Watercolor Masking Tips and Tricks - part 1

[@lindascott3885]

Paul, I just found your channel when searching for how to mask small objects. I quickly subscribed after watching this first one. Looking forward to more content! Best wishes on recovering from your hand injury.

[@watercolorish]

Thank you Linda!

[@jtpaar1732]

All I can say is, NEED MORE! Love your work and appreciate any tips you share to try out! You have a real skill for capturing that light and I hope you do a few videos in normal speed so I can watch how you do it! Thanks!

[@watercolorish]

Thank you!

[@mesagirl224]

Thank you for this tip! I never thought about using drafting tape - so helpful 😊

[@SarahAndBoston]

Amazing tips!

[@christophercox936]

Wow this is like one of the best art videos I’ve ever seen. Shirt sweet informative and useful.

[@watercolorish]

Many thanks for your interest and for the feedback!

[@shushup3856]

Love your work. Thank you so much for the very useful tips.

[@watercolorish]

Thank you for your interest and for the very nice comments!

[@carrollwilson5169]

Thank you Paul. Just brilliant knowledge shared. 💖

[@emilycutie55]

I was having so many problems with my paper ripping when I took off the tape and your advice to use drafting tape really helped! Thank you for all the other advice as well :)

[@gilliani.4328]

Thanks for this must have tip! I’m an amateur watercolor artist and have been long fed up with masking fluid 😩

[@suev1520]

Thanks…new subscriber here..love all the info I am getting..I love using clear contact paper for masking straight lines…but will try the drafting tape next time ..

[@neme8528]

Your work is awesome, so beautiful ! Amazing talent! ☆☆☆☆☆

[@watercolorish]

Thank you Neme! Much appreciated!!

[@polgara28]

Damn I love your art! So glad I found your channel!

[@watercolorish]

Thank you Christie! I appreciate your interest and enthusiasm!

[@TanyaVerquin]

Thank you, super helpful!

[@watercolorish]

Thank you for your interest!

[@chelseystripling8028]

Great job keep up the inspiration!

[@wamiqafirdaus449]

Was very helpful

[@jilliancrawford7577]

Several things (sorry): I am in awe that you can mask with tape because paint always finds a way to seep and leak between the pieces and get to the protected areas anyway any time I try! Thank you for bringing up that this can happen because almost every other artist that talks about masking with tape never brings this up. I usually use a silicone stylus, even if it takes a long time. A dip pen can work for incredibly tiny spots and super fine lines too, but you have to be carefl not to press too hard or the nib will scratch and cut the paper. And finally; I told a friend about how masking fluid will fuse with the paper if it gets too warm and she jokingly asked what would happen if it got cold like if it was out in the fridge. I did an experiment with a piece of scrap paper and put it in the freezer overnight. The paint edges seemed ever so slightly cleaner and it peeled off just fine. I doubt it would fix a fusing to the paper problem, but I wanted to share this anyway since someone out there may find this useful. Thinking of fused to the paper though, do you have any advice for masking fluid that got smudged into the paper? It's a fera I have and I'm not too sure how it happens, but sometimes a drop of masking fluid seems to get rubbed into the paper or never fully lifts like it stains the paper. Is there a way to remove this or prevent this from happening? It doesn't effect paint going on the paper, but it can be an eyesore and ruin a piece if it happens somewhere that you can't cover up with a darker color.

[@RRhoads27]

Love your art, man! Have you ever tried Schmincke masking fluid? It's different than other masking fluids I have tried. First off, it doesn't smell. It is also easy to clean from brushes. Can be mixed with water to make it more accurate when using it. I am not sure about shelf life, as I haven't used it for a very long time.

[@watercolorish]

I don't think I've tried that brand, but I'll look for it, thanks!

[@brenda9635]

Fabulous!

[@pearl3761]

Just magic

[@ElizabethParma-u8e]

It says "Part 1", do you have a "Part 2" planned? I'm going to use your tips here, and I love your dark backgrounds!

[@watercolorish]

Yes, I had a part 2 planned last year, but unfortunately a severe injury to my drawing hand delayed my work and part 2 got shelved for a long while... I hope to get back to it sometime soon(-ish). Meanwhile, thanks for your patience and for your interest!

[@bobbiegraham7729]

I love your work and your entire approach to watercolor. I have always avoided granulating colors. Have you tried a ruling pen for your masking fluid? Real control for all shapes, super easy clean up. I also saw somewhere that storing the masking fluid upside down really reduces the drying out issue. Wood panels are too heavy for me, I use gatorboard and cut it to size, full sheet to quarter. Works perfectly for stretching using regular staples. With no sticky mess. You have inspired me to try hot press paper and staining colors. I have some arches hp stretching right now😎 Thank you so much. I would love to see how you transfer your reference. But that might be a trade secret. I'm so happy that it was puppies that kept you away vs. anything else!

