What to do with pastels

[ArtByG]

I have found that I do my best work with pastels, but I hate to use them because they are so easy to smear. How should you store them? If someone buys one, how do you ship it? How do you frame them? I have one that I framed under glass and some of the pastel stuck to the glass. Is there truly no way to "fix" them?

[Tousabella]

I haven't done mine yet as I didn't have any fixative, but I'm sure Dennis said :  fixative and be sure to have a mat on your picture for framing.
It might be in the first lessons, Artbyg.  Mine are sitting all over the apt. til I can get them sprayed....then, they go in a drawer with tracing paper in between. LOL

[Bev S.]

Bella is right, G. . . .spray with fixative and be sure they are dry, then make sure you matt them before framing so the glass does not touch the painting. If not framing, lay them flat with a protective tissue or paper between the paintings. I found that even after spraying the chalk will smear so do handle them with care. Hope this helps. If you watch the first of the free lessons on pastels, Dennis explains this in more detail. He also does not recommend hair spray although I have read where some artists do use it. I tend to do what Dennis tells us to do.

[ArtByG]

Thanks for the replies. I wish there was some way to truly fix them. I guess not. I just worry that if I sell one and ship it, the recipient will smear it when they get it out of the package. Oh well, I guess there's nothing to do, but send a note with it about the nature of pastels. I'll check out the free lessons and as soon as I can afford it, I'll take the paid lessons. Thanks again for the replies.

[dennis]

Artbyg, just give a little bit of time and I will do a PDF explaining what I know on the framing and handling of pastel paintings.

[ArtByG]

Great, Dennis! You're the best!