How to Use Masking Fluid and Liquid Frisket for Watercolor Painting 

Steve, I don't know if you see these comments, I hope you do. I have learned more from you in 5 or 6 lessons than I could have believed possible. You have answered SO many questions for me and my painting has drastically improved in just a short time!!!!! I am grateful beyond words for your teaching, demos and tips and tricks. You have introduced products to me that are just fabulous even though they cost my husband an entire paycheck! Thank you for your kind spirit and generosity in the way you teach.

Most people don't realize masking fluid is a glue,it does have a shelf life ,so test before use,it should not be shaken it causes bubbles that pop and keeps from covering totally,best way to gently stir,as you say it should not be left on indefinitely.thanks for sharing.

Have been learning a great deal from you, love your art, teaching style, and thank you for the Bible verse at the end.

You're welcome Hazy A. Glad it was helpful. Most all of the masking fluids work about the same. Use whatever is easily available to you.

Thank you, Steve, for this masking tutorial. In addition to using several of the tools you mentioned, I have prepared an old, round brush and splayed it in a bowl of masking liquid. I added several layers and now have this terrific hard 'wheel'. I dip it in the liquid and roll over areas that will hav wave highlights, falling or blowing snow, falling leaves... It's the haphazard uncertainty of where the liquid falls that makes the painting come alive.

I've been sitting on all these dip pens and folded pens and never thought to try with masking fluid!! finally, I can make thin lines! thanks for your tips :)

your sense of humor is what i needed today

this beginner is learning sooooo much from you! thank you! I just bought the Winsor Newton one,,, going to try it on winter landscape,, the trees are just grey looking sticks in the background but the sky is so bright blue today - i don't think I could achieve this look without the masking fluid,, so, I went to my favorite youtube video source for just the right instruction :) thanks much!

I am a newbie watercolor lover and I've really been baffled by masking fluid. Didn't know how to apply it or really if I needed it. Thanks for tackling the mystery! I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge Steve! 😊

I just got Liquid Frisket and Pebo Drawing Gum on the way. I had to try both, now I have to learn how to use it best. I already want a soapy brush. I dont like using my Ruled pen . It seems to waste a lot. I have a kagillian craft brushes that just sit. They have a use now, great seeing you again, Steve, I keep coming back- OH! I got an Escoda 10 Rigger and am watching and soon trying to paint w/Angela Fehr. Blessings, and thank you for the scriptures at the end. I read them. OMgoodness, M. Gram Jewe lTone set is gorgeous, and someday soon I will get another box. SOLD on M Graham paints!

You are the best. I didn't know how to get the mask down in very fine areas and now I do. Thanks. I like the way you keep it simple and easy to understand since there are some with an overload of information that is just too much for a beginner IMO. Thanks again.

The BEST and strangest lesson on Masking that I've ever seen ! Thank you. Now I feel comfortable opening my first jar.

😮 this vid is coming up on 3 years old. I'm watching again. 1 year into the watercolor journey I am ready for masking fluid! Exciting! As always a quality video. Thank you Steve.

Old man, you are my new best friend. I absolutely love how you provide many different options of how to apply the masking fluid and how to use that rubber cement eraser. Thank you so very much!

I use masking fluid both to preserve the white paper but also for already colored areas If I decide to make a darker wash around it. Thank you for your excellent channel.

Learning a lot from you ,yourr teaching method, love doing workshop surrounded by nature

Thank you! I thought I had tried everything for masking, but the rubber tip shaper was a pleasant surprise. It works great. I appreciate your tutorials. Again, thank you.

Absolutely lovely, thanks so so much! I had lousy paper and didn't know it, so big thanks for all the info. I tried watercolors for a week a few years ago and was so useless I just gave up. My medium is oils and people often say my oil paintings look like watercolor, I'm back to give it another bash and feel more confident after watching your videos!

Love how you teach, thank you! Great information!!

Thanks so much for this, Steve! I spent a butt-load of time looking for different tools to use with the masking fluid, and spent 45 minutes "accidentally" discovering all the methods you present here. Should've known to just come to MoW first! This video is great cause it shows the different results from using each method. You've really helped me to decide which tools to use for my intended purpose. I'm thinking about using a wide calligraphy nib to make fenceposts.

