Reddit reviews Winsor & Newton Art Masking Fluid, 75ml

I use:

https://www.amazon.com/Winsor-Newton-Masking-Fluid-75ml/dp/B005P1ROEY

Some artists suggest that you split the difference of the bottle once you own one so that you can save half for later and avoid drying out the whole bottle as it tends to react to air very poorly, speeding up the drying process of the contents inside when uncapped during use.

You can purchase it at most hobby/art stores like Hobby Lobby or Michael's. Here's a link to what I use on Amazon. If you read the reviews, some of the reviewers posted pics of how they used it in some of their art pieces. https://www.amazon.com/Winsor-Newton-Masking-Fluid-75ml/dp/B005P1ROEY/ref=sr_1_3?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1503581563&sr=1-3&keywords=masking+fluid

The best way I know how is to start by masking the trees with a masking fluid like this one and then painting the background first (you can drag your horizon line all the way over the dry masking fluid so it looks more continuous). Then you take up the masking fluid with something like a rubber pick-up block like this. And then paint in your trees at the end. I also prefer this way so that if I'm trying to do a flat or gradient in the sky or ground, I can assure that the gradient or flat wash is the same all the way across the paper easier.

Otherwise, the way you've done it works fine if you've got a steady hand and good pencil guides. You could also potentially start with the background and just leave the tree spots empty to start (requiring a good pre-sketch) but you can run into the same troubles with wonky, not quite lining up horizon lines.

I don't think your piece looks all that silly. I like the color scheme you've got going.
One thing I just thought of, if you continue to do without masking fluid for now, consider a bit of the principles of atmospheric perspective and that things farther away from the viewer generally get lighter and lower contrast. Part of what draws the eye to the horizon line so much and highlights the fact that it doesn't match up quite right is that it's one of the areas of highest contrast. Either make that blue lighter as you get closer to the horizon line, or the purple sky darker as you move towards it to draw the attention to other parts of the scene instead.

I'm loving your watercolour portraits! My advice would be to avoid the white for highlights and instead using something like masking fluid for small parts without colour. This way you can also go a bit more crazy with the watercolors and use layers if necessary. I would also suggest trying out some less obvious colours - blues would suit this style v. well and look suitably lacrymose!

Known as masking fluid.

If you plan on doing any sort of precision work, or plan on leaving clean spaces under a wash (like for text), and this is your first foray into water color, then you'll probably want some masking fluid. You paint this over areas you don't want paint on so that when you're painting close to them, any paint that gets on these areas is repelled. You either peel or rub it off once the surrounding paint is dry. It's not a necessity, but it may make your life easier.

EDIT: Since this is your first time using watercolor, you might want to invest a weekend in tutorials on YouTube. Just search for something like, "beginner watercolor," "watercolor techniques," "watercolor basics," etc. You'll want to know about how to do things like stretching your paper, and basic painting methods. Watercolor is a really cool, fun medium. Lots of people hate it and say it's really difficult, but I've always enjoyed it because I think of it as a study in negative space, and realized that it's more subtractive than additive (my own terminology--I think). By that I mean, you need to think less about what to put on the paper, and more about what to leave off the paper.

Have fun!

Masking fluid is this stuff that you paint over parts of your watercolor that you don't want to get painted. You rub it off your painting when you're done. I just started using it myself.

You're already on the right path and looking great. Base silver, mask and spray on top.

First thing stop using toothpaste, go to Micheals, Joanns, or hobby lobby and pick up some liquid latex masking fluid and silicone brushes. Having the right tools will make your job much easier.

https://www.amazon.com/Winsor-Newton-Masking-Fluid-75ml/dp/B005P1ROEY

https://www.amazon.com/MEEDEN-Artist-Professional-Silicone-Brushes/dp/B078XZ1WZ9/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=silicone+paintb+brush&qid=1568208585&s=office-products&sr=1-2-spell

The amount of control you'll get will just be so much better. and that masking fluid will last you a LONG time,

Then study the way paint chips on metal and boba's helmet. You want to make sure you're not just chipping down to bare metal, but in some places chipping down to the color underneath, this will give you some extra depth.

Last is give it a grime wash. Multiple ways to do that, youtube tutorials are your friend as you can see exactly what to do. I take a brown acrylic paint, mix a little black until I get a used motor oil color, then water it down a lot, like whole milk consistency. then I paint the entire helmet with it, let it dry, then lightly sand it off with 320 grit sand paper and repeat. It causes the grime to end up collecting in the recesses, I can control where I want it dirtier by not sanding as much in certain areas, and it scuffs up the paint a bit to give it a more worn in look. Note that your helmets will look cleaner in pictures than they will in person.

Here's some of my stuff for the look I end up with.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvp2yROlKE3/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvxcD9AHiCP/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvl7KVxnObg/