Artists using oil pastels have the problem of working with a material that never dries or sets in a way that cures (preserves) the medium. The inherent physical properties of these materials fight any attempt to harden them or make them unalterable. For this reason, oil pastels are highly susceptible to both solvents and smudges.
Creating a seal or coating akin to a fixative is possible. Talens and Sennelier are two manufacturers I know of that offer products for this purpose. These products are acrylic dispersions made for application over a finished oil pastel to provide a barrier between the oil pastel and the environment, so the surface of the oil pastel feels dry.
A word of caution is necesary: In traditional painting systems, acrylics applied over oil-like materials (in this case, oil pastels) may display adhesion problems. Still, this fixative material may provide an acceptable short-term solution for exhibiting unglazed oil pastels.
www.artistsmagazine.com ■ November 2008
An alternative to oil pastels is pigment sticks or oil bars. Both are traditionally pigmented materials containing wax and linseed oil instead of non-drying mineral oil. Due to the wax, they never become truly solid, but an artist who likes the feel of oil pastel—yet wants the finished artwork to dry to a fairly high degree of hardness—may find pigment sticks or oil bars a satisfying alternative. This medium can be varnished with a number of traditional resin varnishes made for oil paintings. —M.S.
Q. I recently learned that some
people use a handheld clothes
steamer to help fix pastels after the
painting is finished. Apparently, the
pastels return to their normal color
once they dry and are less likely
to create dust. Do you have any
recommendations pro or con about this method? Are there other ways to fix pastels?
A. A spray can of old-fashioned pastel fixative (resin dissolved in alcohol) is an essential tool in my studio. I primarily work on large sheets of paper, and fixing the finished pastel increases the odds for the long-term survival of the work without causing surface damage.
priate technique to use between pastel layers.) The steam softens the gum binder in the pastel and causes the pastel particles to bind to the ground, reducing the free-floating dust particles of a framed pastel. Although steam stabilizes the pigment, the pastel will still come off when rubbed.
To steam fix a pastel, fill a
household iron or clothing steamer
with distilled water (not tap water)
The goal in using a fixative is to stabilize the pigment, not to render it impervious to touch. Let your eye and your touch determine how much fixative to apply. Applying too much of any fixative will darken the color of the medium. When a fixative darkens the value or renders a color transparent, touch up the affected colors, but do not apply another layer of fixative. The fixative will strengthen the archival foundation of the work, while the final layers of colors remain untouched and vibrant.
Some fixatives may also be used between pastel layers. Daler-Rowney and Sennelier are my two favorite brands of resin-based fixative, which can be used both between layers and as a final protective coating. Krylon Workable Fixative, which adds a slight tooth to the surface, is made to be used between layers.
and lightly steam the pastel about two inches from the surface. Be sure there’s no dripping water. The pigment particles will darken and swell with moisture, but the original color returns as the pigment dries. Let the work dry completely overnight.
Remember, whatever your fixing method, the final step for preserving a pastel is to frame it under protective glass. —J. W.
Lascaux spray, an acrylic-based fixative, should not be used between layers, but it’s a first-class choice for a final protective coat, being both archival and nonyellowing. Be aware, however, that spraying too heavily with an acrylic-based fixative entombs a pastel under a suffocating layer of plastic.
An alternative to spray fixa-
tives is to steam fix the final layer of
pastel. (Steam fixing is not an appro-
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