[@watercolorish]

These are all great suggestions Bobbie, thank you! I will try the ruling pen the next time I get some masking fluid, thanks!

[@julieorlando985]

Yay! I found you from tiktok. I'm Julie18 over there

[@watercolorish]

Hi Julie, many thanks for your interest! Much appreciated!!

[@myrnalandersartist]

Love this, thanks for sharing! Do you have any tips for smoothing the ragged edges once the masking fluid is removed? I try softening with a damp brush, but I end up lifting off too much color around where the masking fluid was. Thanks!!

[@watercolorish]

The edges of an area protected with masking fluid tend to be uneven... This is why I prefer to cut pieces of drafting tape for masking smoother edges. But sometimes an uneven edge can be fixed by remasking with drafting tape and lifting or scrubbing off the jaggedness

[@myrnalandersartist]

@@watercolorish Thank you for the reply, I appreciate it! 😊

[@barbarag7831]

If you don’t lay down the tape accurately along the edges of your bottles, how in the world do you refine those edges in a way that doesn’t show after you wash in the background? Just found your channel, and immediately subscribed!

[@j.evadostie8642]

Oh my god so I’m not the only one who has bought masking fluid and had it solidify before I can finish it. What a waste of money.

[@bradfordyorks5055]

Great stuff! Any uses for dried masking fluid? I have a couple of bottles somewhere.....

[@watercolorish]

Nope, but I have a couple of dried bottles too. Let me know if you think of anything! 😂

[@aesea57804]

I read of something called mask film that airbrush artists use. Have you tried that, or have an opinion about it? Someone also mentioned contact paper, like for shelf covering. I tried that once and it worked great but I don’t know if it damages the paper. Didn’t seem to. I used it to cover unpainted area, wonder if it could be used like you do, to cover a painted area.

[@watercolorish]

I tried masking with frisket film years ago and I had a lot of leakage in areas that got super wet. The stickiness may vary among brands, so it's probably worth trying again. I haven't tried contact paper, though... It seems to me like it would be too sticky and might leave a non-archival residue, but I'm glad you had a successful experience with it, thanks.

[@aesea57804]

@@watercolorish Thanks for your feedback. As I look into it more, it does seem like the film could be troublesome. Frisket liquid over large areas…I will get some drafting tape and try that!

[@soarpurpose]

Did you have any tips about cutting tape for curved shapes?

[@watercolorish]

It really helps if your scissors are clean. They get a gummy residue on the blades after a while from the tape, and this I remove with alcohol

[@soarpurpose]

@@watercolorish so do you unroll some single-sided tape then cut with scissors? Or use some double-sided tape? (If available).

[@watercolorish]

@@soarpurpose for masking I use IPG drafting tape, which is sticky on just one side, and I cut it with scissors when I'm trying to get a particular shape 🙂

[@juul7737]

Is it also posible to use drafting film?

[@watercolorish]

Hi Julia. I have not tested that to date, but if you do try it and it works, I hope you'll let me know, thanks!

[@Crufflovesall]

I don't see an answer here, but do you recommend any certain brand of masking tape?? Thanks in advance!

[@watercolorish]

I used PRO drafting tape for years until they changed the adhesive and it was no longer reliable. Since then I've used IPG drafting tape, but I've had some issues with that latey too, so I'm looking for alternatives... I'll post an update when I get something new that I like, thanks.

[@Crufflovesall]

Thank you. I did look at the Pro tape and the reviews all mentioned it didn’t work as well as in the past. I would really appreciate it, if you do find something that you share again😉

[@watercolorish]

@@Crufflovesall no problem! 🙂

[@paulamarie43]

So you tape over colour?

[@watercolorish]

Yes, I use drafting tape over previously painted areas, but I recommend testing every new tape roll... They're not all the same -- some are more sticky than others -- and even a brand you've used before can change.

[@swim2win86]

What width is the drafting tape you prefer?

[@watercolorish]

I use 1-inch for painting borders, 3/4-inch and 1/2-inch for general masking. I often cut 1/2-inch into thinner strips for the edges of curved shapes.

[@LillenArt2]

I have been losing my mind trying to find a tape that doesn't rip the paper. I thought it was masking tape, but I guess it's drafting tape? Can anyone suggest a decent brand of drafting tape?

[@watercolorish]

It's hard to find a tape for masking that doesn't leak (i.e., is sticky enough) but also doesn't damage the paper surface (i.e., isn't too sticky). I've been using IPG (Intertape Polymer Group) drafting tape, which works well most (but not all) of the time. I used to love PRO drafting tape, but they changed their adhesive and now it's not nearly sticky enough. Also, cheaper w/c papers are more easily damaged by masking.

[@jessieadair]

Part two, dos, deux? ;D

[@watercolorish]

Thanks for the nudge... I will get to part two soon (-ish) 🙂

[@amypanddirtytoo1926]

Yeah! Whatever happened to white slathered lifeguard noses?! They just don't do it anymore!🤣🤣🤣