Pressure Fixative

by Elizabeth Clay Biddle
(Stamford, Connecticut, USA)

I use a pressure technique in order to avoid spoiling my colors with fixative. With the painting face up on a flat table I cover the surface with waxed paper. Then I roll it with a brayer or rub it hard with a wadded up cloth to press the pastel into the paper.

This re-hardens the pastel and eliminates the mess the powder makes when you try to shake it off. It also preserves the freshness of the pastel colors.