You have become my go-to guy for watercolor info!

Thank you for the tip on rubbing the brush after wards with bar soap. Really helps the get that gunk out

Not only were you helpful and funny but you provided a link for Amazon and I’ve already ordered the ruling masking pen. Thanks!!!!

Great video! Detailed, yet concise. I'm new to watercolor, and am loving it!

There is an a British artist I have been following-Rob Dudley and his wife Sian-both W/C artists. Their site is called Moor To Sea. He has a great technique for making a masking brush to create 'blobs' on the water that become beautiful sparkles in his painting of a seascape.

I rolled up dried rubber cement and made what I call a big booger ( three inches long by half inch around ). This is the world's best frisket picker-upper. Use it on any surface with any media and it is as gentle or rough as you need and cleans big broad areas as will as tiny pin points. No cleaning, to clean this booger, coat it with another layer of rubber cement. It picks up lint and any thing not that should not be on your projects surface. It looks gross but other than a mid smell of rubber cement, nothing. I use rubber cement as a frisket and then clean it off using dried rubber cement, who would ever thought.

Another great video! I appreciate that you shared lots of different methods to try for masking!

...masking yumminess and goodness huh? 😆😅 Your definitely an artist with that quirky personality of yours. Its comforting to know there are others out there... I’m also a Real Hermit but youtube keeps me informed. Carry on...😄 I

thank you for your help. i just bought mine for a proyect

Love your sense of humor Steve! ❤️

Eventually, I find the good sources for painting info, and this is one of the best. Many thanks for your advice and the time taken to deliver it. I'd write more, but I have to get this masking fluid off my paper. the carpet, the curtains ......

This was most helpful. Great to view the various methods of use and the different types of masking solutions. The tip about not leaving it on the paper for any lenght of time was most helpful...thanks Steve.

Thank you SOO much!!! I only knew 1 method and it was the brush with the soap... I'm glad I learned that there are other methods, and could use them for small detail areas! Thank you again!

Thank you for all the tips that can contribute to success in painting.

I have just recently found your channel.. and I can say you are BRILLIANT! I am a beginner and you have instilled so much confidence in me! Thankyou!! ♥

I like the peebeo. I have tried a lot of name brand and they work to an extent...but the peebeo is the only one that has never torn or changed the texture off my paper.

"Mask the whole world!" has a very different meaning in the distant year of 2022..😷 But thank you for this useful video! I've been struggling a bit with applying masking fluid consistently, I will definitely look into getting a ruling pen.

This was very helpful. I have been somewhat confused about what to purchase and how and why to use. I am beginning to learn about watercolors. Thank you!

I’ve got some, but have been afraid to use it! Now I just need to try it for fun.

I really appreciate the time you've taken to cover this subject.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION ON MASKING FLUIDS AND TOOLS, I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED HOW AND WHAT TO USE! I NOW HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. ONE QUESTION I THOUGHT YOU HAD TO SHAKE THE BOTTLE BEFORE USING ?? THANKS AGAIN LOVE YOUR VIDEOS.

You are such a joy to learn from, thank you for making our MINDS your first priority!!

Like anything else you want to apply to your watercolor paper try it on a separate sheet of the same paper you are about to use it on. I have had masking fluid remove the paper it is on when the painting is finished. This has hit me for both non-cotton containing papers and 100% cotton papers. I’m not talking about papers where one has left it on the project for days, weeks or months at a time. I am talking about papers that have had it for literally only a few hours of contact time. I think it has a lot to do with who makes the paper, so test first if at all possible.

Thank you for educating us on watercolor. It really helps to start with first things first and this always mystifies me. You always make me smile so that is helpful too LOL

I also read to never dry frisket with hair dryer. I really enjoyed your videos. Thank you

Masking Fluid is now on my shopping list! Great instruction and looking forward to trying it out, thank you!

hey zorro, the more i watch you the more you crack me up, thanks! your vids are great too.....

I love painting space scenes and have, until recently, done that only through painting with acrylics because I've never really been successful at it with watercolor. I love watercolor more, though. So I've been practicing a lot lately and researching (and found myself going through several of your videos when I discovered you)--and it seems masking fluid will help me a lot in getting better at painting the things I like the way I like to. Thanks for showing me how to use it!

