Pastel painting differs from painting made with the help of other materials, unique tenderness of shades, remarkable softness and velvety. However, dry pastels have one peculiarity - they are very fragile and tend to crumble. How to fix pastels? The recipe for the perfect fixative has been sought by pastel artists for centuries. The very first recipe dates back to the 17th century. De Mayern described it in his manuscript dedicated to the painter's tools. Let's try and we will find the answer to this question.
It is necessary
watercolor or pastel paper, dry pastel, fixative spray. Brushes and water may also come in handy. If you want to try out a 17th century artist's recipe, you need fish glue
Instructions
Step 1
The ways in which the artists of the past fixed pastels are quite complex. For example, you had to take glued, water-permeable paper on which you will paint with pastels. Then you need to wet it in a solution of fish glue and water. When the paper is completely dry, create pastels. Then carefully lay it back down into the water. It should be noted that the water must be very clean. Hold the paper at both ends so that the drawing is evenly wet and does not pour water onto the front of the pastel. After the pastel is completely wet, you need to remove it from the surface of the water and dry it.
Step 2
There was also a method described by the artist Pointelline. He brushed off excess paint with light strokes on the left side of the drawing. This is done several times: at the sketching stage and after the end of the work. After the last shaking off, you need to bring the work to perfection with subtle strokes. Now your pastels will not crumble from jolts and friction.
Step 3
The methods of artists of the past are quite laborious, so they are not quite suitable for someone who is just learning to work with pastels. It is better to look for a special fixative in art stores, which is available in the form of a spray. Modern fixers allow you to fix pastels with the least loss of color and texture of the picture. To fix the pastels, the fixative is sprayed onto the surface from a distance of 30 centimeters. The paper on which the pastel is drawn must not get wet, otherwise the pastel will be damaged. Don't overdo it with the fixative, two or three light sprays should be enough. If your pastel has multiple layers, it is best to pin it in layers. At the end of the work, you need to correct any possible color or texture changes. If your work has a simple structure (one-layer, i.e. linear), it is better to fix it on the back of the picture. This is especially true for pastels made on thin paper.
Step 4
There is another simple way to fix dry pastels, which is to wash the drawing with water using artistic brushes. If you need to use brush marks in your drawing, it is better to use a bristle brush. Moisturizing the pastel pattern has an amazing effect. Pastel is becoming something between watercolor painting and pastel. This is done simply. First, apply a thick layer of pastel to watercolor paper. Then it is sprayed with water from a spray bottle, and the next layer of pastel is applied to damp paper. If you need to enhance the color, apply several layers of pastel on the same spot, moisturizing it after each layer.
