when a pastel painting is finished, do you spray it with a varnish?

Question

This is my first experience with pastels. Pastels are very messy and the chalk falls off. Seems like it should be finished with an artist picture varnish. Don't want to ruin it.
Thanks

Answer 1

hi, you spray it with a pastel fixative by daler-rowney or winsor and newton both priced at approx 5.oo for a small spray can. you can also by it in a bottle and blow it over your work with a clever little gadget called a defusor. a quick fix can be just common hairspay but when you do your masterpieces dont be tempted to use it as over time it yellows with age!

Answer 2

You can buy fixative in the arts and crafts section of walmart...."Fixative: Fixative, in an aerosol can, is used to "fix" pastel and charcoal drawings when finished, to keep them from smearing when touched, or flaking off. There is also 'workable' fixative, which also comes in a can, and is used to spray on a pastel when it already has layers of pigment, and you want to re-touch it. My experience with fixative is that it has only limited success in preventing smearing, flaking, etc., and if anything (hand, paper) is rubbed against or touches the pastel, fixative will not completely prevent smearing, etc. Pastel and charcoal drawings must be handled very carefully for this reason, and not filed away sandwiched against another surface. The best way to protect your finished pastels is to have them professionally framed under acid-free matboard and glass. The 1/8" thick matboard prevents the glass from touching the pastel. Fixative fumes are hazardous, so you need to spray, following the directions on the can, in a well ventilated area or out-of-doors. You need to keep the can moving while spraying, because if you linger in an area, the fixative can produce spots of liquid which can mar your image." By: Nancy Doyle

This website might help too.It's really good!
http://www.artistsmagazine.com/article_list.asp

Answer 3

Five years ago I was really into pastels--the chalk variety, not oil. My instructor told me to spray it with hairspray. It works, it's cheap, and five years later it still looks the same. So if you're on a budget, that's the way to go.

PS Be sure to hold it six inches away from the art as you spray it, just like the package reccomends.

Answer 4

Not neccesarily with varnish. Some hairspray, (believe it or not), protects it a bit. Just keep the can far away with light spraying at first.
There are some special artistic sprays for this, but hairsprays the cheapest and still works.

Answer 5

You can use a branded artist spray varnish, quite dear, but i get the same results from cheap womens hairspray, the cheaper the spray i have found works the best get extra hold ,it contains more varnish.

regards lf, this works for charcoal as well.

Answer 6

yes when you're absolutely sure your finished spray the painting with varnish (hairspray works too.....it's also cheaper). There's a spray fixative from Prismacolor that leaves a matte finish on the painting if you're looking for something nice (it works great on any dry medium).

Answer 7

There is a fixative, not sure if varnish would work. If you are happy with what you did, spray with the fixative then continue working.

If you goof the fixative will make it easy to undo your work.

Misterart.com is a good source for these kinds of supplies. But I assume Michael's & ACMoore would have them as well.

Answer 8

I always use hairspray, cheap and good. Hold the hairspray on a bit od a distance, like half a meter. Best to let it dry and make 3 layers!

Answer 9

sometimes. try both. true the pastel --depending on the make and quality is a bit difficult to work with -- but it is a nice feeling when finished.

Answer 10

yes you do need a fixative spray.Another alternative us art student's used in poverty days was a can of hairspray.