The Secret to Spraying Pastels 

we used to use hairspray back in highschool

The best one I found is the Spectrafix. Not in the bottle it comes in because that spits. It needs to be put in a florisol bottle, Spectra fix sells one. It puts out a lovely even fine mist, better than anything I have ever found. The product hardly darkens at all, and that’s only if you spray a whole lot. You can also spray it in the house because it doesn’t smell bad.

I just found this video right after spraying workable fixative on my pastel drawing. This saved me from future heartaches lol. Thanks for the Video!

I know this is an old video but what has always helped my spray fixatives not start spitting out of the can is flipping it upside down after I'm done using it and then spraying, usually for three seconds, until it's clear. Same thing with anything from a spray can although paint is obviously much easier to see when the paint's been cleared out of the line.

is one light coat sufficient to prevent bleeding or smudging of pastels?

My wife is named Marla. It's not a name I encounter very often, at least where I live. We've been married forty-two years, and I've met only two women names Marla in my part of the country. Anyway, nasty chemicals are why I use Spectrafix. It doesn't have any, and I can safely spray it inside my studio. Not only do I want to avoid getting those nasty chemicals in my lungs, for my part, I also want to keep them out of the environment. As for thin paper, it may not happen to everyone, but I have "accidentally" created something I really wanted to keep when I was using thin paper, and only intended to be trying something different, testing a new technique, etc. This has happened a dozen or more times over the years, and Spetrafix is the only fixative I've found that I can make work on such paper, if I'm careful. I've also intentionally created some serious work on thin paper, simply because I wanted to see if I could do something that I really didn't think would come out well, but did. But these drawings are all pretty small, sometimes as small as 5x7, very often 8.5x11, and a fair number being 9x12. I got tired of spraying them since I don't plan to sell them, so I have laminated the last several. When laminate gets a few years old, it can lose it's grip a bit and the two pieces can start to slide apart, and will often ruin whatever is between them, but a staple at each corner and one at the halfway point between the corners prevents this, and isn't visible once framed. I would never do this with anything I wanted to sell, but I really like it for things I just want to keep for myself, and may want to display on the wall in my rotation, but that suffer from the overly thin paper I used.

Thank you! I have been using that exact fixative, but every time it would dull my creation, which was soooo disappointing. Now, after watching your video, I've realized that spraying it directly onto the artwork, even from 30 inches away, has been a mistake. I'll try the indirect spray on my next piece 😊

That mask hits different these days. Also great advise!! Certainly will pick up a can!

I am new to pastel. Bought the Krylon Workable Fix and actually like it because of the texture it leaves. I've actually started experimenting with strategically leaving some dust, spaying over it and coming up with some cool effects. To each his own.

Putting work in big box and spraying at the back of the box with particles falling down on art has worked for me, similar to spray aquatinting for printmaking.

I painted a major piece 24x36” pastel painting on dark brown sanded paper - when I sprayed it at the end with Spectrafix a lot of the details got sucked into the layers of pastel (no rubbing or blending in my technique) after a moment of panic I sat down and began layering more pastel info onto the piece. End product was saved but I will never save the fixing until the end again - in between layers works for me! In my art classes I have started using a Freeze UltraHold Hair spray - no colour changes, created nice texture on full paper and the previous layers are held in place which allows beginners (9 years and up) to create Incredible pastel paintings. When iWork on my for sale pieces always use Spectra Fix - it is incredible - I especially like experimenting with mediums and surfaces. Terra Skin paper, layers of dusty pastels and heavy layers of spectra fix are amazing and the thick textured surface you create with the layers is fun to work on.

I bet the fixative can ruin a pair of polycarbonate lens. Has that happened to you?

May I suggest a respirator will protect you much better than a dust mask.

Thank you Marla. How far and how high do you hold your fixative from the painting when you spray across your painting? I think things seem closer than it is in videos.

Marla what is the product brand and name? thanks

One thing to remember (it is the most common cause of spray cans that spit and sputter) always clear the tip and feed tube when you are done. When you are done using any arasol product paint, fixative or glue (especially glue) hold can upside down and spray until no product comes out. It usually only takes a few seconds.

Do you ever have an issue after spraying, your colors or highlights aren't as bright? If so how do you avoid that? Also, I find I need to do quite a few coats on charcoal/pastel to seal the artwork thus hindering its final look. If I dont do numerous coats the artwork smears/smudges as if there isn't any protection on it. Help?? Lol

Thanks for this video. I have heard so many poo poo spraying pastels with fixative and even heard some recommending hair spray as an alternative. I ordered a can of it so I can preserve my apple masterpiece from "apple a day". lol

Thanks😘i use another spray fixate and i do pan pastel + coloured pencils portraits. Usually it works but sometimes i find i leaves little dotts on the drawing and i also find that it doesn't work as well with only pan pastels

Remove the spray tip & soak it in warm water to loosen the dried up gunk.

🙄 i just sprayed fixative directly to the drawing (the color was slightly faded) just before watching this video...

How did the Grumbacher work with you? I use one. It does disaster at many times on my pastel works, it lowers some values and other sections become hodgepodge that they lose color brilliance. I'm hoping that it's just the way I spray the bottle and I should just learn how to do it properly. I'll try this one you demoed, hope it goes well. I have no other choice, it's the most quality brand that I can buy in our country, it's really frustrating.

