What
should I use to seal a painting I did
in oil pastels?
This
question usually elicits a lot of debate
in the art community. Oil pastels, as
you may know, are a mixture of oil and
wax. The oil will eventually dry but
the wax component will never completely
dry. As a result, the best way to answer
this question is to offer as much information
to you as we can so that you can make
an educated decision aboout your painting.
Some companies offer oil pastel fixatives
that can be used for protecting oil pastel
paintings. These fixatives will offer
protection against dust, dirt, etc. However,
they do not actually seal an oil pastel
painting. In other words, you can still
smear the layers of pigment. Sennelier
is one brand that offers this type of
product. Another option is to use an
acrylic picture varnish. This will provide
a more heavy duty protection than the
fixative. However, keep in mind that
both the fixative and the varnish will
likely darken the colors in the painting.
If you would rather not risk the application
of a fixative or varnish, you can provide
excellent protection for your painting
by framing the piece with a double-thick
mat board. This will keep the glass raised
off of the painting's surface and also
protect it from dust.
Remember, products vary. Always test
a product first on a small corner of
the painting before using it on the entire
piece.
Meininger's
researches the web to find the best and
most informative
links out there. For information
on arts organizations, museums, and resources
check back often. For links to individual
artists, galleries, or art supply manufacturers, click
here.
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