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Are you an artist who uses soft pastels? Do you need help with blending techniques or want to learn more about how to mix pastels? We've done the research for you and compiled a list of the top ten tools that can improve your pastel work. Discover new ways to blend and create with our comprehensive guide.  In this article, we will go over ten different techniques for blending soft pastels. We will also provide instructions on how to apply each technique and the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
What products do you use to blend soft pastels?
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There are five articles covered in our latest newsletter, which are:
Graphite pencils for beginners
Having overhauled the original article, it's worth checking out (again) if you are new to graphite.
Unison pastels
What makes these pastels so special? We share our findings in this article.
Clairfontaine Pastelmat
Are you an artist, looking for suitable paper? Find out more. Ideal for pastel artists and can be used for other mediums too.
Blending with coloured pencils
If you are a coloured pencil artist and want to learn how to create smooth blends, this article offers lots of hints and tips.
New tutorial for coloured pencil artists
Our latest tutorial shows you how to draw a Hare.
You can click any of the image below to visit each article.
If you are not currently a subscriber to our quarterly newsletter, you can sign up here.
Graphite pencils for beginners
Having overhauled the original article, it's worth checking out (again) if you are new to graphite.
Unison pastels
What makes these pastels so special? We share our findings in this article.
Clairfontaine Pastelmat
Are you an artist, looking for suitable paper? Find out more. Ideal for pastel artists and can be used for other mediums too.
Blending with coloured pencils
If you are a coloured pencil artist and want to learn how to create smooth blends, this article offers lots of hints and tips.
New tutorial for coloured pencil artists
Our latest tutorial shows you how to draw a Hare.
You can click any of the image below to visit each article.
If you are not currently a subscriber to our quarterly newsletter, you can sign up here.
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Are you thinking of trying graphite pencils but unsure what you need or where to begin? Which brands should you buy? We have put together a comprehensive article for artists like you who are looking for some guidance. It can be overwhelming when there’s so many products available but we have broken it down into sections to provide you with lots of useful information. |
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Have you tried any of the products we mention in this post? If so, what are your thoughts? Any preferences? Maybe you have a favourite art product? Share it with us in the comments, and tell us what you like about it and why. Let's share our knowledge among other artists.
Our current favourite product is the Sennelier oil pastel. Creamy, highly vibrant and great fun to work with. Perfect for use on the pastelmat paper too!
Our current favourite product is the Sennelier oil pastel. Creamy, highly vibrant and great fun to work with. Perfect for use on the pastelmat paper too!
Feeling moody? Look no further, Derwent Onyx is our blackest graphite pencil, even darker than a 9B!
Great on its own for drawing really moody pictures or use it with other graphite media like Graphic or Sketching pencils to add dense shade and tone.
We have created two tones, medium and dark, but it is easy to build up darker shades if you need them by increasing the pressure. The wide strip can be easily sharpened and will hold a fine point, perfect for capturing the detail in drawings!
Taken from the Derwent website - www.pencils.co.uk
Great on its own for drawing really moody pictures or use it with other graphite media like Graphic or Sketching pencils to add dense shade and tone.
We have created two tones, medium and dark, but it is easy to build up darker shades if you need them by increasing the pressure. The wide strip can be easily sharpened and will hold a fine point, perfect for capturing the detail in drawings!
Taken from the Derwent website - www.pencils.co.uk
 | These Onyx pencils were created by Derwent to add darker shades to their graphite pencil ranges. You don't need the full range of graphite pencils to create effective art, and this set, comprising only of a Medium & Dark grade would be ideal for those on the go, who like to sketch out in the field or those who prefer the minimal amount of art supplies (I'm sure there's some artist out there like that!?) In this article, we explore the possibilities of these pencils and their characteristics. |
Derwent Graphic v's Derwent Onyx tonal chart
We decided to research this product online and see what other artists are saying about these pencils, but found mixed reviews. Some noted the Dark grade was as black as Derwent suggests, but others said it was not. There is little information about these pencils on the Derwent site, but they do state that they are lightfast (rated 8 on the Blue Wool scale) and that both pencils contain animal fat in the wax blend.
