Pastel conservation guide made easy.
Updated: Aug 22, 2022
Did you bought or are planning to buy your first pastel painting?
Do you worry about the conservation, care and longevity of the materials? Don't worry, I got you covered!
All you need to know to keep your painting in perfect conditions for a very long time is the following:
Basicaly, if you have these 4 topics under control you will maintain the integrity of your pastel paintings for ages without any issues.
1 - Keep the painting vertical. Tiny dust particles wont accumulate on the painting surface but will be at the bottom of the frame instead.
2 - Don't keep your paintings under direct sunligh. Don't worry, your painting is not a vampire but under a long period of time the sun light will start to decompose the mineral pigments, some colors faster than others, so just avoid it and get a good artificial light to exhibit your artwork indoors.
3 - Humidity. Not too low and not too high, the important thing to remember here is to avoid extreme variations as they can interfere with the adherence of the pigments.
4 - Are you planning to pin it with magnets on your fridge? For pastel a frame with glass and passepartout is a must. You want to protect the artwork as best as you can.
And with these you are good to go. Your paintings will remain vivid and perfect for ages.