Paper Towel Masking

Paper towel masking allows you to create soft patterns  and shapes on your piece by covering parts of the piece but letting some 'bleeding' to occur.  The paper towel shapes must be applied to the bisque while the flowing coat is still wet.

Step 1

Cut the paper towel into the shape(s) you wish to apply to your piece.  You might want to cut several plies of paper if you wish to have multiple templates made from the paper.  As with the contact paper, you have both a 'positive' and a 'negative' that can be used.   Typically, however, the inner 'positive' pattern is used with this technique.  In the picture to the right, the 'positive' is the white area cut out from the blue paper which is the 'negative.'  Applying the inner 'positive' cutout will allow you to paint the outline of the shape making a 'negative' on the bisque.  Likewise, applying the outer 'negative' paper on the piece will allow you to create a 'positive' image of the cutout on the piece.

Step 2

Apply a flowing coat to the piece using one of more colors of underglaze.  Leave the underglaze wet.

Step 3

Take the shapes of paper towel and wet them in the clean water.  Apply the wet shapes to your piece

Step 4

Apply a flowing coat of underglaze to the piece.  Use the normal techniques of applying multiple coats to obtain deeper colors with fewer visible brushstrokes.  If you select a dark color for this coat the colors underneath will be hidden except where the towels appear.  Using a lighter underglaze for this coat will have the effect of muting the flowing coat colors applied in step 2.

Step 5

While the underglaze is still wet, gently remove the paper from the piece.  You may wish to use a needle point to start the paper off of the piece, being careful to not scratch the underglaze.

Video

View a video of using paper towel masking. 

Other Painting Techniques