As you can purchase these pencils for under £2.00 each, we decided to buy them and try them out ourselves.
We created a chart below, comparing the grades of the Derwent graphic range and the Derwent Onyx pencils. We include it here so you can see the difference for yourself. We applied the pencils as heavily as possible to ensure the darkest tones were replicated.
As you can purchase these pencils for under £2.00 each, we decided to buy them and try them out ourselves.
We created a chart below, comparing the grades of the Derwent graphic range and the Derwent Onyx pencils. We include it here so you can see the difference for yourself. We applied the pencils as heavily as possible to ensure the darkest tones were replicated.
Our findings
We have created a tutorial using the Onyx pencils, so people can examine for themselves what they can accomplish. It gives you a chance to learn how to draw facial features whilst trying the pencils too. Using other tools to blend and erase, will help you create highly effective drawings, without the constant need to change grades. For this reason, these pencils are ideal for sketches on the go and take up very little space in your bag. The medium pencil can create the finer lines and the Dark grade allows you to create shade, either heavy or light.
Personally, we do not feel that the Dark grade is darker than the Graphic 9B, but what do you think?
Personally, we do not feel that the Dark grade is darker than the Graphic 9B, but what do you think?
Click the link below and try our graphite pencil tutorial. The Derwent Onyx pencils are used in this tutorial, but we do recommend two standard grades of graphite pencils in the place of the Onyx ones, should you wish to use those instead.
What are your personal experiences with these pencils?
Do you use them exclusively or in conjunction with other brands?
Do you find them useful?
Let us know in the comments section below.
I have been using a daylight lamp in my art studio for many years but thought it was time to replace my old lamp once the wiring began to fray. As it got worse, no amount of electrical tape would keep it secure and it became a safety risk.
I received an email from the online art store Cassart, notifying me they had a sale on their daylight lamps, an ideal time to replace my old one and get a brand new one for a good price. After much deliberation, I chose the Lumi LED task lamp. It looked sleek and with a 20" wide head and I knew it would provide more light than my previous model.
Here, I offer my thoughts on this product.
I received an email from the online art store Cassart, notifying me they had a sale on their daylight lamps, an ideal time to replace my old one and get a brand new one for a good price. After much deliberation, I chose the Lumi LED task lamp. It looked sleek and with a 20" wide head and I knew it would provide more light than my previous model.
Here, I offer my thoughts on this product.
With the Lumi light measuring 20" wide, it provides balanced coverage over a large area. The head itself can twist 180° and provide light where you need it most. It can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally, but can be maneuvered into varying positions.
The 'on' button is found on the top of the light. It offers two levels of brightness which can you can adjust by pressing the button twice.
Although the LED lights cannot be replaced which may concern some people, they provide over 50,000 hours of usage. Continuous usage at 8 hours a day, 5 days a week means your light could last around 24 years so this does not seem much of an issue after all. LED lighting also uses less power than bulbs whilst emitting the same amount of light. They are less susceptible to breakage and last far longer than a traditional bulb.
The 'on' button is found on the top of the light. It offers two levels of brightness which can you can adjust by pressing the button twice.
Although the LED lights cannot be replaced which may concern some people, they provide over 50,000 hours of usage. Continuous usage at 8 hours a day, 5 days a week means your light could last around 24 years so this does not seem much of an issue after all. LED lighting also uses less power than bulbs whilst emitting the same amount of light. They are less susceptible to breakage and last far longer than a traditional bulb.