Thanks. I need to buy a ruling pen! It is tough to get the small lines.

First of all, Thank you Steve for bringing this all down to earth and workable. As an amateur I don't use masking fluid often enough to prevent it from drying up in the container between sessions . Way too expensive to keep replacing. With your indulgence I think I may have found a work around with my very own recipe for masking fluid. Aleene's "Tack-It Over & Over" mixed with "rain-X" and a pinch of cornstarch seems to do the trick for me. It gives me an endless supply and a fresh batch when needed. Please see as follows; Look up “sanding belt cleaner” on eBay. I see a Vermont brand stick of this gummy stuff for $12 plus free shipping. Its a lifetime supply. Walk into a Harbor Freight store and pick one up there too. I found Aleene's Tack-It Over & Over at Michael’s for $4 for a 4oz bottle. Small bottle of RainX wind shield treatment from any auto supply store. Fill a small medicine container with some corn starch. Make a little mixing trough by doubling a small square of aluminum foil and pressing it into one the six depressions of these little craft painting dishes. This prevents having to clean out the unused fluid from the mixing trough. Just chunk it and repeat with new foil each time. I find the following makes enough for one sitting. 1. one peas size drop of “Aleen’s tack it over&over”. 2. about 2 or 3 drops of rain-X. 3. one pinch of cornstarch. This will make a life time supply and as much as you want without the hassle of quickly drying out of the conventional fluid masks. Much cheaper. If your quick about cleaning your brush soap and water will do it. If it dries on your brush it’s ruined. I don't know what to tent or color this stuff with though.

Very helpful,thank you!

Very helpful video! Simple and sweet, just what i needed. I needed to refresh my mind on how to apply masking fluid after years of not really using it because it wasnt reliable on my end (until i found the right bottle). I'm curious to try out different applicators now!

molotow brushes work well with making fluid as you can fill them and don't have to keep dipping. they come in a wide range of tips.

Thank you for this! I do lots of watercolor but I usually just paint around details. What brand of masking fluid would you recommend for masking beginners?

To color items in with masking fluid, of all things, a metal chop stick works best for me. It comes to a fairly fine point, I can push the fluid around without damaging the paper, and no brush marks in the fluid. As you suggest, I use the color shaper for smaller lines. Love your videos - they are so helpful!!!

Thanks boss, watercoloring has taken over all my free time lately and I'm loving it. Keep up the great tips :)

Great video! One tip: It is not recommended to use your finger for removing masking fluid for the same reason it is not recommended to touch your paper prior to painting on it: the oils from your skin will affect how paint adheres to the paper....

You crack me up. You also have taught me so much. Thanks. Sheila

Awesome video, thanks! Would have loved a zoom-in on the products and some pro/cons about them.

extremely helpful. it's going to help my adventures into developing new forms. cheers!

Thank you I just love your all your videos

Thank you for this!

Very cool, very helpful for beginners!

Great vid! Especially the ruling pen idea. Someone gave me one years ago, nice one in a set, I didn't know what it was for.. I was trying to get it to hold a mechanical pencil lead but it didn't work, was baffled, so I threw it away.

Thank you really useful info 👍

Being new to watercolor- and struggling. I come across this about 2 weeks ago. So I ordered some masking fluid. First use, I was impressed. It was quite a big spot I was trying to keep pigment out of. I finally got it removed and was able to continue. I used it a few more time on some sketch book stuff. Each time I had a different experience. Used same brush and have been cleaning between uses. Recently used some and it lifted the top ply of the paper off. Taking paint and with it. I realize it was cheap paper. Yet I was disappointed. Is this common? Anyways I am glad I watched again. I forgot about using the bar of soap on the brush. Anyways Thank You once again for your expertise and sharing it with us.

what an educational video! thanks and I will use your ideas..

very well presented and informative...thank you Steve!

super helpful vdo thank you so much

I love your videos. You have inspired me to revisit watercolor as a medium! And I second the comment about Robert DeNiro!

Thank you so much for this tutorial.

Thank you again! Fabulous video for me a beginner this i am.

Thank you!

