A method includes masking at least one hole of an article with a paste, wherein the hole opens onto a surface of the article, applying a coating to the surface of the article, and removing the paste including contacting the paste with water, leaving at least one open hole in the surface of the coated article. The paste includes about 40-80 wt % of a filler material, about 0.5-20 wt % of an inorganic binder, about 0.5-15 wt % of a polyhydroxy compound and about 5-25 wt % of water. The filler material includes a first material which includes alkali metal doped alumina, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, silicon dioxide, or a combination thereof and a second material which includes a silicate. A weight ratio between the first and second materials is in a range of about 1-10.