I've been having fun with a new toy...liquid masking fluid in a fine tipped applicator. I got it at Jerry's Artarama. Here is the link: http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/watercolor-paints-and-mediums/masking-tapes-and-fluids/artist-masking-fluid-pen.htm
I used it to make Batik-style beads (see pictures below). Instructions for batik process are below. Super easy and fun.
1. Start with plain white beads. I use Ultralight because i like the surface and I make big beads.
2. Put a few dots or other simple pattern on the bead and let the masking fluid dry (20 min or so). It turns slightly greenish when it's dry.
3. Cover the bead with the lightest color of alcohol ink. I just use my fingers and a paper towel to dab it. As soon as the alcohol is dry put a new design on the bead with the masking fluid.
4. When the masking fluid is dry cover the bead with the next darkest color.
5. Repeat the masking / alcohol steps until you're happy with your design. Don't go nuts... it's easy to overdo it and end up with a mess. 3-4 colors gives a good variety without muddying it up.
6. After you're happy with your design and the ink is dry, rub off the masking fluid and marvel at the pretty colors!
I embellished with a silver metallic Uni ball gel pen on some of the items. It's a really nice pen.
I also sprayed the beads with PYM II when I was finished with them.
Lovely, simple and full of spirit! Great technique....
ReplyDeleteI knew there was a reason I have 2 bottles of masking fluid. Great technique! Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteDo you wear gloves when you use alcohol ink? I like the effects but am not crazy about the gloves. These are really cool. I love your work.
ReplyDeleteThere is another tutorial about this with step by step instructions and pictures in the "purple" magazine edition from the dutch magazine From Polymer To Art by me made about 3 years ago... ;) check it out! Leila www.lbidler.com
ReplyDeleteLeila, I tried to find the article online but all I can see is the table of contents from the Purple issue. Do you have photos of the items you made using the technique online somewhere? I will add a link to them to show another example of results from the masking fluid technique.
DeleteHi dear, the pictures are all owned by the magazine but there one picture of one of the masks on the content page ^_^ can I link it here? If not please delete! :)
Deletehttp://www.frompolymertoart.com/c-1358058/contents-page-purple-nr-4-2011/
Marian, no I don't wear gloves... I end up with stained fingers until my next shower!
ReplyDeleteI've done this before with brush-drawn masking fluid and it wasn't much fun. So I bought one of these fine tipped bottles...and can you believe that I've never tried it yet? Now I must! Gorgeous work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful beads. Thank you for sharing where you got your masking pen, and for sharing your technique. The pen sounds much easier to use than a brush.
ReplyDeleteI love this technique, thanks for sharing. Are the beads raw or baked/cured when you do it?
ReplyDeleteYou do it after the beads are baked. The rubber-ish masking fluid would not survive the heat of the oven.
DeleteThanks!
DeleteWow! Crazy nice content, Artybecky. Your work is beautiful.
ReplyDeletethis wouldn't be the 1984-86 Kirk Fry, would it?
DeleteI tried this using Golden Digital Ground Clear (Gloss) because I don't have a resist product at hand. It worked perfectly. I heated each layer - Digital Ground was applied to a flexible rubber stamp, to create the pattern, applied to raw clay, dried with very low heat craft gun, then the inks added, dried, process repeated & dried. I used a medium gold color raw polymer clay base because it will be wrapped as used as a veneer. Very promising test results. The Digital Ground washed away instantly. Thanks for the inspiration :) You can see the results here; https://goo.gl/PvgAwg
ReplyDeleteI was mulling over how to work with this ever since seeing your post. Not having a resist product on hand - and life - delayed my experiment. But but then I decided to try some Golden Digital Ground Clear (Gloss) sitting on my shelf. I applied it to a flexible mold and applied it to raw clay because I want to use it as a veneer. Because I'm impatient, I gently dried the layer with a craft gun, applied alcohol inks, dried them and repeated the process. Pretty pleased with the results - looks very "batik" to me. I think I'll use Genesis medium to protect the veneer and rebake. You can see the raw clay results here; https://www.facebook.com/Retrovenue. Thanks so much for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteWow ! Thank you so much for the wonderful tutorial. I have been wanting to do this , but I was unable to find the masking liquid pen anywhere in my country. I finally attempted it with some white glue instead of the masking liquid :) Thank you for your wonderful blog , love your techniques. Have a great day !
ReplyDeleteThank you so much :) I gave this is a try. Its here if you want to see : http://everythinganexperiment.blogspot.in/2015/08/2015pcchallenge-week-33-34-combo.html.
ReplyDeleteHow playful they look! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.
ReplyDeletebonjour,
ReplyDeletevotre tutoriel semble tres bien mais je ne comprends pas bien votre langue, en traduisant ce n'est pas clair, pourriez vous mettre la marque du fluide de masquage? je suis française, un tutoriel etape par etape serait encore mieux ;))))
Hi, how to rub off the masking fluid at the end? With just dry cloth or say rubbing alcohol or something?
ReplyDeleteThe masking fluid dries and becomes very rubbery. You just rub it with your fingers and it comes off in little balls. It's very easy to remove.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to make beads and earrings with your batik method! Thank you for being so generous with this info!
ReplyDelete