Natural Milk Casein Pastel Fixative...

Leaves colour brilliant without altering the hue. It dries quickly to an invisible, non-yellowing, matte finish, and provides traction to allow multiple layering of pastels.

Colourless transparency and rapid drying to a water-resistant non-yellowing film are characteristics that make casein ideal as a pastel fixative. SpectraFix blends art-grade milk casein with water and pure grain alcohol adding a tiny amount of isopropyl alcohol (to please the Federal Government rendering the grain alcohol undrinkable). The alcohol evaporates rapidly taking the water with it, leaving a thin film of casein that quickly dries to a protective matte surface. Even though it is milk protein, it is not subject to invasion by opportunistic organisms, as 9000 years of use as an art medium testifies.

SpectraFix is not packaged in a pressurized aerosol can because the necessary propellant required to eject the fixative may cause unforeseeable effects to the pastels, your health and the environment. SpectraFix instead uses a Fine Mist Finger Sprayer, producing a vaporous mist through finger action alone.

Pastel fixatives on the market today use resin varnishes, propellants and other chemicals like solvents, noticeably darkening the value and shifting the hue, as well as posing health concerns. While it is impossible not to affect the delicate powdery colours of pastels with any kind of spray, even plain water, SpectraFix minimally alters a pastel's value and does not change the hue. Your colours remain fresh and vibrant, even after several layers. We hope that SpectraFix will be embraced by pastel and crossover technique artists for its light touch and strong grip, with no toxic fumes.

Degas used casein as a fixative and a wet medium, of this there is ample evidence. His close friend Henri Rouart stated as much, and Degas‘ friendship with artist Luigi Chialiva, co-creator and patent holder of an early casein-based pastel fixative, supports this. Chialiva's formula is very similar to SpectraFix but relied on cheaply available methyl alcohol, now known to be poisonous.

SpectraFix has endeavoured to bring you a product that respects your art and your health in every way and allows artists to safely fix their artwork as often as required without interrupting their creative flow with trips outdoors to spray.

SpectraFix is available in two forms: as a 12 oz. bottle of ready-to-spray solution, or as a 2oz. bottle of concentrate to which you may add a high-proof alcohol such as vodka or Everclear. This is ideal for artist travellers who must observe the new restrictions on what you can bring aboard an airplane.

Created by an artist, for artists, we hope you enjoy using this product and are as thrilled with it as we are.

Fixative & Varnish