TECHNICAL DETAILS:
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" Light is a natural resource that is mostly taken for granted. We know, however, that the right light in the right place can have a dramatic, positive effect on your life and work. We also know that natural daylight can help improve work performance and efficiency. Since the 1980’s, we have made it our mission to design the best lamps we can, to make a significant improvement to people’s lives. "
My personal rating: 8/10
I give 8 out of 10 for a few reasons. I am quite sensitive to bright light and personally find it too bright even on the lowest setting though this is not the fault of the manufacturer, so I remedy this by positioning it at a distance. The second concern is the plastic head which is not as durable as the rest of the light. I feel it may weaken over time when twisting the head, especially if you are turning it the wrong way, so it is important to do this with care. The lights cannot be replaced so should they become damaged, you would need to replace the whole light.
 My old lamp, the D33200 model. The metal gooseneck is sturdy and holds firm, the Lumi light is much more lightweight, but as it rotates, it is easier to direct the light where you need it. | For anyone interested, here is my old light - now a discontinued model.My previous studio light also from the Daylight Company, was the D33200 model which was released in 2008. It had a heavy duty, flexible gooseneck arm with a metal clamp which attached safely to an easel or flat surface. The circular light could rotate 360° allowing you to direct the light in the area needed most. Previous to the LED light system of today, the daylight lamps in this range used low energy daylight bulbs which you could replace. I bought my D33200 light in 2010 and the 18w bulb (D13621) lasted almost as long as the light. An 18w bulb was the equivalent to an 100w bulb. Having used it for 12 hours a day, 5 days a week on average, the bulb provided up to 30,000 hours of usage. To access the bulb, you had to remove the four chunky screws from the plastic cover and then slide off. |
Which light do you use in your home/studio for your craft/art? What do you love about it or wish you could adapt to make it perfect for you?
Comment below and share your experience
Comment below and share your experience
I was invited once again to create a coloured pencil tutorial for the American Colored pencil magazine workshop series. Past tutorials contributed to this series are the Blueberries (2018) and the Peacock Feather (2019). This year I chose the Hare, a very popular subject among artists. Click the image below, which links to the page where you can purchase a digital (or print) copy of the magazine. If you are in the UK, the digital copy costs less than £2.50 and you can download it in seconds. A great read at a cheap price.
What is included in this issue?
Spotlighting Art-n-Fly - Art-n-fly is an affordable oil-based coloured pencil which is covered in this edition. There is a link to a You Tube video demonstrating these pencils used with Art-n-fly alcohol markers.
Finding the Unique You - Alexandra Zeres showing her artwork framed in flowers, birds and butterflies
Creating Prints of Your Art - Learn how to navigate the options in order to get started printing and providing your followers and fans with gorgeous prints of your artwork.
Hare Tutorial - Workshop series by Karen M Berisford
Pairing with Pitt Pens - Sara Ostlund compares the pros and cons of using the Faber-Castell Pitt artist pens with your coloured pencils. Follow her demo to try it for yourself.
Creating a Beautiful Layout - Learn how to create beautiful layouts by Erin McManness in an excerpt from the book of the month.
Sketchbook - See what's new and in the news
Challenge Met Gallery - Artwork of 18 artists who undertook every monthly art challenge in 2020 and won themselves a free digital subscription.
plus Selfie challenge and December art challenge winners.
Featuring: Ambro Jordi
Ambro brings animals to life when he puts pencil to paper. Learn how he went from pursuing a career in animation to one in fine art. Read how he enjoys sharing his knowledge with others and offering words of encouragement.
FREE Art-n-Fly Oil-Based Colored Pencil inside the USA Print Issues only - While Supplies Last
Price: USA $3.99 UK £2.87* Euro €3.31*
*Price may vary due to exchange rate when you purchase.
Spotlighting Art-n-Fly - Art-n-fly is an affordable oil-based coloured pencil which is covered in this edition. There is a link to a You Tube video demonstrating these pencils used with Art-n-fly alcohol markers.
Finding the Unique You - Alexandra Zeres showing her artwork framed in flowers, birds and butterflies
Creating Prints of Your Art - Learn how to navigate the options in order to get started printing and providing your followers and fans with gorgeous prints of your artwork.
