Painting cat whiskers in watercolour requires careful planning, as they are delicate and bright against the fur. There are several effective techniques to achieve realistic whiskers: masking, both negative and positive painting, sgraffito and the use of opaque medium usually gouache.

Masking fluid is a reliable way to preserve whiskers before painting. We will see how to apply it and then paint the fur freely. Once dry, remove the masking to reveal crisp, white whiskers.

Negative painting involves carefully painting around the whiskers, leaving them unpainted. This requires precision but creates a natural, seamless look.

Sgraffito (scratching into the paint with a sharp tool) can create fine, textured whiskers, especially in darker fur.

Gouache is an opaque medium that can be used over watercolour to add whiskers at the end. It provides flexibility, though it may appear less natural than reserved whites.

Combining these techniques can achieve lifelike, delicate whiskers.