As artists, there are thousands of tools at our disposal – some gimmicky, some are essential, and a few are there simply to make our lives easier. One of those that ‘can’ make life easier is that of masking fluid – but it can also make life much, much more difficult – especially if you apply it to your work incorrectly!

What is Masking Fluid?

Masking fluid is supplied in bottles and may be found on the shelves of art shops and is referred to by several names – Masking Fluid, Mask, and Drawing Gum being the most commonly used. I’ll use the names interchangeably for the purposes of this article.

The colour may vary from brand to brand, but it’s most often found as a creamy white, or blue colour.

Mask is used to create a barrier between the paper and the paint. As an illustrator, I occasionally use this gum to protect an area and help speed the working process up when I don’t have time to meticulously paint around objects individually.

Once a background is painted, the mask can be removed to reveal the areas that you wanted to keep away from the paint.

Is Masking Fluid Easy to Use?

Yes, masking fluid is very easy to use, but it’s also easy to cause catastrophic damage to your work if it’s not applied correctly. Read my top tips later in the article.

How to Apply Masking Fluid

There are many ways to apply mask. Most artists will use either an old brush (not a decent one!) or something simple like a toothpick. If using a brush, it will RUIN it, so only use an old brush. It’s worth applying a little soap to the brush first as this will help prolong it’s life, but ultimately it will succumb to the destructive qualities of the gum!

How to Remove Masking Fluid Safely

This is where many people begin to regret using drawing gum, and begin to cry as they watch their hard work decline in front of their eyes. This will be caused by one of several errors – usually a poor choice of paper. Again, read my top tips later in the article.

Masking Fluid may be removed with your fingers, or by way of something called a rubber cement pick-up tool. These tools are quite useful, but it’s easy to get a little too vigorous and cause surface damage.

Common Drawing Gum Mistakes

The most common problem is caused by a bad choice of paper. You must use high-quality 100% cotton paper with a decent weight 140lb and above. And even then, some brands don’t take too kindly to masking fluid, so it’s vital to test all paper and gum brands before putting in lots of effort with your illustration.

Masking Fluid TOP TIPS

I’ve been using masking fluid for years and years. Over this time I have tried most brands, paper, paint and ink combinations, and these are my top tips to save you from drawing gum despair!

TOP TIPS

1)       Don’t use it unless you have to! This may sound silly, but it’s easy to rely on it too much, and the results are never as good as when you don’t use it.

2)       Always test your mask on a spare piece of the same paper to see that you can remove it easily.

3)       Apply some over the top of your ink outline (if using pens) as some mask dissolves ink! So it’s best to test it first.

4)       Soap your brush before using it, and wash it out straight away after use. Or, use something else, such as a toothpick or colour-shaping tool.

5)       Water it down! I like to use a very small amount of water – just a couple of drops. This makes it easier to spread across your work.

6)       Only ever use the bare minimum that you can get away with.

7)       Allow drawing gum to dry naturally.

8)       Never leave mask on the paper for more than a day or two. There is a point where it sets like resin. Some brands do this sooner than others – especially the cream coloured mask, so work fast!

9)       Watch what you buy! There is a type of mask that is permanent! If you use this in error the game is up! I’ve seen this happen to people a few times.

10)   Pour a small amount out of the main pot. You’d be surprised how many people I’ve seen that have managed to knock the entire bottle over their work.

11)   Remove it from the paper carefully. Mask will always damage the surface of your paper regardless of how careful you are. It’s all about damage control. Also, bear in mind that watercolour will react differently on damaged paper.

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