Update: Masking fluid keeps damaging my watercolor paper

Lately, I've seen a bunch of painters at our local art group apply masking fluid to keep white areas in their work. I tried it myself, but when I pull it off, it often tears the paper. For example, I was painting a beach scene last month, and the fluid ripped right through where I wanted smooth sand. Has anyone run into this problem before? I make sure the fluid is fully dry before I paint over it, and I peel it off slowly with my fingers. It's annoying because all my friends have great results with it. What can I do to stop the paper from getting ruined?

3 comments

3 Comments

paulwilliams5d ago

Yeah cooper.kai saying they were "putting it on way too thick, like painting it on" totally flipped my view. I used to blame the brand of fluid or just accept some paper loss as normal. I'd slather it on trying to make absolutely sure it sealed. Watched a demo last year where the artist just tapped it on, barely a layer, and it hit me. I was basically gluing the paper shut. Now I dab it, it looks almost spotty, and it comes up like a sticker. Changed everything.

cooper.kai5d ago

Torres.pat's question about the right kind of paper hits home. I used to be totally convinced it was just about using cheap paper. Then I kept having the same ripping problem, even on my good 140lb sheets. My turning point was a lighthouse painting where the fluid wrecked the cliff texture. I realized I was putting it on way too thick, like painting it on. Now I use an old brush and apply the thinnest layer I can, just enough to seal the spot. It peels off clean almost every time.

torres.pat6d ago

Wait, but I've never had masking fluid tear my paper. Are you using the right kind of paper for watercolor?

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