Ask The Experts

Q: I’m fairly new to framing and would like some advice on framing pastels please.

A: The pigments used with soft pastels, oil pastels and chalks are migrant (not firmly fixed). In other words, bits can fall off them, and often do. In practical terms this means you should: Avoid touching the image or placing anything on the image (there are certain exceptions to this, for example when apiece needs to be flattened before framing, but techniques vary depending on the typeof chalk/pastel, so the general rule is ‘don’t touch’). Keep the art work uncovered during storage. A box or plan chest is ideal. Always glaze pastels and chalks, but ensure that the glazing sits at least 3mm away from the image by using multiple mounts or spacers. Due to its staticity, standard acrylic glazing should never be used.

Some framers use a slightly recessed spacer hidden between the window mounts and the artwork. Not only is this helpful for increasing the space between the artwork and the glazing, it also means that any bits of pastel/chalk that fall off the image should fall into the gap created by the spacer. Finally, never dry mount pastels or chalks and beware of fixatives.These are sprayed on to a pastel to stop bits falling off but can change the look of a piece and flatten pigment. If an artist you’re framing for wants to use a fixative suggest they spray the artwork themselves

Jon Price is Cornwall’s only Guild Certified Framer and a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild’s Framing Standards and Qualifications Committee