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Question: I need someone who really knows there stuff about watercolors & acrylics!?
I did a series of paintings on (high quality & hot-press) illustration boards & gesso boards!. I used mostly acrylics on them, but also incorporated water soluble crayons (Neocolour II)!. My final painting is on gesso board & though I used a lot of acrylics, the majority of the painting is done with the Neocolour's!. Everything seems very stable, the paintings are going in professionally made frames behind glass!. So what I need to know is if there is a spray sealer that I SHOULD use on at least my last painting!. I'm a little nervous about the Neocolours smudging or whatever over time!. But I wasn't happy with sealants that I've used on pastels in the past!. Is there something I can use to seal it, a spray/mist that wont leave spatter marks or blend some of the colors as the sealants did on my past paintings, or do I need to worry about sealing it at all since its going behind glass!.
Thank you for any help you can give me!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Since you are framing the painting under glass (I assume you are having it matted!?), there is no need to 'fix' the painting!. If you were going to display it without glass, then I would say to fix it!. But the glass should keep it quite well, as long as you have sufficient matting so the painting doesn't touch the glass!. That is where the problems can arise!. If the glass is touching the painting, and humidity gets between the glass and painting, then you can get smudging!.
And your feelings about the fixatives are spot on!. They all leave the artwork looking like it has something on it that isn't supposed to be there!. That holds true for all art mediums, not just watercolor!. Www@QuestionHome@Com
I need someone who has money and wants to spoil me the rest of my life!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I agree with the previous poster about using fixatives on porous materials - avoid fixatives or sprays if at all possible!. Since you are framing behind glass, there is no need!.
The only exception would be if you chose not to frame with glass - then a varnish is a must!. You'd certainly want to test whatever you use before spraying your art, and I wouldn't recommend it over watercolour crayons for fear that the colours would re-dissolve!.
Spattering often occurs when you don't shake well enough, or spray too close!. A few light coats work much better than one thick coat!.Www@QuestionHome@Com