8 Watercolor Resist Techniques - How to Use Masking Fluid and Other Techniques

There are many ways to use resisting mediums to carve out or protect an area in your watercolor painting. This video takes you through 8 unique techniques that help you do just that.
0:00 - Intro
0:17 - How to use masking fluid
5:32 - How to use thin masking tapes
10:05 - How to use masking film / Frisket film
14:34 - Wax candles
16:18 - Crayon/wax pastels
18:03 - Waxed based colored pencils
21:32 - Emboss then dry brush with paint
23:00 - Acrylic matt medium
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** Supplies I used **
+ Pebeo Drawing Gum
Jackson’s bit.ly/3tdESLN
Blick bit.ly/3JPoPK6
Amazon USA amzn.to/3qdRd0V
+ 3mm masking tape
Amazon USA amzn.to/3zHSQqu
+ 1mm masking tape
Amazon USA amzn.to/3n8ptsj
+ Frisket sheet (masking sheet)
Jackson’s bit.ly/3K8oSB9
Blick bit.ly/3JXilJd
Amazon USA amzn.to/3tdpora
+ Candle
Amazon USA amzn.to/32WZPAg
+ Sennelier wax crayon
Jackson’s bit.ly/33ijYAy
Blick bit.ly/3zETHbG
Amazon USA amzn.to/3GgwOh2
+ Luminance white pencil
Jackson’s bit.ly/3tadz55
Blick bit.ly/3zFaZ8B
Amazon USA amzn.to/34vCh5H
+ Blender bar
Jackson’s bit.ly/3nc8d5F
Blick bit.ly/3qdsLga
Amazon USA amzn.to/3I6tvKb
+ Embossing tool
Jackson’s bit.ly/32WGM9b
Blick bit.ly/32WI2cp
Amazon USA amzn.to/3ndPlmJ
+ Liquitex matt medium
Jackson’s bit.ly/3nbFgqi
Blick bit.ly/3331K6c
Amazon USA amzn.to/3r6ymUu
** Please support this channel **
Patreon / otokano
Blick Affiliate: bit.ly/3sxPamL
Amazon US Affiliate: amzn.to/37FQYC9
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Oto Kano
PO Box 24120
Edinburgh
EH7 9FB
United Kingdom
Jackson’s, Blick and Amazon links are affiliate links in which a small percentage of the sale supports this channel without costing you any extra at all. Thank you so much for supporting this channel grow!

[@kristiw.1823]

Seriously - that is such a cool looking effect you got, where it bled under the film! I'd never heard of that stuff before. Will have to look into it.

[@hannahthufvesson]

I agree! ☺️

[@jacquiadams863]

I love your delivery and clarity and enjoyed learning all the techniques

[@ethanharvey]

I never thought of using a dip pen with masking fluid, but I just tested it, and it works so much better than any brush or tool I've used before. Incredibly useful tip, thanks!

[@Ahobbitatheart]

I finally can do something with a bowl of really thin washi tape I have, thank you! I also keep a bag of tea light candles to use when I want to create that glow as the sun is about to set on the horizon.

[@ashleywright8686]

Wow, model craft tape. Who knew? ❤🎉 TYSM

[@polgara28]

Awesome! Some new to me tips there. Never seen the masking film in action. I've been having fun playing with the Fineliner bottles. Along the lines of the dip pen, a glass dip pen works too. You need to water it down a bit. Also, if you put masking fluid down on damp paper, it makes fuzzy edges. Don't water it down, and for sure test it on your paper first, but it works well. (Pebeo brand) Thanks for doing this! ❤️

[@rachelchan2215]

Thanks for your sharing! It’s interesting to know the different ways to do the masking!😊

[@kristinekessler7894]

Learned New Resist Mediums --Thank You!

[@NoFri11s]

Never thought of matte medium! So cool!

[@user-kn6oi3jx6j]

i like the masking sheet effect, organic!

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

I have never tried or heard of using the acrylics mediums for a resist technique. I have used most of the other things on my paintings. Thanks for sharing this wonderful informational video with us.

[@svenj9771]

I will try the oil pastel one. I did want to use oil pastel to finish up my watercolor paintings (just ordered the iridescent one by sennelier) but did not think of using it as resist before watching this video.

[@GingahSnapsArt]

Ooohh! Lovely! I didn't know about the masking film 👀 Another one similar to matte medium is gum arabic. It can be removed afterwards by rewetting, and offers softer edges than masking fluid. 🥰 Really really nice

[@natlisan]

Great masking techniques Oto! It really took me back to my days as a textile design student. I learnt a lot of these techniques.

[@Lemu_with_a_shirt]

Basically cheap people masking fluid, but photo glue works pretty well. I tend to just pick it up with some old kneaded eraser.

[@mjrewerts]

I think it would be very interesting to try the matte medium technique 🤔. Also, unless you need sharp edges, purposefully not pressing down the edges of your frisket could yield some unique effects you can’t get any other way.