I can't thank you enough for this! I did a pastel painting recently that I loved and which I somewhat ruined using workable fix on it. I just tried this fine art fixative and it didn't spot my work. Yay!

Thank you very much for sharing everything you know 🤗

Greetings Marla does the Krylon fine art fixatif darken the soft pastel work?

Thank you for the video . I use this fixative at the end of my painting as you do . I find it to be excellent .

would you say pastels and charcoals are close enough to be treated with the same product?

Hi Marla, Thank you for the tips. I am wondering if the mask you are using is OV rated. Many people use regular dust or fine particle mask (N95), often used in the medical field. Those masks are ineffective for solvents. With an OV mask, the organic components are absorbed by the masks. I use laquer and other sprayable finish on my wood pieces and invested in a good respirator for dual filter cartridge. If you want to stay with disposable mask, just search for disposable OV masks. Stay Safe!

Great video! I came hoping to find a video that shows how to protect my work after I ruined my pastel portrait. I'm going to go and try this method and product now. Thanks.

Thanks so much for the information! I'll try the Krylon fine art fixative.Ive been using the Krylon workable fixative and some of my pastel pieces are fine after applying this fixiative, but if there are small details such as different colors of grasses, these subtle details were destroyed in one of my pieces and blended together into one greenish brown boring color.

Thank you for your demo. I have used Krylon Workable fixative in the middle of the painting and have not had any problem, and never use a final fixative. I will give it it try.

Thanks for the video! Have you used Prismacolor fixative? That’s what I have.

I'm just wondering why you say that the Krylon Workable Fixatif "isn't made for pastels" when on the front (and back) of the can it states 'Protects pencil, pastel and chalk drawings'?

Thank you so much, was looking for the best spray. Saved me ordering wrong one

I use hairspray lol

Just bought the one you suggested not to use, you're right this will not seal anything.

High quality mono audio.

Thank you for this video. Very useful.

I’ve really gotten into adult coloring books. I used Workable Fixative on one of my pieces a couple of years ago. It was a country fall scene with a dog, a fence, and some beautifully colored leaves in shades of orange, yellow, red, and purple. I never brag about my art work, but I hit it out of the park with this one. I finished the piece with a Mungyo Chalk Pastel in light gray as background. It looked great………until I sprayed it. My sky is now super dark. So much so, that it looks like there’s an F5 tornado headed for the dog. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Also, most of the other colors were darkened. I’m surprised that I didn’t hurl the can into the nearest trash bin. 😠 I’ll try this Krylon Fine Art spray soon. I don’t normally color IN the coloring books. Most of them are printed on cheap paper. I copy the page I’m going to color onto Neenah Card stock. Ty for the help. ❤

Marla do you use krylon blue can fine Art fixative or do you use pastel krylon fixative? Because both come in a blue can and I don't know which one to use that you use.

Try placing the piece inside a dedicated “spray box” and cap it off with a top for drying (especially if you are inside a garage-(protects from dust), and contains the aerosol.

Does it darken the original art? That's the problem I am having.

Marla, I liked the way you showed how to spray over the painting. You tell us not to use the Krylon workable fixative, but you didn't say why. I already have a can, but have not used it, and you could tell what it does. If anyone knows, please feel free to offer your experience; I don't see any comments with questions being answered at the time I'm writing this. A timely comment would be appreciated as it could afford me the chance to return for an exchange or refund, if it has no other uses.

Edgar degas would use an atomizer to spray over layers. I'm trying to figure out what kind of liquid he used for that

Added it to my art wishlist. 😊

Thank you. I’ve been using krypton workable fixative with frustration at how it changes the colors.

I took an old piece of flat cardboard from a cookie factory i worked at and used chalk pastel on it. How do i seal it without ruining my work??

Closed captioning?

Thank you so much for sharing..So spray the mist on top of the drawing?, not directly to the drawing, correct?

Hi! enjoyed this, what kinda paper do you use? What brand, weight, finish?

Thanks for the video Marla, very helpful.

Can you use the blue can for workable fix during a painting?

Thanks, I am new to it but I do use that brand and I like it.

What is this one? You mentioned what not to use but failed to mention what to use at the end.

I was using the schmincke one, it was quite expensive and used to leave a little spits all over the paper, also the colour degrated a lot, that'sa big no. I didn't recommend that spray again. Thanks Marla!

I painted a acrylic with oil pastel from pentel painting on canvas, how to store and protect it please help me

Bought a can! Thank you for this very informative video !

I tried this and it seems fine so far. What kind of mat did you say you like to frame with?

Is that a bottle of Degas fixative? What are your thoughts? I just bought some and it seems to splatter as well.

Thank you so very much. Grateful.

that picture looks pretty, where can we see it?

So beautiful

get use to wearing that mask ...thanks

AS of today, 7/15/20, Krylon 1375 Gallery Series UV Archival "Varnish Gloss," clear coating Spray (11 oz.) in a 2 pak is currently $31.02 on Amazon. It's the only can that looks like the can Marla is holding. The name is different but the title sounds about right. Is this still a prefered product?

Thank you for the tips!

Thank you!!!

Can you use hairspray ?

2:25 ok thank you

Brilliant!!

Thank you

Please write the product name and brand. Thank you

Thank You for the info I have a quastion do You have advise if I use pastel with markers and ecoline and more what save spray is Good?

I dont believe it is the paper that causes the shift in value when using spray fixative. But go on.

Thanks for your demo!