Last September, I decided to participate in a 20-day challenge.

It was hosted by the Learn to Paint Podcast. I enjoy the Podcast and corresponding newsletter immensely. I consistently come away with a new nugget of information, something to try, or at least something to ponder.

The purpose of the 20-day challenge was to instill a new habit of painting for at least 20 minutes every day—a bit of a reset.

I intended to use the challenge to focus on painting waves, specifically the foam and shadows of the white water in the waves.

Using the color white in watercolor is difficult because it requires much planning.

White paint exists in watercolor, but it never looks all that good (unless you use gouache). The standard way to use white in watercolor is to let the white paper do the work.

Enter this fantastic invention - Masking Fluid.

Masking fluid is a glue-like substance that you apply to your paper. Once it dries, you can paint your picture.
Then, a special rubber cement erasure removes the solid masking “fluid” that has become rubbery and goober-y.

It’s a brilliant concept!

Life has never been easier!
Especially with newer bottle designs that allow the artist to draw feather-weight lines rather than globbing it on with a toothpick or the dried-up husk of an old paintbrush.

So, what was my main takeaway from the 20-day challenge?

#1. That making fluid can go bad.
#1a. And when it goes bad. It goes really bad.

The masking fluid had adhered to the paper and wouldn’t come off. It was just smearing around the page, leaving grime and residue.

And the “fluid” that I could remove left a stain behind.
Gross booger-colored stains.

#2. I reminded myself how effective watercolor paint straight from the tube can be in creating the darkest values and making a painting pop!

#3. Even though the masking fluid failed me (a new bottle has been secured), it is a great tool to paint with and lean into.
I used to feel like I was cheating a bit when I used it. But I’ve since understood that a tool is a tool, and all devices have their time and place.

I look forward to using this new bottle of masking fluid as fast as possible and seeing what it can do when I allow myself to use it as the heavy-hitting, bench-pressing, sweaty, vein-popping, grunting gym dude part of my painting process.

Needless to say, I didn’t finish the 20-day challenge.
I believe I was only six days in when I discovered the
Mighty Masking Fluid Debacle of 2023™️, but I still learned something and actually feel better about trying my hand at painting sea foam, so it feels like a win.

What utterly fragrant fails have you spun into candy-coated, sugar-dusted, molten chocolate-stuffed wins?
I can’t be the only one out here spinning tears into gold!

-Jill