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Start Art 8 29 www.painters-online.co.uk RT START What is masking fluid? Masking fluid is liquid latex which, when applied to dry paper and allowed to dry, seals and protects this area of paper with a latex layer. Paint can then be applied over the top and it will not penetrate the latex. Once the paint has dried the masking fluid can be gently removed by rubbing it with your finger and the white, clean paper will be revealed once again. This can be a useful product to use if you want to have bright sections of white or light in a painting, which may be tricky to achieve using paint. If you don’t have any masking fluid and you would like to have a go at this picture without it, just leave out the masking fluid section and your painting will look like it is set a little later in the day. STAGE 1 Apply the masking fluid to your line drawing (using a tool), where you want the ripples on the water and tiny spots of light.These are shown in blue on the picture above. Make sure the masking fluid is thoroughly dry before continuing. Next, wet the paper all over using the Golden Leaf or two inch wash brush. Make sure the paper is wet but the water is not pooling on it. Immediately squeeze the excess water out of the brush and dip it into neat raw sienna.Then wash this colour on the paper evenly from side to side in the centre of the picture, extending the colour up to the top of the paper as well as to the bottom.The strongest colour should be in the middle section where we want the light.The brush will slowly run out of colour as you move the brush above and below this central area.This will create the graded effect we are looking for. Whilst this is still wet, clean your brush out, then dip it into the bluebell or purple colour. Starting at the bottom of the painting and using the same sweeping strokes from side to side, go over the raw sienna up to the top of the jetty. Allow the paint to run out gradually, and avoid reloading the brush; this will ensure that the darkest part is at the bottom of the painting. Ignore If you choose to use a small brush to apply the masking fluid, you will need to wash it out thoroughly as soon as you are finished as the latex fluid will destroy the brush if allowed to dry on it where you have put any masking fluid; simply paint straight over the top of it. Reload the brush then do the same, but starting at the top of the picture. Make sure you do not cover all of the raw sienna and leave the light in the middle. Ideally you want the raw sienna to glow through the bluebell/purple colour. Leave this to dry thoroughly. Beginning at the back of the picture, the next step is to paint the distant headland. Use the round brush for this. Mixing the ideal strength of colour can seem tricky, but if you place a scrap piece of paper next to your painting and mix a little colour on it, you will see if it looks too dark.