How I seal my oil pastel works

I think I went through absolutely all the YouTube videos on how to seal oil pastel, and I wasn’t really convinced by the content of these videos, either I was missing the waiting time between each coat of fixative, or they were talking about a varnish rather used when making oil paint, which makes sense because oil pastels are a mixture of wax, oil and mineral pigments, or I didn’t like the result at all!

There was only one solution, and that was to try it out for myself, as most of the tests I’ve seen have been done on solid colors. These are not conclusive tests, because each person paints in their own way, blends colors in their own way, adds a multitude of layers of pastels in their own way.

So.

This is the most painful part. What happens if I’ve destroyed my work? Well, I’ll be learning the technique.

I chose one of my works that I had made during my personal challenge.

I’m using the Artigny fixative sold by Sennelier. Before starting, I let my work dry for two weeks under a sheet of glassine.

First step: Read the instructions. Silly, isn’t it? But it’s the first thing to do,

That’s why I never did it before in my little Parisian apartment, but now that I have my own art studio, I don’t have this problem anymore. I have a room dedicated to it, with the window permanently open.

Second step: I spray a few seconds into the air

There’s resin in the aerosol, so it’s possible that there’s residue in the spray nozzle.

Third step: I take a deep breath, put on a mask or go into apnea, and spray on the work.

I apply a first horizontal coat starting from the outside of the work, from left to right, staying at a height of about 30 centimetres.

I apply a second vertical layer from the outside of the work, from top to bottom, remaining at a height of about 30 centimetres.

Step four: I’m getting the hell out of this room!

Don’t breathe in the toxic fumes of the fixative, unless you want to die young.

Step 5: Let dry for 30 minutes

I chose 30 minutes, because I work with many layers of oil pastels,

Step six: Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 twice in succession.

For the fixative to seal the work properly, you need to space out the coats applied. In my practice, this takes 1h30.

Seventh and final step: the result!

I’m still sceptical, so I take a latex glove and rub the work a little… it doesn’t move! The work is sealed!

I can sign my work.

Step eight: the secret of a good seal

It’s written on the spray can leaflet: after each use, turn the aerosol upside down.