Let the Paper Shine
Technique level: Advanced
Duration: ~40-50 minutes (including drying time)
Paper:
Kreatima aquarelle 25% cotton (maybe).
Colors, all A.Gallo:
– Indigo (NB1)
– Fig green
– Sap green
– Olive green
– Rose Madder (NR9)
Objective:
Learn to save crisp highlights by applying masking fluid before painting. You’ll be capturing tiny gleams – like sparkles on an insect’s eye or morning dew caught on a curled leaf. The goal is control, restraint, and a touch of shimmer without overworking.
Materials:
- Watercolor paper (hot press or smooth cold press for clean edges)
- Masking fluid
- Old or dedicated brush for masking OR a ruling pen, toothpick, or silicone tool
- Watercolor brushes (round size 4-6 + detail)
- Pigments: your choice of earthy or natural tones + something with sparkle potential (e.g., Phthalo Blue, Sap Green, Burnt Sienna, Quin Gold)
- Optional: iridescent watercolor or a tiny bit of white gouache for finishing touches
Steps:
- Light Sketch:
Draw the basic shape of your subject – a beetle head or a leaf edge with dew. Keep it simple but accurate. Mark where the highlights will be: the dew glints, reflected light in an eye dome, or sharp edge light. - Apply Masking Fluid:
- Use a fine tool (ruling pen, toothpick, or an old brush coated in soap first) to dot or line masking fluid exactly where the brightest highlights will be.
- Less is more – mask only what truly sparkles.
- Let it dry completely. (Wait. No shortcuts.)
- Paint Your Subject:
- Paint normally, using transparent layers to build color and form. Let colors mingle a bit, especially on the surface of the leaf or bug.
- Use warm/cool shifts and gentle glazes to suggest curvature, surface gloss, and transparency.
- Lift the Masking:
- When everything is bone dry, gently rub off the masking fluid.
- Voilà: pure paper white where your sparkles go.
- Optional Touch-Ups:
- If needed, soften a masked edge with a damp brush or glaze over part of it.
- You can add a dot of iridescent color or white gouache to emphasize a sparkle, but only if it needs it. Keep restraint.
Focus:
- Think ahead: where is the light strongest? That’s what masking is for.
- Don’t over-mask – strategic highlights are more convincing than a polka-dot bug.
- Practice applying masking fluid smoothly – you want sharp edges, not blobs.
Bonus Prompt:
Try painting a second version without masking – compare the spontaneity of lifting paint or working around whites. Which works better for tiny natural gleams?