If you use wax-based colored pencils or wax pastels and artist crayons, you're familiar with wax bloom, that cloudy, white film that forms on the artwork. Don't wipe it off with a cloth or you'll risk smearing the pigment.
I have a simple solution; just blow warm air over the surface with a hair dryer or a heat gun. If you're not in a hurry, let the heat of the Icarus board do the job for you. When you're done with your drawing, final fixative or varnish will take care of wax bloom for ever.
May
05
2016
4 comments
loisadlerroussell
May 06, 2016
Thanks for your the tip. So far the board seems to work for me. Lois
Ester Roi
May 06, 2016
Thank you for visiting, Lois! I’m glad you can use the tip. :)
Lisa Bell
July 04, 2016
I have always stirred clear of fixative because what I have used in the last changes the color of the painting and the paper. What do you use? Do you also work in graphite? I assume a different fixative would be needed for colored pencil, than for graphite. Thanks, Ester!
Ester Roi
July 04, 2016
Hi Lisa, I actually don’t use fixatives anymore (when I did, Prismacolor Final Fixative was my favorite). I use two types of varnishes since I frame without glass and need lots of protection. First I spray my work with Golden MSA spray varnish (gloss), then I paint on several layers of Golden Polymer varnish (gloss). There’s a slight change in value intensity but I like the effect, and no real change in color.
Gloss works best since my subject is water. If you don’t like a gloss finish then use satin. Be careful with using matte fixatives, they have a history of problems.
In the past the only time I observed a change in color while using Prismacolor Final Fixative (gloss) was on fugitive colors. Lightfast colors didn’t seem to be affected. I don’t work with graphite so I can’t help you with that.
Best wishes!