<p>Workable Fixative is meant to "freeze" what work has been completed already. By spraying when the charcoal layer is finished, before beginning the pencil layer, you "fix" the charcoal layer to minimize smudging of it during work on the pencil layer. There may still be some minor smudging or transfer of charcoal in heavier areas, but it will be drastically reduced from what it would be if you did not fix the charcoal before continuing to work. You will no longer be able to erase the charcoal, and you will still be able to add to it.</p>

<p>There is no real benefit to choosing to wait until the end, <em>unless</em> you believe you will be erasing part of the charcoal during work on the pencil layer. The benefit to spraying as you go is better stability of the materials you've already laid down, as you continue to work over the top of them. If you have areas of the charcoal layer that are complete, these can even be fixed before you move on, as charcoal can easily be worked over the top of workable fixatives.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-20T19:26:17.873Z
I would add to Allison‘s answer that the downside of using fixative on charcoal is that you may actually lose some of the details in soft-shading. Another point to consider is that you need to be careful to use acid-free fixative, because especially on paper you will have a problem with it becoming yellow as time passes.
Nothingismagick
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-20T15:33:18.630Z
2018-03-20T15:33:18.630Z
Allison C
<p>I am making a charcoal and pencil drawing. What would be the difference between spraying the paper with workable fixative after applying the charcoal, and laying the pencil over that, or spraying the piece after it's completed?</p>

<drawing><pencils><charcoal>
When to use a fixative in a drawing with charcoal and pencil?
Cass
# When to use a fixative in a drawing with charcoal and pencil?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-03-20)

I am making a charcoal and pencil drawing. What would be the difference between spraying the paper with workable fixative after applying the charcoal, and laying the pencil over that, or spraying the piece after it's completed?

**Tags:** drawing, pencils, charcoal


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-03-20. Score: 5

Workable Fixative is meant to "freeze" what work has been completed already. By spraying when the charcoal layer is finished, before beginning the pencil layer, you "fix" the charcoal layer to minimize smudging of it during work on the pencil layer. There may still be some minor smudging or transfer of charcoal in heavier areas, but it will be drastically reduced from what it would be if you did not fix the charcoal before continuing to work. You will no longer be able to erase the charcoal, and you will still be able to add to it.

There is no real benefit to choosing to wait until the end, *unless* you believe you will be erasing part of the charcoal during work on the pencil layer. The benefit to spraying as you go is better stability of the materials you've already laid down, as you continue to work over the top of them. If you have areas of the charcoal layer that are complete, these can even be fixed before you move on, as charcoal can easily be worked over the top of workable fixatives.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I would add to Allison‘s answer that the downside of using fixative on charcoal is that you may actually lose some of the details in soft-shading. Another point to consider is that you need to be careful to use acid-free fixative, because especially on paper you will have a problem with it becoming yellow as time passes.  

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