Soft Pastel Care Instructions.

Soft pastels (essentially dry, dust pigment) area not permanently fixed to the paper and have the potential to smear.

Unboxing Originals.

1. Do not touch the surface of the painting.

2. Unwrap packaging very carefully without touching the surface of the painting, and without dropping or bumping the packaging including the protective paper.

3. The painting will be protected by glassine paper. It’s best to leave the glassine paper in place until framing. Otherwise, lift it carefully and do not slide it across artwork as this can cause smearing.

4. Do not cover painting with anything other than the glassine paper it was shipped with.

5. Keep painting face up and try to avoid flipping it over even when framing.

6. Frame as soon as possible. Putting soft pastels behind glass is the best way to preserve them. See framing Instructions below.

Framing Instructions.

1. Store in shipping packaging with Glassine paper, making sure the surface of the artwork doesn’t touch anything else.

2. Do not spray with a fixative (some framers will recommend this). This will likely cause discoloration and unwanted changes to the artwork.

3. Use regular glass (there are various grades available) but not plexiglass as this holds a static charge and will pull the pastel off the paper over time.

4. Either use spacers or double mat to keep painting away from glass. It is best if it not directly touching the glass and often a single matboard is not quite thick enough to prevent this.

5. If possible, avoid turning artwork face down when framing. 

6. Be aware the pastel dust can easily transfer to your fingers and onto the mat surface.

7. I recommend using a professional framer and communicating these instructions or verifying that they have worked with soft pastel successfully in the past.