how to store pastel drawings

To Store or Display Oil Pastels?

This topic has 7 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 4 months ago by terryb31.

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October 4, 2011 at 7:37 pm #989228
[FONT=Verdana]I've gotten to a point where my oil pastel paintings that I've completed are starting to over-run my workspace. My question deals with storing and/or displaying my oil pastels.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]I found the information below, that was contained w/n the 1st thread under Oil Pastel Tools and Materials written in 2007 – that wonderful thread which reads like a book on how to get started in oil pastels. The information it contains is the best. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]To Store or Display Oil Pastels – I'm wondering if anyone has additional comments they can add to the information below that would assist someone new to oil pastels like myself. [/FONT][/COLOR]
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[FONT=Verdana]Since OPs contain a non-drying oil, they never completely dry, and can smudge and collect dust. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]Thanks, Mary[/FONT]
October 13, 2011 at 10:43 am #1152748

Hi Mary, that sounds like a fairly complete listing of alternatives.

There are some variants of fixatives and varnishes used by artists who show their work open framed. The artists all tout their own process as being effective. I haven't made a study of these techniques but have just noted in passing on various blogs or in articles and books.

I haven't tried going open frame but fully intend to give it a try and see what happens.

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October 13, 2011 at 4:54 pm #1152753

Hi Hal:

Thanks for your response. I'll be framing some of mine, but there are a great many that I most likely won't.

I'll ask my other question that really deals with, what do you do with the paintings you don't frame. If they are painted on museum board, artist prepared canvas, hardboard (something that has more weight than paper) how do you store these? I don't imagine that you can lay them on top of each other w/wax paper in between or they'll stick to the paper, and then you could ruin your paintings.

What do you do, or other painters that you know do with the many extra paintings that don't get framed?

Thanks, Mary

June 20, 2012 at 11:04 pm #1152754

I know this is an older thread but wanted to comment as this was something I was just thinking about the other day. I am trying to complete an OP painting a day and since I an relatively new to oil pastels, had no idea how to store them. I read that wax paper is ok to use on the painting surface so i actually sized and cut out cardboard and placed the artwork on top of it to help prevent bending. I then carefully covered it with wax paper and taped it to the cardboard and I actually really like how it turned out. I am no professional so this may be the wrong way but I thought I would share

June 21, 2012 at 8:59 am #1152749

Linz, I'm delighted to see you took my suggestion with your avatar. We get to know you a little better this way.

I also have been experimenting in framing my oil pastels without glass.

I tried Sennelier fixative and may have done something wrong because a couple of pieces I sprayed wound up very sticky and stayed sticky.

I had much better luck with Grumbacher "Final Fixative." Four or five light coats and gentle rubbing no longer brought any color. They seem quite stable this way but won't pass the fingernail test. I sprayed varnish over this but this still wouldn't pass the fingernail test and I put the piece out in the sun and it softened.

I then used a technique, I learned from a watercolorist friend. She paints huge florals in watercolor and seals them in "Self Leveling Acrylic Gel" and frames them without glass.

I have tried this technique on a number of oil pastels now: Grumbacher final fixative (four or five coats) and a coating of Goldens Self-leveling Gel. The final finish is a bit more glossy than I like. To get rid of the gloss, I sprayed with a mat varnish. However I left a few glossy. They just looked better that way.

I then put three paintings out in the direct sunlight to see how they held up. After a hour they were still fine and there was no tendency to separate or soften.

I can't imagine this surface not lasting a lifetime.

I now have done this with about a dozen paintings that I will show at an art fair this weekend.

As far as storage of unframed oil pastels done on masonite or canvas, I would store them vertically and perhaps separate them with glassine or even newsprint if I had sprayed them with a final fixative.

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June 21, 2012 at 11:51 am #1152750

I've just brought in three more paintings I had sitting out on my back deck in direct sunlight. It's 95 degrees here and the heat and bright sunlight are intense. The paintings were quite hot when I picked them up and there was no softing of the surface nor any separation from moisture under the surface of the support.

Two paintings were on canvas panels and the third was on masonite (hard board).

I am quite impressed with the test and have no reservations about my oil pastels being framed without glass as long as they've gone through this process.

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June 21, 2012 at 5:15 pm #1152752

Hal, this is good to know. Do you do this on fresh paintings or do you wait a little to let it set up? How thick is the acrylic layer?

Rick

June 22, 2012 at 8:39 am #1152751

Hi Rick, on average it was a couple of days before I got around to working on the paintings.

I kept spraying on light layers of the Grumbacher final fixative until a light finger rub didn't bring up any color. Then I proceeded with Golden's self leveling gel.

I tried several brands of fixative and several left me with a sticky surface. Grumbacher was the only one I was happy with.

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