<p>Instead of matte fixative try using <strong>workable fixative</strong>. It should seal the underlayers while preserving the tooth of the paper so you can keep working. Keep in mind once a layer gets fixed it is &quot;permanent&quot; in that you cannot erase it, the fixative is not that workable.</p>
<p>The waxiness of the Prismacolors may be working against you. Depending on how solid you are making the color it may be that the build up of the color material is preventing further color from adhering and its not the fixative at all.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-30T16:21:22.050Z
I looked at the video in the link and the artist uses ink/acrylic to lay the base colors of the face etc. If you are using colored pencils instead of liquid pigments to lay that base color you will only have a waxy slick surface to work on. That simply will not grab any more waxy colored pencil material. The same thing can happen with pastels, once you reach a certain "thickness" of the pastel material on the ground any more pastel will just slide over it and pastels are typically much softer (ie giving of pigment) than colored pencils.
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-01T11:24:59.677Z
If I put enough fixative on, I can continue drawing with prismacolor. But it is not like in the video where he uses the white pencil and gets an opaque white highlight. For me, it just lightens it a bit.
Rye bread
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-01T16:25:38.763Z
He also is using paint pens for some of those highlights but either way Prismacolor on solid Prismacolor is going to be a problem.
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-06T17:53:18.060Z
The fixative may be adding enough tooth/friction to the surface to grab a little more of the pencil pigment but not enough to match the paper without any coloring.
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-29T16:04:02.213Z
2023-11-29T16:04:02.213Z
rebusB
<p>I am trying to do mixed media painting like in this video by David Finch:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/BQOgXuoJhI0?si=sfAgoc5UD2DZ2oEe" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/live/BQOgXuoJhI0?si=sfAgoc5UD2DZ2oEe</a></p>
<p>The problem I have is that after I apply fixative and let it dry, I can't apply any more prismacolor. It doesn't stick.</p>
<p>I use matte art fixative from a can instead of an airbrush. I have tried adding several layers, but it doesn't help. Any ideas?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-28T22:34:07.703Z
What fixative are you using?
Allison C
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-29T12:32:18.390Z
The fixative should be solvent-based and not water-based. Could that be the problem?
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-03T17:13:39.020Z
Sennelier fixative for pencils and charcoal.
Rye bread
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-13T15:36:21.560Z
So... any luck?
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-14T08:27:55.990Z
I started on a new piece with the same process. It's mainly the light colors that are a problem.
Rye bread
<fixative>
Prismacolor premiere pencils on top of fixative
Rye bread
# Prismacolor premiere pencils on top of fixative

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-11-28)

I am trying to do mixed media painting like in this video by David Finch:

<https://www.youtube.com/live/BQOgXuoJhI0?si=sfAgoc5UD2DZ2oEe>

The problem I have is that after I apply fixative and let it dry, I can't apply any more prismacolor. It doesn't stick.

I use matte art fixative from a can instead of an airbrush. I have tried adding several layers, but it doesn't help. Any ideas?

**Tags:** fixative

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What fixative are you using?  
> **username_2**: The fixative should be solvent-based and not water-based. Could that be the problem?  
> **username_0**: Sennelier fixative for pencils and charcoal.  
> **username_3**: So... any luck?  
> **username_0**: I started on a new piece with the same process. It's mainly the light colors that are a problem.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2023-11-29. Score: 1

Instead of matte fixative try using **workable fixative**. It should seal the underlayers while preserving the tooth of the paper so you can keep working. Keep in mind once a layer gets fixed it is "permanent" in that you cannot erase it, the fixative is not that workable.

The waxiness of the Prismacolors may be working against you. Depending on how solid you are making the color it may be that the build up of the color material is preventing further color from adhering and its not the fixative at all.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I looked at the video in the link and the artist uses ink/acrylic to lay the base colors of the face etc. If you are using colored pencils instead of liquid pigments to lay that base color you will only have a waxy slick surface to work on. That simply will not grab any more waxy colored pencil material. The same thing can happen with pastels, once you reach a certain "thickness" of the pastel material on the ground any more pastel will just slide over it and pastels are typically much softer (ie giving of pigment) than colored pencils.  
> **username_0**: If I put enough fixative on, I can continue drawing with prismacolor. But it is not like in the video where he uses the white pencil and gets an opaque white highlight. For me, it just lightens it a bit.  
> **username_3**: He also is using paint pens for some of those highlights but either way Prismacolor on solid Prismacolor is going to be a problem.  
> **username_3**: The fixative may be adding enough tooth/friction to the surface to grab a little more of the pencil pigment but not enough to match the paper without any coloring.  

---

