Prevent smearing of your artwork and preserve it for years to come.
When drawing with pencils or pastels in a sketchbook, use a workable fixative to keep your drawings from smudging when the book is closed. Workable fixative is an alcohol-based spray that binds and fixes graphite and pigments to prevent them from smearing across the paper. The spray is "workable," letting you continue to draw or color the art after spraying. Workable fixative is acid-free, so the paper in your sketchbook will be preserved and free from discoloration over the years.
Instructions
1. Place a drop cloth over your surface outdoors. Cover a table or the ground to protect the surface. The fixative spray has chemicals that can be toxic to your health when inhaled, so spray outdoors only.
2. Place your sketchbook, open to the page you are spraying, on the protected surface. Place a piece of newspaper over the opposite page to protect it from the spray.
3. Shake the can of workable fixative well, according to can instructions.
4. Hold the can of workable fixative over the page in the book you are spraying, at least 18 inches from the surface, or the distance recommended by the instructions on the can.
5. Spray the fixative, using broad strokes, to create a thin layer of spray on the paper. Keep the can moving while you spray to avoid saturating one area. Spray a small amount at a time to avoid dripping. Avoid spraying thick layers, as this can harden the surface and make the area unworkable. Keep the can upright when spraying, but avoid spraying along the edges of the book.
6. Allow the fixative to dry for at least one hour before closing the book, and two hours before you continue working on the drawing.