[@glorioskiola]

Glaze pens by Sakura also resist watercolor. They come in all sorts of colors (most, if not all of them, are translucent). You need to keep in mind that the ink is permanent and can’t be removed afterward.

[@The-Secret-Dragon]

Thanks Oto for once again enabling my art supply splurges 😂

[@polgara28]

I wonder what would happen if I tried to use the frisket sheets for large areas, but painted masking fluid around the edges to make sure it didn't leak. May have to test that out. I love videos like this, gets my brain thinking! 😊

[@keepyourshoesathedoor]

Thank you! You’re helping so much!!!

[@197432879]

Thanks, I can’t wait to try using the thin tape for swatching, whenever I get it from Amazon.

[@melissaaldosari8024]

Such wonderful tips Oto! Thank you so much!

[@cassandraluxmoore3718]

Fantastic, love the acrylic resist.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Really great video, Oto, thank you! The two I haven't tried are using the colored pencils as a resist and then the acrylic medium. Fun!

[@deb.e.mixedmedia]

Cool techniques! Thanks for sharing!

[@mononastone7148]

Very informative. And i like the mest up masking sheet the most, because if you want some structure like a snake skin this techniek is perfect. Thank you !👌🏽🤩

[@lisawaller7620]

I like frog tape ( green ) or delicate yellow too

[@SKS_Erika]

Thank you so much for your video! Appreciate all the examples and research. I’m going to try a couple of them. I usually use a wax crayon or white pen over it. Thanks again!

[@markmoreno7295]

Exactly what I was looking for.

[@TXY3008]

Very good, thank you 🎉

[@annettefournier9655]

Thanks Oto. No mistakes; Teachable moments! I've never seen such narrow masking tape. And that the Pebeo brand is thin enough to use a dip pen. I abandoned the dip pen method with my masking fluid but now will try again with pebeo. Too bad they didn't sponsor.😉😁🤩

[@lisawaller7620]

Never saw the film ...cool

[@anam00090]

Loved this! Have been playing around with oil pastels for the past few months but never thought of using them as masking medium. Loved the matte medium trick as well. Would've never thought about trying that. Also thought the leak on the sides of the masking sheet looked really cool. And Pebeo masking fluid is the only one I use, never occurred to me to use a dip pen - using brushes always stresses me out so this is super helpful, thank you

[@BleachSoulxx]

Wow, super informative video ! Love your content

[@foreverlearningart]

Thank you!

[@eileencollins3126]

Fascinating.........

[@leylimah6322]

Thanks 🙏🙏

[@TsukabuNosoratori2]

I use masking tape and wash tape for my details and resist effects when I need them :) My mumsie got me a bunch of tape over the holiday after she saw how much use I really do get out of it.

[@valasafantastic1055]

Great video. I think I'll get some of those large masking sheets! And remember to rub down the edges lol. I've heard of them before but they slipped my mind. I might try the acrylic matte medium resist sometime as I already have some of that. If Washi tape counts as masking tape I already use that (I use my ugliest cheapest ones so I don't waste the pretty ones!)

[@Jlalode]

The frisket paper can be expensive. You can use Clear Adhesive Protective Liner Covering for Books instead.

[@Angie-pl3uw]

Thank you, this was great. Will Mod Podge or white glue work as resist? Just curious!

[@ashleywright8686]

Have looked everywhere for the Holbein tool which scraped off the Pēbēo masking fluid. Besides “Maxon,” what’s the name of this tool? TYSM for your videos! Love them 🎉 New subscriber 🎉

[@valeriejouve3858]

Thank you for all these informations, they are really very useful. I follow your video with most pleasure. I have just a little question, you seems to never use the brand Windsor and Newton ? Why? This is not my favorite brand in professional watercolor , but often these pigments seem to be ... reliable... boring for you? Thank you, have a nice week end

[@VeretenoVids]

This was very interesting! I had a thought while watching this when you mentioned using crayons as a kid--would rubber cement work?

[@wendydann8180]

How long can resist stay on? The bottle says 24 to 48 hours but I might only be at the class once a week.

[@kristiw.1823]

Quick question - can you use the same pen and beeswax that is used in Ukranian egg painting? Wasn't sure if there is something unique about beeswax that might harm watercolor paper

[@polgara28]

It should be fine. I'd love to see your results! If the beeswax isn't perfectly white, but a bit beige, you could try it on toned paper.

[@kristiw.1823]

@@polgara28 I'm heading to visit a friend that has been doing Ukrainian eggs for years. She's promised to teach me, and then I can try it out in watercolor.

[@polgara28]

@@kristiw.1823 Hope you have lots of fun!

[@awatercolourist]

First!

[@wendychampness1901]

Thanks! I dislike masking fluid.The alternatives are good