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Masking tape...could this be the one
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Message
Posted
I do all my art in A5 Pith and same size Moleskine watercolour sketchbooks. The Pith being smoother than the Moleskine. I have a cupboard full of rubbish supposedly low tack masking tape, which even when I stick on my jeans etc, still rips the paper. More than often not I don't bother or I draw a frame. However. I was watching YouTube art vids about painting Ghibli Studio style landscapes and the young artists all used washi tape. Now I've tried many a washi in my art journals to embellish, not as a masking tape. I wanted to try this but did not want to buy anything to fancy or expensive.
I went into The Works craft section and bought a pack of 6 for around £4. Wow, it worked for me. I painted an extremely bad picture of clouds, but the washing came off as smooth as can be leaving a sharp white edge. This was on the watercolour paper, so I know it with work on the smoother.
Disclaimer coming....it worked for me. It might not for you. But could be worth a try, if like me you've spent half a century looking for the perfect tape.
Posted
Robert, I did a bit of research about the Japanese Guitar brand. They are now known as Teranishi Chemicals. They still make art materials but more poster paints for children, markers and brush pens. Vintage Guitar brand materials are keenly sort after it seems. Found a lovely old paint tin online and some vintage pastels on Ebay marde by Guitar back in the day.
Posted
They've retrenched, haven't they - mournful face! So much competition from big brands that they seem to have retreated to children's products - it's a real shame, but that's the way capitalism works, I suppose: promotes choice, the big companies then move in, small companies get taken over, choice then gets restricted again until another smaller supplier surfaces, and hte cycle keeps trundling on.
I shall treasure my elderly Chunking bristles, Chinese Eterna brushes, and Japanese Guitar brand products all the more!
Posted
I agree Robert. It's the way that brands decide to stop open stock that bugs me. I use coloured pencils quite a lot in my artwork and two of the best brands in the known universe are stopping open stock. Yet bring out different products. I also thought the name Teranishi Chemicals weird, sounds ominous. Look after those brushes.
Posted
Hi Julie, If I see a low tac masking tape, I buy it. Now, I'm just looking at my tape here and it's a Duck brand. I don't think it's a brand specifically for artists, it's more a hardware brand I would say. I like it. I use it on hot and cold pressed watercolour paper and it's never been a problem. It comes in two widths. Any masking tape, on a hot day will tear your paper. I take the tape off on a cool day. Stripping it carefully, trying to see how the grain of the paper is falling. Of course, if you can remove the masking tape, as soon as you have finished the painting, it gives the adhesive less time to bond and cause any problems. This might not be possible if you are working on a painting for a few days, the adhesive has already bonded to the paper but as I have mentioned above, successful removal of tape in most cases, is always possible if you are looking at other factors surrounding adhesion and temperature. I am only speaking from experience here Julie. Also, I use eastern brushes and paints occasionally. Again, speaking from experience, Japanese and Chinese brushes hold water that, with a bit of practice you can control the quick or slow release of. They are bulbous, coming to a fine point but this means you can use a single brush to paint a whole painting and sign your name with the same brush. They differ much from Western brushes and have much to offer. I couldn't do without them alongside my normal range of watercolour brushes. I would encourage anyone to practice and give them a try.
Posted
Thanks Denise. I had no idea about hot and cool days affecting the peel off of masking tape. I know other artists who use decorators tape, but I failed with them. Some of the ones I've bought say how long to keep it on for. My pictures on the whole take three to four days.
As to the brushes you described, they are quite fascinating. Not suitable for my style, but I'm always interested in art materials. I had noticed on YouTube that they hold a lot of water.
Will look out for the masking tape, but happy with the washi at moment, but always keen to find things that work. I will definitely notice the weather temperature in future now though.