Shipping a framed pastel. Do I have to spray?

[April Phillips]

I'm creating a couple of pastel portraits for my friend's sister for Christmas. I told her I would get them framed and ship them to Conneticut, where she will unpack them and wrap them for under the tree. Not being all that familiar with pastel, I do understand that I need to add a spacer between the art and the matte, so if the pastel dust falls, it will fall down to the spacer and not on to the matte. I'm afraid that, during shipping, the pastel dust is going to go everywhere and arrive a bit of a mess. I'm trying to avoid having to spray fixative, but will if it's suggested. I was thinking I could also cover the art with tissue and trust my friend to take apart the frame, remove the tissue and put it together again. Any ideas/experience on this??

[Chris Saper]

Yep, that dust will get everywhere. Here's what I'd suggest. (no glass)

Cut the mat, as well as a hidden mat, with the opening about 1/4 inch larger than the final mat.

Sandwich everything as follows:
-pastel affixed to board or other mount;
-hidden mat
-mat or board cut to the matted painting and frame size
-final mat
- no glass

Set into frame and fasten, but in a temporary fashion so that it is easy for her to open it up again.

The third layer will take up about the same amount of room as the glass would have, and will - once she buys her own glass and reassembles the sandwich.

It won't matter if any dust gets on the hidden mat. The hidden mat keeps other material from touching the painting. You won't worry about glass breaking.

[April Phillips]

Thank you so much, Chris. Just the information I needed!! Your advice may have just avoided a disaster.

[April Phillips]

One more question. Do I adhere the pastel onto mat board, or do I need something more sturdy? and by adhere, do you mean tape the edges? (I guess that's 2 questions) Getting ready to send across country. I'll post the final in unveilings. Thanks so much for your help with this rather delicate process of shipping pastels.