Tag Archives: Masking techniques

Mystery Technique

Mystery Technique #160

March 20, 2026 – 6:29 pm

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates! 


ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #159:

This painting was inspired by a dream! I started with an underpainting of yellow. After this layer dried, I used a Forsline & Starr Colour Shaper to apply masking fluid in irregular marks for the roots and patches of light. I temporarily covered the shape of the door with a piece of junk mail. When the masking fluid was completely dry, I painted the first layer of the root ball. I used a wadded-up piece of wax paper to apply more texture in darker browns. Next I painted some abstract green shapes to suggest foliage in the background. Masking fluid leaves hard edges, so after I removed all of it, I used watercolor pencils to add depth and dimension to the roots.

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Mystery Technique

Mystery Technique #156

November 20, 2025 – 9:30 pm

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates! 

ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #155:

I love to collect fall leaves and use them as inspirations for paintings!

First I cut a maple leaf out of contact paper, removed the backing, and stuck the shape on watercolor paper; then I painted the background. After this layer dried, I used a damp sponge to apply suggestions of shadows. Next I removed the contact paper.

Before painting the leaf, I drew the veins with a waxy yellow colored pencil, which resisted the paint and left light veins surrounded by darker color. I scraped flecks of Derwent Inktense Blocks into the wet paint for added texture. After the leaf dried, I used a uni-ball Signo white gel pen to lighten parts of the veins and blended it in with a damp brush. I also used watercolor pencils to paint the stem and enhance some of the veins with darker touches. To create the hole in the leaf, I painted the shape with water and blotted it with a paper towel to remove some of the red before painting it grayish blue.

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Mystery Technique

Mystery Technique #144

November 20, 2024 – 7:30 pm

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates!

ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #143:

First I cut a maple leaf shape out of clear contact paper and attached it to watercolor paper, pressing down the leaf’s edges to keep paint from running underneath. Next I masked out the stem with a Molotow Masking Marker. After wetting the paper, I mixed diluted Hydrus Liquid Watercolors wet-in-wet and put several partially decomposed leaves towards the bottom. While the paint was still wet, I placed part of a plastic bag on top and manipulated the plastic with both hands to make interesting shapes. I waited for the painting to dry completely before removing the plastic, the masking, and the leaves. Here’s the result:

Shadows under the maple leaf came next, as well as touches of yellow and orange, especially in the partial leaves. I painted the leaf wet-in-wet and quickly scratched out the veins with the end of a metal paint tube before sprinkling in kosher salt for texture. After the paint dried, I brushed off the salt and used watercolor pencils for a few finishing touches, including the stem:

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