 funny face and the snail. It might mean something rude, who knows, but it looks cute.

One: I used the Masquepen to outline the hieroglyphics. It is useful that the fluid is blue as it makes it easier to see when dry.

Two: You can correct or change any areas that you are not happy with by peeling off the masking fluid and reapplying.

Three: I decided to use a palette of five colours: cobalt blue, burnt umber, perylene maroon, vandyke brown and cadmium yellow

Four: I painted a base colour first, a mixture of the perylene maroon, vandyke brown and cadmium yellow.

Five: After the base layer of colour had dried completely, I began to peel off the masking fluid.

Six: The masking fluid was really easy to peel off, left a sharp line and did not tear the paper.

Seven: I outlined the shape of the hieroglyphics with a darker colour.

Eight: Using the cobalt blue, I painted in the fine detail such as the face and lines.

Nine: Hmmm...The finished painting turned out pretty much as I expected.

Verdict: The Masquepen 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 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.