QA

Question: How To Frame Pastel Art

What is the best way to frame a pastel painting?

Pastel paintings need to be framed behind glass to avoid accidental smudges and damage. However, the painting should never touch the glass as the pastel particles will stick to the glass, which can ruin the painting.

How do you frame pastels?

How do you protect pastel art?

To protect your pastels and the edges of all your drawings too, use two sheets of acid-free foam board. Place your pastel drawing in between two pieces that have that you have cut to size. (Leave an extra inch around the edges.) Then, tape them together like a sandwich using acid-free tape.

Do soft pastels need fixative?

Although Conté crayons look similar to pastel, they produce less dust because of their waxier hardness. Soft Pastel on paper may require a fixative, because there’s hardly any texture on the pastel papers to hold the dry media when mainly using soft pastel – pigment with hardly any binder.

Should pastel paintings be matted?

Back Boards. Some pastel papers are sturdy enough to be framed without a backing board or back mat, if the artwork is on paper that is not heavy weight then it is recommended to attach it to a backing board. This will keep the artwork from slipping or moving after it has been framed.

Do pastel paintings fade in sunlight?

Do not place your artwork in direct sunlight! Placing your artwork on a wall that receives direct sunlight during the day means it will fade at an accelerated rate. I use archival quality professional art supplies, but even these materials will fade if they are exposed to harsh sunlight day after day.

Can you varnish over soft pastel?

Artists who wish to use a varnish or fixative on their oil pastels despite the risk of future delamination will likely encounter a second problem, namely tackiness. Especially softer oil pastels remain tacky, also when varnished.

Can you laminate a soft pastel drawing?

It’s possible but I do not recommend that you laminate oil pastels for the reasons I have given below. The main difficulties with laminating your oil pastel art in general are: The size and thickness of your work. You may find that your work does not go through the laminator very well.

Can you use hairspray to seal pastels?

Many artists who create drawings with friable or powdery media, such as chalk, pastel and charcoal, choose to use hairspray as an inexpensive alternative to commercially available art fixatives.

What can I use as a fixative for pastels?

Best Fixatives For Pastels Reviewed Sennelier Fixative for Pastels. Krylon Workable Fixatif Spray. Winsor & Newton Artists’ Workable Fixative. Grumbacher Workable Fixative Spray. SpectraFix Spray Fixative. Blick Matte Fixative.

Can soft pastels be used on canvas?

Surfaces for pastels can mean a whole range of materials because pastels are incredibly versatile. They can be used on almost any surface as long as there is enough tooth for the pastels to grip. Textured paper is the most popular surface for pastels, but you can also use boards, canvas, and even sandpaper.

How toxic are pastels?

Pastels can contain toxic pigments such as chrome yellow (lead chromate) which can cause lung cancer, and cadmium pigments (which can cause kidney and lung damage and are suspect human carcinogens). Blowing excess pastel dust off the drawing is one major source of inhalation of pastel pigments.

Do you have to fix pastel pencils?

The most common question we get asked here at Colin Bradley Art is regarding Fixatives. Generally it is thought necessary to fix pastel work to contain the loose pastel flakes from the pastel paper and to stop the pastel from smudging.

What is pastel board?

Museum Series Pastelbord is a medium textured, highly absorbent surface designed for pastels. Artists choose Pastelbord because the tooth of the marble dust finish holds more layers of pastel than paper and it is versatile enough to be used with wet and dry applications.

How do you post pastel art?

How to Safely Wrap, Pack, and Ship a Soft Pastel Painting Lay out your artwork. Gently lay your pastel painting face down on glassine paper (cut at least ½ in larger in all directions that the painting). Fold the glassine paper around the artwork. Cut two pieces of cardboard or mat to fit. Seal your pastel painting.

Are pastels difficult?

Somewhere between transparent and opaque and too much and too little, pastel is a subtle art. A few precautions should allow you to avoid the most classical pitfalls.

Why are soft pastels so expensive?

Artists’ quality pastels contain the best pigments available and a higher ratio of pigment to binder. This means that artists’ colors are stronger and more intense. Because they contain such high levels of pigment, pastels can be expensive.

How long does a pastel painting last?

If properly taken care of, your painting will last for many lifetimes. Pastel is one of the most permanent art mediums in existence. Many pastels painted over 200 years ago are still as bright and fresh as the day they were created. The artist’s pigments in my pastels are the same as those used in fine oil paints.

What can I use instead of glassine paper?

Acid-free white tissue paper can also be used as a softer alternative to glassine. Barrier paper is another alternative for protecting archival and non-archival materials from dust and debris, and is commonly used as frame backing to give a finished look to artwork.

Can you put resin over oil pastel?

Covering an oil pastel piece with a coating of ArtResin is easy! In fact, epoxy resin takes it next level, giving it a sleek finish that makes color POP and makes your artwork look like a million bucks!Nov 28, 2021.

Can you put oil paint over oil pastels?

A. Oil pastels offer you a great new painting experience if you”ve never tried them before, and I think you”ll find that they”re not difficult to use. When it comes to mixing media, they”re compatible with other pastels and with any oil paint, too.

Can you paint acrylic over pastel?

Normal Oil pastels and acrylic paint do not and should not be mixed together. If you want to use them together use oil pastels over (on) the dried acrylic paints for the best results and to prevent cracking. Try out the water-soluble oil pastels and mix them with acrylic mediums.