Well, I finally did it. A painting on Masa paper. And here it is. Ever since I saw Leslie’s paintings on Masa paper I’ve wanted to try it. So what did I do when I wanted to start this project? Go directly to Leslie’s blog, search for masa paper and viola! Step by Step instructions. She’s the best. I also visited Beth’s blog because she has paintings on Masa paper too. Here’s my quick tutorial.
Get some Masa paper. Cut it to about a 1/2 inch all around shorter than your watercolor paper. Take a sharpie and put a small dot on the shiny side of the masa paper. The masa paper has a shiny side and a fuzzy side. The shiny side is considered the “right” side, but I’ve read blogs where people have painted on both sides. For now we will go with the shiny side as the correct side.
Ball it up and wet it until it’s soaked through. Squeeze the water out of the ball and then CAREFULLY un-ball the masa paper. Check out where your sharpie dot is. I put mine on the bottom right corner. It might bleed through when the masa paper gets wet, but if you lay down the paper with the sharpie dot in the same place, i.e. the bottom right corner, you’ll know that’s the shiny side. Now, flip it over to the un-shiny side with some paper towels underneath. Spread it out and “tone” it. Toning it means you take some of your watercolor paper and paint the back. Keep in mind what it is you want to paint. I think I toned mine to dark, but hey, that’s the way it goes.
Let dry and then, using matte medium mixed with a little water (3:1) spread it on the back of the toned paper, flip it over and adhere it to your watercolor paper. Spread out carefully on the watercolor paper, let dry and then paint!
Now, some people draw on their paper before balling it up and wetting it. My drawing disappeared in the water. So I just waited and drew on it once it was all dry.
Here’s what the painting looked like in an earlier stage:

27 comments
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July 19, 2013 at 7:37 pm
artscottnet
Really beautiful work, Carol. Between you and Leslie, I may have to give watercolor (and the masa) a go. Inspiring work, thanks for sharing.
July 19, 2013 at 11:19 pm
Carol King
Thanks Scott. I look forward to you trying a painting on masa paper.
July 19, 2013 at 8:09 pm
kk2n777
N-I-C-E!!!
July 19, 2013 at 11:20 pm
Carol King
T-H-A-N-K-S!!!
July 19, 2013 at 10:26 pm
lesliepaints
I can’t tell you how impressed I am with this! I know how hard you worked on it and it paid off! I want a ride to the distant shore for sure. Thank you for showing the starter image, too, with all the luscious color.
I can hardly wait to see what you choose to do next on masa. Excellent directions, too!
I am very impressed with Joan Iaconetti’s paintings. Thank you for sharing!
July 19, 2013 at 11:21 pm
Carol King
Thank you Leslie. You were an inspiration to me and a wonderful teacher.
July 19, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Brett
Very nicely done!
July 19, 2013 at 11:21 pm
Carol King
Hi Brett, thanks for your visit and comment.
July 19, 2013 at 11:03 pm
Padmaja
Beautiful Carol, I know Leslie’s masa works are so inspiring, you created a stunning piece! I look forward to more from you in this direction!
July 19, 2013 at 11:22 pm
Carol King
After seeing so many of Leslie’s and Beth’s masa watercolors I was dying to try it. I’m sure there are more in my future! Thank you so much for your visit and comment.
July 20, 2013 at 12:40 am
AKLizzy
Que magnifique!!!
July 27, 2013 at 9:35 am
Carol King
Thanks! (I don’t remember how to say “thank you” in French.
July 20, 2013 at 4:30 am
nicsearth
I love this. I’ve admired the paintings Leslie has done on masa paper before although I had no idea what it was. Yours turned out beautifully. The instructions sound a bit complicated to me mind you!
July 27, 2013 at 9:36 am
Carol King
Hi Nicola, thanks for your comment. I think you may like working on masa paper. Give it a try. It’s really not complicated at all.
July 20, 2013 at 7:12 am
Nuno
I told Leslie I want to try the masa paper. The results are terrific. Thank you for your comments on the process and for showing the intermediate states of that wonderful painting!
July 27, 2013 at 9:37 am
Carol King
Hi Nuno, I’m glad you like the painting. Thanks for the comment.
July 20, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Beth Parker
This is very impressive, Carol!!! You did a beautiful job with the masa painting!!! Are you addicted yet? Thanks for the link, too!
July 27, 2013 at 9:38 am
Carol King
Yes Beth, I’m addicted. LOL! Thanks for your comment. Glad you like the painting.
July 21, 2013 at 9:03 pm
joantav
Wow! You did a great job on the masa paper. I’ve tried it a few times but never got a result as nice as this! Your choice of a subject was perfect for this method, and the masa added such nice texture to the elements of the painting. Thanks for showing an earlier stage of the painting. It makes me appreciate how far you took this painting. I did go over to Leslie’s blog to see her work and Joan’s subway paintings. Both are really amazing.
Just curious as to how long you worked on this. My paper usually starts to get those fuzzes when I work too long on it. I hope you’re planning on doing another (especially since you’ve got the steps down so well). I always forget the steps and then it is like learning all over again.
July 27, 2013 at 9:40 am
Carol King
Hi Joan, Thanks. I really enjoyed working on the masa paper although it was a bit strange at first since it doesn’t act like regular watercolor paper. I worked on it over a period of a week or two, letting it dry, walking away, looking at it after a few days to see what I wanted to do next. Plus Leslie is always a great help and I emailed her to ask some advice. Sometimes the paper did get a little fuzzy so I would let it dry and then go back. It’s quite durable.
July 22, 2013 at 10:18 am
napabelle
That paper sure works well for the rocks! Well done and great color harmony!
July 27, 2013 at 9:41 am
Carol King
Thank you Isabelle. I was wondering how I would do the rocks and the paper certainly helped me out.
July 23, 2013 at 9:35 am
Cathyann Burgess
Thanks for the intro to something new! great job and strong results. Love the saturation and compoistion, Carol!
July 27, 2013 at 9:42 am
Carol King
I couldn’t get saturation at first, the paint kept lifting. But I finally got it. Thanks for your visit and comment Cathyann!
July 27, 2013 at 1:07 pm
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July 28, 2013 at 8:51 am
Jamie Dedes
Bravo! Well done.