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[Steven Sweeney]

I thought that might be the case, Pat. I can think of no reason why one would ever need to apply varnish to paper-backed artwork, short of desiring a decoupage look. That of course is the opposite of what you wanted, and I suspect that the finish you used made the graphite's shininess more, rather than less, evident -- which is precisely what varnish and lacquer are supposed to do (as well as protect the surface) -- in addition to darkening the values of everything from sketched areas to the paper itself.

The term "workable fixative" can create misconceptions. It's workable in the sense that you're just kind of hitting the "Save" button on your project up to that point, but you can come back in and continue to draw. Even if you don't intend to do any more work after applying the fixative (that is, your "Saved" version becomes your Final), it's a perfectly adequate finish sealer in its own right. As mentioned earlier, don't use any more than necessary to prevent smudging of the drawing -- nothing will serve conservation purposes more than using acid-free art materials and then keeping to a minimum the addition of various chemical compounds such as spray finishes or fixatives.

By the way, you may know this, but for future reference, both glass and acrylic are readily available in nonglare types, which will also help diminish graphite sheen.

If it makes you feel any better, I once painted an entire log house (all by myself, which is more neurotic than praiseworthy) with something called "latex stain," which seemed like a brilliant solution to a messy proposition. Unfortunately, logs have to "breathe," and without being able to, they begin to deteriorate quickly. The entire two-story house had to be stripped and properly stained with the genuine article. I don't usually enjoy revealing my missteps, especially when they're so expensive and public, because it conflicts with my persona of infallible resourcefulness and self-reliance, but perhaps you can take some solace in having simply "joined the club." We're everywhere. You just have to look around. It's the nature of things, and as teacher Pema Chodron often reminds us, we "don't have to freak out about it."

[Patricia Joyce]

Thanks, for the heads-up and enjoyable tales, guys! Oh Steven, I would just have to redraw this portrait, stripping a whole log cabin . . . O U C H ! ! ! !

It must have been a varnish I got and I will not use it again! That is, unless those pesky mosquitos don't leave me alone

[Patricia Joyce]

FYI

For anyone else out there wondering what NOT to use on their graphite drawings. I went home for lunch just to check what I did use and it is Grumbacher (Gloss) Tuffelm Final Fixative. The Tuffelm is in smaller print. I saw Final Fixative and thought it was what I wanted but now I think it was the Tuffelm that may be the culprit. Anyway, it made the drawing dark, and grainy and very dull, as you can see.

[Julie Deane]

Hi Pat -

I'm sorry - I've been out of town, or I would've responded sooner.

What I use is a product I got at a Hobby Lobby store: called "Krylon Matte Finish" - it says "eliminates glossy sheen, creates a soft, satin finish".

No product is perfect,, and this one wasn't either. I overdid it once, resulting in the same problem of value reduction that you mentioned. Plus, as it gets down to the end of its "life", it gets more drops and less mist. So if you decide to try it, use with caution.

Steven's suggestions for spraying sound very helpful.

Even with the spraying problem, I bet your family loved this picture!

[Patricia Joyce]

Julie,
I should have gone back and found your post but I was lazy and found mysel fin the art supply store looking at them all w/o recall to what you suggested.

Thank you, and yes, my family does like the portrait. Of course I have said nothing to them about the value change!

[Steven Sweeney]

Some interesting and worthwhile follow-up reading on the subject:

http://aldridgestudios.com/610-Fixative.html
http://www.capecodpastelsociety.com/conservation.html
http://www.equiis.com/table.html