Hare Tutorial - Workshop series by Karen M Berisford
Pairing with Pitt Pens - Sara Ostlund compares the pros and cons of using the Faber-Castell Pitt artist pens with your coloured pencils. Follow her demo to try it for yourself.
Creating a Beautiful Layout - Learn how to create beautiful layouts by Erin McManness in an excerpt from the book of the month.
Sketchbook - See what's new and in the news
Challenge Met Gallery - Artwork of 18 artists who undertook every monthly art challenge in 2020 and won themselves a free digital subscription.
plus Selfie challenge and December art challenge winners.
Featuring: Ambro Jordi
Ambro brings animals to life when he puts pencil to paper. Learn how he went from pursuing a career in animation to one in fine art. Read how he enjoys sharing his knowledge with others and offering words of encouragement.
FREE Art-n-Fly Oil-Based Colored Pencil inside the USA Print Issues only - While Supplies Last
Price: USA $3.99 UK £2.87* Euro €3.31*
*Price may vary due to exchange rate when you purchase.
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Download the CPM app
You can also download the Colored pencil magazine app on your Android or Apple device and purchase this edition, although there are no discounts available. The price is $2.99 and £2.99
About the reference image
 | My partner John Graham photographed this Hare back in October 2019. It was very inquisitive. Whilst John sat motionless on the ground; the Hare came closer, allowing him to capture this image and the second one below. This high definition photo can be used as a reference during the construction of your drawing.  |
If you haven't read this magazine before, you may find it a valuable resource as not only does it provide plenty of data on coloured pencils, it occasionally covers other mediums like pastel pencils and marker pens. There is an abundance of articles offering hints and tips, tutorials like this Hare above, regular competitions, a peek into the lives and studios of other artists and even guidance on the art business. They also have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages too so you can get involved in those competitions wherever you are in the world - I even had a go myself a few years ago!
Jackons's Uncradled Gesso Panel provides artists with a pre-prepared fine tooth surface that’s ideal for all painting styles, including oil paints, acrylics and mixed media. It features a professional acid-free gesso ground that is lightly textured, professionally applied to warp resistant, sturdy, tempered panels.
Jackson's Uncradled Gesso Panel's are available in Grey and Umber in sizes from 4 x 4 in to 24 x 36 in
I have been working with acrylics for over 10 years and found that canvas just did not suit my needs very early on in my journey. I like to create fine detail in my work and the weave of the canvas does not allow me to do this. I found the Ampersand boards back in 2017 and their smoother surface were far more ideal, and the rigid nature of the board was more supportive. After researching the different surfaces available, I began with the Gessobord, followed by the Pastelbord because I was able to buy this in other colours other than white, which are grey, tan and green. I can only purchase the white and grey in the UK however at the time of writing this article. I have always worked exclusively on tonal bases, as it offered me a mid-ground for which to build my layers on. As the Gessobord is only available in white, I had to apply a colour wash before I began, so when I came across Jackson's Art Gesso panels back in 2019, they looked ideal. My preferred base colours have always been grey and tan, so the fact that the Jackson’s Art Gesso panels provided both these tones were perfect. As the panels are already treated with a gesso ground, I could get straight into the painting without initial preparation.
Comparing Ampersand Gessobord and Jacksons Art gesso board
The surface appears almost identical in texture, but the Ampersand boards are treated with a gesso ground that do not contain any animal derivatives. The latter is also archival and made from renewable sources. I have emailed Jackson’s Art to check this information for their gesso board, and am awaiting a reply. Once I receive it I will add it here.
The Jackson’s Art Gesso board is 3mm thick, as are the Ampersand boards. The edging around the board is flat with square corners and hard edges, the Ampersand boards have curved edges and corners making them smoother to the touch. Once framed though, it does not make a difference. When viewing the back of the board, they are almost identical. The only difference between the two is the Ampersand one has the board name stamped on the back, the Jackson’s Art brand is plain.
