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Can you varnish over soft pastels/conti sticks?

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Ellen Mooney

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I’ve just completed a large stretch canvas of sky/sunset. I need to soften a few edges, I can see where it’s needed, and if I continue with acrylics, even watered down slightly. I’m in danger of fiddling. I always finish my canvases with a matt varnish. If I soften the edges I’m wanting to do, can I still varnish the painting? Or will the pastels/conti sticks react to the varnish. I use Jackson’s matt varnish. The end painting will not be behind glass, hence my question. Or do I have to continue with diluted acrylics and try not to fiddle?  Ellen 
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Alan Green

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My first reaction is simple - don't go anywhere near your pastel work with any kind of liquid on a brush; you'll end up with a smeared mess fit only for the bin. I fix my pastel work with a few sprays of a good fixative, then frame it. If you really do need to tweak an edge then spray fix the rest of the painting, tweak the edge and then spray fix the whole thing.

Alan Bickley

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I’m all for mixed media experimentation Ellen, but not on this occasion. You haven’t posted your painting so it’s difficult to quite grasp the issue here!  I can’t understand why you need pastel to soften some edges, acrylic is more than capable of softening or blending in... why not post it and let’s have a look. Yes, absolutely keep varnish away from pastel, forget about that idea! Also, stretched canvas isn’t the ideal support for pastel, a rigid panel is more suitable.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Couldn't agree more with the two Alans if I tried!

Ellen Mooney

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Thanks everyone, you’ve confirmed what I was thinking, but thought I’d ask anyway.  I can be a bit of a lazy painter at times and was looking for a quick fix. I’ll get out the paints again and do some a bit of glazing, and try not to fiddle in the process. I’ll post on the gallery when I’m totally at ease with it.  Ellen

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by Ellen Mooney