About Pastels

PLEASE READ BEFORE OPENING YOUR ART WORK

Care of your pastel painting:

Your new pastel is a hand-painted work of fine art. I use the best archival materials for its creation. Pastel is one of the most permanent art mediums in existence. Many pastels painted over 200 years ago are still as bright and fresh as the day they were created.

The artist’s pigments in my pastels are the same as those used in fine oil paints. The difference is that with pastel the pigments are not mixed with a liquid binder which may degrade over time. The pure, bright hues will not change or yellow.

The 100% rag board or sanded paper support for my pastel paintings is made of the same natural fibers as artist’s canvas and will last as long or longer. 

You will receive your painting in a cello bag, an archival quality mat, a spacer, and a backing board with glassine inserted between the painting and the spacer. The glassine paper is included temporarily to protect the painting until it is framed. This packaging is fine for short-term storage, but to protect and preserve your artwork while it is on display, you should have it professionally framed behind glass. In the meantime, store this art in its packaging flat, with nothing on top of it.  If you want to look at it first, gently remove the mat and spacer and glassine without rubbing the pastel.  If you accidentally rip the glassine while removing it, you can replace it temporarily with parchment paper, or more glassine of course.  Repackage it as I did, before you store it.  

Your pastel painting may shed a few particles of pigment when new. This is normal and will not damage the image. The surface will become more solid with time and shedding will stop. Please do not attempt to rub or brush away fallen particles, as you may mar the surface of your painting. 

Choose a framer who is experienced in working with fine art pastels. 

What to tell your framer:

Use only acid-free, archival framing materials.

Do not spray any fixative or coating on your painting in the framing process or allow your framer to do so. Fixing may change the colors in your painting, damage the paper or dislodge the pastel particles from the surface. Do not touch the painted surface. Putting fingers or other items on top of the painting or allowing it to be rubbed or flexed will damage the surface. Keep it flat, supported from underneath and facing upwards to protect the pastel surface.

The spacer I have provided is actually another mat that I inverted.  A spacer  separates the artwork from the top mat and creates a gap behind the top mat where any fallen particles will be invisible. Your framer may alternately choose to insert foam core strips between the painting and frame as a spacer.

Do not use plexiglass unless it is guaranteed to be anti-static, as pastel dust might accumulate on its surface over time. I do not recommend non-glare glass as it makes your painting appear blurry and dull in color, and it is best avoided. 

Thank you for your purchase!

Cheryl Sward 

Suite Nirvana Studio

Zenspun@gmail.com