How to fix the pastels

Pastel painting is different from painting that is made using other materials, the unique shades of tenderness, wonderful soft and velvety. However, dry pastel has one feature - it is very fragile and tends to crumble. How to fix pastel? The recipe for the ideal fixative for centuries looking for artists working with pastels. The first recipe dates back to the XVII century. De Mayer described it in his manuscript, посвящtнной the tools of the painter. And we will try to find the answer to this question.

You will need

watercolor or pastel paper, pastels, spray fixative. May also be useful to the brush and water. If you want to try out the recipe of the artist of the XVII century, you need fish glue.

Instruction

The ways in which fixed the pastel artists of the past, quite complex. For example, you had to get bonded, well overlooking the water, the paper on which you will draw with pastels. Then you need to wet it in a solution of isinglass and water. When the paper is completely dry, create a pastel. Then carefully put the reverse side on the water. It should be noted that water should be very clean. Hold the paper at both ends to get wet evenly, and the water was not filled in on the front side of the pastel. After the pastel will get soaked through, remove it from the water surface and allow to dry.

There was also a method, which is described artist Pointelin. He shook off the excess paint with light strikes, on the left side of the picture. This is done several times: at the stage of placement and after completion of work. After the last off you need to bring the work to perfection strokes. Now your pastels will not crumble against knocks and friction.

The methods of the artists of the past quite time consuming, so they are not suitable for someone just learning to work with pastels. Better to look at art stores special fixative, which is produced in the form of a spray. Modern fixers make the least damage to the color and texture of the figure to fix the pastel. For fixing pastel fixative is sprayed onto the surface from a distance of 30 centimeters. Paper, on which is painted a pastel should not be wet, otherwise the pastel will be spoiled. Do not go overboard with fixative, two or three light sprays will be enough. If your pastel has multiple layers, it is better to fix it in layers. In the end, you need to correct any change in color or texture. If your work has a simple structure (single layer, ie linear), it is better to fix on the back side of the drawing. This is especially true for pastels, done on thin paper.

There is another easy way of fixing dry pastels, which is to blur the picture with water using art brushes. If you need to use pattern traces of the brush, it is better to take the brush from the bristles. Hydration pastel pattern gives a striking result. Pastel becomes something of a cross between watercolor painting and pastel. This is done simply. First superimposed a thick layer of pastels on watercolor paper. Then it is sprinkled with water from the dispenser, and subsequent layers of pastel are applied to wet paper. If you need to enhance the color, apply several layers of pastels on the same place, moistening it after each layer.

Note

Fixatives tend to darken colors and clean pastel velvety texture. If you are dealing with an unfamiliar brand of pastel fixative, it is better to apply it first on a test drawing. You will understand what to expect from this top coat.

Useful advice

If you use fixative, fixing pastel in layers, always wait for the complete drying of the work before applying the following layer.

Is the advice useful?