How to use magic eraser - get rid of watercolour mistakes!

Watercolour has the reputation of being unforgiving. How can you sort out mistakes, especially if you have used staining colours? Lifting and scrubbing are fine, but using magic eraser is a bit of a game changer. It’s a melamine sponge meant to clean your bath, but it’s also magic on paper. Buy it in the cleaning aisle rather than the art shop and it might just save your painting, as well as a bit of money.
Each week I post a tip, trick or technique I wish someone had told me when I was a beginner. If you have a question please ask and I might be able to make a short film. Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed this.
You can find longer paid for courses at www.lizchadertonstudio.co.uk.

[@sandradonofrio413]

Brilliant! A great service to all artists. Well done.

[@LizChadertonArt]

my pleasure 😊

[@rutbrea8796]

Oh Liz you're such a great teacher 😍, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!!?

[@LizChadertonArt]

You are so welcome! That’s very kind of you.

[@JC-il4or]

Am catching up on your past vids, and having a lot of fun!! You do cover so much concisely in a short time ! Thank you!

[@LizChadertonArt]

Glad you like them!

[@zainylainy1]

I love listening to your accent and how you use your wording. Like, for instance you say, give it a go, or just chuck it out! Americans don’t use this kind of wording, so I love listening to you!

[@LizChadertonArt]

I’m sure I don’t have an accent!!

[@BIBICHON]

An excellent tip which I wish I'd known years ago and well (easily) explained. Thank you.

[@LizChadertonArt]

Really glad it helps! I hope to do one of these a week for at least the whole of 2021, so if there is anything you are interested in please let me know and I'll try to put it in my plan.

[@elizabethexley5190]

Thanks so much for this. Everyone talks about this but I haven’t seen a demo

[@LizChadertonArt]

Such useful stuff. Just don't be over enthusiastic and scuff up your paper

[@polgara28]

Excellent! I love how thorough you are! 😍

[@LizChadertonArt]

Thank you so much!

[@bertenns7072]

Great tip. Thanks for the helpful demonstration.

[@LizChadertonArt]

My pleasure. This stuff has saved many a painting!

[@johnoliveira2788]

Super Tip's! Love them. Thanks for sharing, Cheers.

[@LizChadertonArt]

Thanks for watching!

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

Wow I definitely need to add some to my artbox of supplies. Thanks for sharing this wonderful informational video with us.

[@LizChadertonArt]

You are so welcome!

[@richardcrowe3286]

Thank you Liz. Very helpful advice and as always enjoyable to watch.

[@LizChadertonArt]

You are so welcome!

[@susanorban3059]

Loved this one! Thanks for sharing these great tips!!❤️😊

[@LizChadertonArt]

my pleasure!

[@cheryloeste4875]

really excellent demonstration, thanks so much

[@LizChadertonArt]

You're very welcome!

[@debcavan]

Very cool. Thank you.

[@LizChadertonArt]

Glad you liked it!

[@tynaheadrick-phipps6768]

Great video. So nice that you took the time to show us the details 👍

[@LizChadertonArt]

glad you found it useful. I am trying to keep them under five minutes, but failed on this one!

[@kathleenthompson1569]

Thankyou for your reply, I will do a few swatches as you recommend. Yippee! I received three more of your books yesterday so I now have the set. I'm itching to go through them, they're great

[@LizChadertonArt]

Glad you like them!

[@crystalheart9]

Thanks for the awesome tips.💙

[@LizChadertonArt]

You are so welcome!

[@claireonlinex]

Thanks great tip

[@LizChadertonArt]

Happy to help

[@rabiacheema6048]

Brilliant tips

[@LizChadertonArt]

oh good. There is no order to the tips, but they are things I wish I’d known 20 years ago!

[@63mona]

Thank you very much:)

[@LizChadertonArt]

You're welcome!

[@elaineg60]

I wonder….I started with and still do traditional Chinese painting. Xuan paper, whether raw (unsized), semi-raw or sized; one of the biggest differences with western paper-you can’t lift..at least not with anything I’ve tried, even non-staining. Water control, especially doing the very detailed Gongbi painting on ultra-thin sized xuan; is probably the hardest thing about this medium. The tiniest micro-dot too much, is permanent and becomes, as my dear tutor says, “a part of the spirit and energy” of the painting. I’d prefer a lot less “spirit and energy” personally, but..🤷🏼‍♀️ I actually just got 2 magic erasers..I need Mr Clean in my kitchen, especially my white cabinets. I’m going to go test it out..first on a western painting that I got a bit if my background on my hummingbird..I thought it was all covered with masking fluid. THEN, I’ll do a test sheet on double xuan…it’s the closest to western paper and I wanted to do some swatches with my new Rosa single pigments…if I can find one that’s non staining… Thank you for the tip!

[@LizChadertonArt]

I have no idea how it will work on the paper. I fear it may pill it up, but until you try you won’t know!

[@Shuvah2Him]

I found that cosmetic sponges and makeup applicators work well also!

[@LizChadertonArt]

Gosh, what must they do to your skin???? Worrying isn't it?

[@Shuvah2Him]

@@LizChadertonArt the cosmetic sponges are super smooth and don't tear into the paper nearly as easy, but still disturb the paint so it lifts

[@LizChadertonArt]

@@Shuvah2Him that’s really good to know. Thank you

[@watsgoinon1999]

Melamine sponge...cheap as chips on Amazon.

[@LizChadertonArt]

that’s just what I say in the film (well not the Amazon bit)! don’t buy it from art shops!

[@celiacannon8345]

There’s a tape product called Frog Tape for delicate surfaces. It might be a better substitute for regular masking tape?

[@LizChadertonArt]

yes, frog tape is a low tack tape and very good!

[@kathleenthompson1569]

Is it just trial and error to identify staining watercolour paint or is it by pigment code?

[@LizChadertonArt]

if you have tubes of colour it is often marked on them along with whether they are opaque/transparent. If you have pans then look up the colour chart which will say. You can easily test yourself. Do a swatch, let it dry. Take a damp brush and run it back and fourth. dab with kitchen towel. if still lots of colour =staining, if white paper = lifting

[@user-vg4px3uh8h]

If you have a garbage disposal in your sink throw those last tiny bits of magic eraser in the drain and they'll clean those spinning blades. No waste! 😊

[@LizChadertonArt]

great tip…but no disposal unit!

[@Sglinert]

Washi tape is far superior to masking tape. I've used it for years to mask, as well as to tape down paper to leave a white border. I've never torn or damaged good watercolor paper.

[@LizChadertonArt]

agreed! It's just masking tape is far more readily available and cheaper (in the UK), so it is worth knowing your options....

[@rebeccagable9629]

I buy these erasers at the 99 cent store!

[@LizChadertonArt]

Perfect! Definitely stock up there and not at the art store!!