Thank you SO MUCH for all the great videos and instructions. You're such an inspiration! I'm guessing this has been asked somewhere below - but ... I have some masking fluid that is getting THICK. It's not a block of rubber yet - but it does not come off the brush in a line but, instead, tends to ball up. Is there a way to THIN it out? I've seen water ... and I've seen ammonia (really!?) out there on the interweb but I wanted to ask somebody I TRUST! :D Suggestions?

I am so thankful for this video. I have been looking all over on how to use the masking fluid. I just got some ..now i need to use it...:) just started painting again and i love watercolor but im messy...this will help

I've just got the Fineline and also an 'Incredible Nib' and am looking forward to using them. I have left my fluid on paper over the course of several weeks while working on a painting without any problem but perhaps it depends on the paper.

thx for your great watercolor tuts.

Thank you - you have been so encouraging and helpful. Hope to find the equipment suggested in South Africa. Starting illustrations for a book. Eek!

Daniel Smith has masking fluid that you can leave it on as long as you want without it damaging the paper

I got lots of wonderful ideas from you. Thank you so much.

ok thanks! I've seen it on the shelf at hobby lobby but hate spending money on something that I'm not sure about. thanks again!

thank you this was helpfull i just trying to get back in to painting after a lone time awayfrom it.looking forward to seeing more:)

Thanks a lot. Hate using this stuff, but no getting away from it. I do need the right eraser though.

How did I miss this one!? Thanks for showing the ruling pen with frisket because I bought one for ink once but wasn't sure it was good for this too, or if it would be hard to clean. I have the silicon tip type in all sizes for clay work and planned to use those instead if not so maybe a combination of the two. The idea of ruining a brush kills me but I've been looking into solvents for this and am thinking Goo Gone would probably work fine and be an affordable option. If one of my brushes becomes ratty I might give it a shot.

This was great precise info on topic . Now where can I get those compass pens, bamboo pens and such ? By the way enjoy the way you do your presentations not drawn out.

Hi. I love your tutorials! Great for me, a true beginner. I have white masking fluid that I have not yet used. Can I add color to it so it shows up and what would I use that would not add tint to my white areas? Thank you!

This was really helpful! I did have a question though, could masking fluid be used on an area that's already been painted? Would it noticeably pull up the color or fade it?

Thanks again Steve

Lol you're so funny, charming in a Bill Murray way🌼

I barely ever leave pure white highlights, so masking up front is not my thing, but I like putting it over a layer of lighter color.

got the rubber cement pickup too ;-)

Very helpful. Thank you👍

Fantastic! I bought pebeo drawing gum some time ago and find it always ruins my brush which i inevitably throw out afterwards. I also bought rubber cement for masking as well but I have yet to try it out. Thank you for telling us this information, i'm going to try wetting and soaping my next brush. Previously I just dipped it in the fluid and it clogs the brush almost immediately. Thank you, I just subscribed so I can learn more. I make cards and love the effect of water colours but backgrounds around people/characters etc is very hard to do without masking.

Learned alot from this video, thank you! :)

I found this video so helpful, thank you. please can your tell me if when you are masking do you pencil in the parts you want to mask off then is it possible to go over the pencil marks with masking fluid and then remove the pencil marks once the painting is finished and the mask removed. How best is this achieved? TIA

Hi Steve, love all your videos. I have old and new kistka tools for creating Ukrainian Easter Eggs. I wondered if it would ever be possible to mask on watercolor paper using those with their fine tips using beeswax and remove it from the paper using a hot iron and newsprint to melt the wax onto. You could mask incredible details if you could remove the wax and still be able to paint on the whites saved by the wax. Just wondering and too cheap to try it on my good paper.

Hi , Steve well I had a problem recently with masking fluid. It ripped the paper when I went to take it off. I'm not sure what happened. I usually use my finger to take it off but am going to get one of those rubber cement erasers. Maybe the paper was still a bit damp, or the masking was applied to thin?? It's a small spot, you don't even see it, but it is rough to the touch. Now I can't sell this painting 😠any thoughts 💭 ty

Question: If you are using masking on a drawing on watercolor paper, do you mask up to the pencil line or do you cover the pencil line? If you do it over the pencil, when you remove the mask does it (hopefully) reemove the pencil line? Thanks for your help.

Does this dry completely dry, or is it always "tacky" to the touch? Also, how do you tell if it's dry enough to take off? Thanks for the video!

thanks.