Fixative (drawing)

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In art, in particular drawings in pastels, charcoal, chalk, and other dry media, a fixative is a kind of preserving agent applied over the top of the drawing to prevent crumbling, [1] smudging, fading, and discolouring. [2] [3] In times gone by, natural substances such as diluted egg white were painted on, but today synthetic sprays are usually used. [1] However some artists, such as the Aboriginal Australian artists at Warmun, Western Australia, use traditional substances, in this case gum gathered from local bloodwood trees. [4]

Fixative is similar to varnish, but there are some key differences. Varnish is often used to protect paintings from atmospheric moisture, sunlight and dust; it helps to protect from being scratched, and makes the colours brighter. Fixatives prevents smearing. [5]

Fixatives are usually made from casein, synthetic resin or glue. [5]

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A fixative is a stabilizing or preservative agent:

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and typical guide to drawing and drawings:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charcoal (art)</span> Form of dry art medium

Artists' charcoal is charcoal used as a dry art medium. Both compressed charcoal and charcoal sticks are used. The marks it leaves behind on paper are much less permanent that with other media such as graphite, and so lines can easily be erased and blended. Charcoal can produce lines that are very light or intensely black. The dry medium can be applied to almost any surface from smooth to very coarse. Fixatives are used with charcoal drawings to solidify the position to prevent erasing or rubbing off of charcoal dusts.

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Lena Nyadbi is a contemporary Indigenous Australian artist from the Warmun Community in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Her works include Dayiwul Lirlmim, details of which were painted on the roof of the Musée du quai Branly in Paris. The resulting installation can only be seen from the air, including the Eiffel Tower and Google Earth.

References

  1. 1 2 "Fixative". Oxford Reference.
  2. "These are the best spray fixatives to stabilize your chalk and charcoal drawings". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  3. Caves, Julie (29 August 2014). "Fixatives are not all the same". Jackson's Art Blog. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  4. "Warmun Aboriginal Art & Artists". Japingka Aboriginal Art Gallery. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Varnish vs Fixative: What are Their Differences and Key Features?". Artistro. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2022.