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Sizes available
4" x 4" |
5" x 5" |
6" x 6" |
5" x 7" |
6" x 9" |
8" x 8" |
6" x 12" |
8" x 10" |
9" x 12" |
10" x 10" |
11" x 14" |
12" x 12" |
12" x 16" |
12" x 24" |
14" x 18" |
16" x 20" |
18" x 24" |
18" x 36" |
24" x 36" |
Value |
The Gesso board is available in various sizes and shapes from square, rectangular and panoramic sizing. Prices vary from £3.00 to £43.00 (prices correct as of March 2021)
Click the link below to find out more about this product at Jackson's Art (Local, national and international deliveries available)
Click the link below to find out more about this product at Jackson's Art (Local, national and international deliveries available)
This is an independent review. I have not received a commission for this article.
A while back I purchased a couple of sheets of the latest Colourfix paper. It is a smoother version of the standard paper that was launched by Art Spectrum in 2017
Available colours are the same as the standard Colourfix options which you can view HERE
Available colours are the same as the standard Colourfix options which you can view HERE
Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Smooth is manufactured by screen printing Colourfix™ Smooth Primer onto European Archival 300gsm Hot Pressed watercolour paper making 340gsm pastel paper.
Colourfix™ Smooth is a versatile surface that can be used for pastels, oil colours, acrylics, inks, oil pastels, gouache, watercolours and dry media such as charcoal and pencils.
The Colourfix™ Smooth texture is ideal for pastel artists who are looking for a not so toothy surface. The surface still has enough soft tooth to enable the artist to do multiple layers of pastel.
Colourfix™ Smooth is available:
Colours: 20 (As the Colourfix standard)
Sheet sizes: 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”) and 50x70cm (20” x 28”) 10 sheets per pack.
Rainbow packs available in 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”)
Cool and Warm packs in 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”) size
 | PrimerYou can also purchase Colourfix smooth as a primer which allows you to paint it over any surface and create your art over the top. The primer is available in all colours found in the paper surfaces. |
Comparison between the standard Colourfix paper and the smooth version
Below is a magnified image of the Colourfix standard paper versus the smooth surface. As you can see, the standard surface appears quite gritty next to the smooth surface. You can see how the smooth compares to the very popular Pastelmat paper below.
How does the Colourfix smooth compare to Pastelmat?
Here is a magnified image of the Colourfix smooth and Clairfontaine Pastelmat paper comparison. They look and feel exactly the same and I suspect Art Spectrum brought out the Colourfix smooth paper in competition with Pastelmat, knowing how popular the paper is.
Violet flower on Colourfix smooth paper
Having completed a soft pastel drawing on this paper, it reminded me of the popular Pastelmat paper. Pastels go on smoothly and is easy to blend on. As I blend by overlaying pastels rather than using my fingers or tools, this paper makes it easier to do this because of its smoothness, not as easy on the original surface which has more of a tooth. This paper is great for those just starting out with pastels and is suitable for other mediums such as pencils and acrylic paints.
The latest tutorial available on our website, created for inclusion in our autumn newsletter 2020, shows you how to create a Violet flower on the Colourfix smooth paper. Using soft pastels on the Leaf Green Dark tone (you can use any colour surface) we break down the process of base application with pastel blocks to creating the fine details using the PITT pastel pencils (you can use your own pastel range)
**NEW** COLOURFIX™ OPTIMUM BOARD
ORIGINAL (MEDIUM) TEXTURE
The Colourfix original paper surface is also available in a more robust form known as the 'Optimum board'.
Unlike the Pastelmat surface, who has their own version which includes the foamcore (and was the first to offer this type of surface I believe?), the Colourfix surface also includes a thin layer of aluminium to prevent warping.
Unlike the Pastelmat surface, who has their own version which includes the foamcore (and was the first to offer this type of surface I believe?), the Colourfix surface also includes a thin layer of aluminium to prevent warping.
Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Optimum Board is a high density archival and acid free foamcore board, hand screen printed with Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Primer..
The secret that separates this board from all others is a super thin layer of Aluminum within the board that prevents warping and helps provide this substrate’s lightweight and sturdy characteristics.
Colourfix™ Optimum Board has a robust toothy surface that will hold layers of pastel without the need for fixative, allowing the velvet bloom and vibrant colour of pastel to be preserved.
The new Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Optimum Board comes in 6 lightfast colours all with the Original Colourfix™ tooth. It is a superb substrate for pastels, oil colours, acrylics, inks, oil pastels, gouache, watercolours, and dry media such as charcoal and pencils.
Colourfix™ Optimum Board is available in 16 x 20” and ready to be framed without the need for a backing board.
What else you should know about this board:
The substrate board is acid free containing no lignin’s.
The glue used in this product is also acid free.
Aluminum thickness: 6.3μm
Colours available: White, Soft Umber, Terracotta, Rose Grey, Blue Haze and Deep Black.
Also available Rainbow Pack which includes one sheet of each colour
If you are an artist thinking of starting your own commission based business, here at Step by Step Art, we have produced an article filled with lots of useful information for those of you needing some help and advice.
Written by artist Karen M Berisford who has always loved drawing since she was little, began taking on commissions back in the 90's after leaving school. She became a professional artist in 2011 and runs her own commission based business at: www.karenmberisford.com She is also the face behind this very website and provides all the content found within it. She is the web designer of both these sites and explains the importance of having your own website too.
Written by artist Karen M Berisford who has always loved drawing since she was little, began taking on commissions back in the 90's after leaving school. She became a professional artist in 2011 and runs her own commission based business at: www.karenmberisford.com She is also the face behind this very website and provides all the content found within it. She is the web designer of both these sites and explains the importance of having your own website too.
Click the image above to visit the article.
Although the article was originally written in 2018, additional information has recently been added. As with all our articles on this website, we update, re-write or add new content to some from time to time.
Are there any other questions you would like answered that you would like to see included in our article? Please add them to our comments section below. We will answer them as soon as we can.
I hope you find the information helpful!
Although the article was originally written in 2018, additional information has recently been added. As with all our articles on this website, we update, re-write or add new content to some from time to time.
Are there any other questions you would like answered that you would like to see included in our article? Please add them to our comments section below. We will answer them as soon as we can.
I hope you find the information helpful!
 | Loxley spray fixative 200ml is a high quality, colourless, non-yellowing protection medium with UV Filter and is CFC free. It protects artwork from atmosphere damage caused by moisture and the suns UV rays as well as preventing smudging and is recommended particularly for use on charcoal, pencil, pastel, crayon, chalk drawings and paintings. This is available in two sizes: 200ml and 400ml. |
PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION:
I have used this product for many years to help seal my graphite and coloured pencil drawings as well as my pastel portraits too. I have tried some other fixatives, but I personally like this one due to the fact that it also includes a UV filter, which offers extra protection. Some fixative nozzles can become blocked which is when spitting happens and this can leave marks on your drawing, particularly noticeable if you use it for your pastel paintings. I have never had that problem with the Loxley one.
I have used this product for many years to help seal my graphite and coloured pencil drawings as well as my pastel portraits too. I have tried some other fixatives, but I personally like this one due to the fact that it also includes a UV filter, which offers extra protection. Some fixative nozzles can become blocked which is when spitting happens and this can leave marks on your drawing, particularly noticeable if you use it for your pastel paintings. I have never had that problem with the Loxley one.
USING IT ON MY OWN DRAWINGS
When working on my coloured pencil portraits, I sometimes apply a fixative between the layers which helps to extend the working surface and minimise saturation if I have applied a large amount of layers to a particular piece. As the fixative secures previous layers, ensure you have finished blending as you may not be able to do this after sealing it with fixative. In the video above, you can see the Loxley fixative appear in the video showing you where I apply a spray of fixative. There are around 8 or 9 layers on this area alone and as I need to apply highlights to the dark fur, the fixative allows me to do this without muddying the colours. I can then continue with more layers. Once the portrait is complete, I treat it with two layers over the whole of the portrait to minimise smudging and to offer extra protection to the framed portrait, particularly as many people do not choose a UV or museum glass when framing.
