Do I need to spray my painting and if so which sprays are available?    Why spray pastel paintings? The pastels are very chalky and smudge really easily if they are touched. Spraying them helps the pastel to adhere to the surface and helps the particles stick together. The spray is called 'fixative' as this is exactly what it does. Sometimes in your work you may have some underpainting and want to apply some more layers over the top without them picking up the colours from the under layers. So if you spray your work, the pastel will be fixed and will enable you to easily work over the top. When you've finished your painting, if you need to transport it, you can spray it so that it won't get damaged.

Alternatively, many artists don't like to spray their pastels, some not at all and some only so that they can paint over the top of another layer. They say that the spray dulls their work and they want their paintings to be as fresh and vibrant as they can be. If you decide not to spray your finished work, you'll need to find a way to transport it to the framers without smudging it and to mention to the framer to take extra care with it. Once it's under the glass though (it should not touch the glass) it will be protected.

Fixatives are available in a spray can which clearly states which medium it is for. They are also available in a small glass jar, with a tube, which you insert into the liquid and blow through.

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