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Fixing paintings
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Posted
I’ve been trying out some different pastel papers recently and fixing them with Windsor and Newton fixative. All have been fine except a portrait on Clairefontaine pastel May paper which darkened after the fixative was applied. So I probably won’t use that paper in the future. But just out of interest which fixative does anyone else use?
Posted
It does tend to darken Christine, but once it evaporates it lightens up again. However, I’ve not tried that particular paper.
I’ve gone off using the W&N fixative, and reverted back to my college years where the only way to fix a charcoal or pastel drawing was from a bottle using an atomiser.
The brand I’m currently trying out is Royal Talens and well pleased with it so far. Atomizers are cheap and readily available, they do take a bit of practice to get a fine mist however - I hate all things aerosol. The atomizer is so much better in my opinion.
Posted
I’ve gone off using the W&N fixative, and reverted back to my college years where the only way to fix a charcoal or pastel drawing was from a bottle using an atomiser. The brand I’m currently trying out is Royal Talens and well pleased with it so far.Alan, where do you get the RT liquid fixative? I use a lot of fixative—like you, with a diffuser—and the only 1 litre I’ve found is Lukas. It’s ok but I might like to try an alternative. I’ve searched royal talens fixative and it comes up only on their own site; not one of the suppliers is in the results. As a PS: SYLVIA, next to the fixative on the RT site was a liquid varnish for oil pastels which I suspect is intended for use with a diffuser.
Posted
I steam my pastels. This activates the gum Arabic in the pastel, which previously kept the pastel in a stick. When it dries out, there is no colour shift in either the paper or pastel. It is not 100% in controlling the dust but I really like the lack of colour shift. But I have had some bad experience of ACP spray for coloured pencils. Very blotchy, so adding another layer of colour on top is patchy too.
Posted
The only snag with using a diffuser is that you have to remember to blow, and not suck. Fixed tonsils are no fun.
I would never have thought of steam as a fixative - I'm not sure how seriously I'm thinking of it NOW, either..... but it'd be worth a try. Question to experienced pastellists - there are paintings several hundred years old in pastel, many of which are as vibrant now as they were in the 17th and 18th centuries. What, if anything, did the painters of those days use to fix them? Did they actually use anything?
Posted
https://www.jacksonsart.com/royal-talens-concentrated-fixative-spray-can-400ml?gclid=CjwKCAjwrPCGBhALEiwAUl9X00ZSVQO7lvo0a8XIEM1q4vWa1naMrnTxkXtiUpFijeONr6wbpUUeOBoCllYQAvD_BwE
A whopping link, and I don't know if it'll work - but if it doesn't: Jacksons do the Talens fixative, and the product is in stock.
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