When working on my coloured pencil portraits, I sometimes apply a fixative between the layers which helps to extend the working surface and minimise saturation if I have applied a large amount of layers to a particular piece. As the fixative secures previous layers, ensure you have finished blending as you may not be able to do this after sealing it with fixative. In the video above, you can see the Loxley fixative appear in the video showing you where I apply a spray of fixative. There are around 8 or 9 layers on this area alone and as I need to apply highlights to the dark fur, the fixative allows me to do this without muddying the colours. I can then continue with more layers. Once the portrait is complete, I treat it with two layers over the whole of the portrait to minimise smudging and to offer extra protection to the framed portrait, particularly as many people do not choose a UV or museum glass when framing.
USING IT ON PASTEL ART
If you work with pastels, you may wonder if you should use a fixative on your drawings. Take a look at the comparison photos below and see what may happen if you do. The one on the left is before applying fixative and the one on the right is after. See how the fixative has darkened the colours, creating a more translucent finish. The fixative has dampened the pastel application, causing the darkening of the pastels. This may depend on the pastels you use though as higher quality pastels may not react in the same way as cheaper brand ones due to their being more pigment in them. Many papers, particularly textured ones, do not require a fixative as they hold the pastel well with minimal pastel drop. At the end of the day, the final decision is yours alone.
If you work with pastels, you may wonder if you should use a fixative on your drawings. Take a look at the comparison photos below and see what may happen if you do. The one on the left is before applying fixative and the one on the right is after. See how the fixative has darkened the colours, creating a more translucent finish. The fixative has dampened the pastel application, causing the darkening of the pastels. This may depend on the pastels you use though as higher quality pastels may not react in the same way as cheaper brand ones due to their being more pigment in them. Many papers, particularly textured ones, do not require a fixative as they hold the pastel well with minimal pastel drop. At the end of the day, the final decision is yours alone.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
When spraying, hold the can about 12" away from your upright drawing and spray evenly from top to bottom. It has also been suggested to me that you can turn your drawing 45 degrees and respray, so you are applying a balanced amount over the whole of your drawing. Spray too close and you may create speckling from the aerosol.
When spraying, hold the can about 12" away from your upright drawing and spray evenly from top to bottom. It has also been suggested to me that you can turn your drawing 45 degrees and respray, so you are applying a balanced amount over the whole of your drawing. Spray too close and you may create speckling from the aerosol.
WHAT ABOUT USING HAIRSPRAY AS A CHEAP ALTERNATIVE TO FIXATIVE?
Never use hairspray as a fixative. Manufacturers of hairspray make this product for use on hair, not artwork. As hairspray is not acid-free, should you spray it over your artwork, it could cause it to yellow over time. The acid in the hairspray can cause discolouration of the pigment and may also make the paper brittle too. If you have ever used hairspray, you'll note that some can leave a tacky residue behind, not good for your work. It really is better to buy a fixative made for art, which will help protect your work properly for many years.
If you wish to see the final portrait of the Boxer dog being created in the video above, click this link
Never use hairspray as a fixative. Manufacturers of hairspray make this product for use on hair, not artwork. As hairspray is not acid-free, should you spray it over your artwork, it could cause it to yellow over time. The acid in the hairspray can cause discolouration of the pigment and may also make the paper brittle too. If you have ever used hairspray, you'll note that some can leave a tacky residue behind, not good for your work. It really is better to buy a fixative made for art, which will help protect your work properly for many years.
If you wish to see the final portrait of the Boxer dog being created in the video above, click this link
Karen M Berisford - The Tutor
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Karen M Berisford
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