How I Seal My Charcoal on Canvas Art - UPDATE!

Update! - I did a previous video explaining my process for sealing my charcoal original drawings, but I've had to change a few things (mostly due to problems with product availability). So, I decided to do a new video and I included a some additional details. I hope this adds some clarification. If there are any other questions, please leave them in the comments. Thanks!
Available artwork: joelpilcherart.com/

[@SparkleKitty17]

Wow, what an incredible artist! I'm a graphite artist that just started using charcoal more often in my artwork, and your pieces are incredible. This gave me so many ideas of what I could try, including canvas and the oil paint glaze you use. What an amazing talent you have!

[@ukestudio3002]

Thanks for the tutorial on application. . And advice .!👍🏽

[@beckynichols3832]

I was sooo nervous when you started the isolation coat. You’re amazing.

[@shelisayork7541]

I am brand new to charcoal… This was incredibly helpful. I just did my first one on canvas and couldn’t grasp how people made this work. Thank you so much!

[@alesiaarnold4259]

Thank you for sharing this!! Beautiful work!

[@sueb1676]

Thanks for sharing! Beautiful work!

[@shecamt]

That's beautiful! Wow!!!

[@maitev-p9582]

Absolutely stunning pieces. What a talent ❤❤❤

[@kirubaharmail]

Brilliant work

[@henriettahuneycutt2156]

Thank you for sharing and unless tell you that your work is beyond amazing

[@lisaprice6314]

You are truly blessed with a great talent

[@grekori748]

Brilliant Work. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@wendyshoults7355]

Wonderful work! Thank you for sharing your talents with us.

[@lyndiekempfer1855]

Hi Joel, Thanks for the update! Much appreciated. Take care and God bless you and yours 😊

[@fredacaccavale242]

Love love your work

[@311965b]

Wow amazing painting

[@TheMikeTownsend]

Nice job, Joel.

[@ERic-ic8wp]

Your work is awesome and you made me switch to charcoal on canvas!!! 😊

[@MOstix13]

Amazing!

[@coconinizarina6718]

Wow great pic. Thanks for the tutorial. Very informative❤

[@Superflow66]

Great job on the drawings 👍

[@michep.169]

very useful. Thank you

[@parekhmy]

Nice information

[@yoichi6758]

Hi @Joel Pitcher, I got interested in your channel and I subscribed. I just wanna see more of your charcoal on canvas and the sealing process as well. Could you please show us how you put epoxy resin after you fully coated your artwork with the glossy isolation coat and varnish? Thanks

[@AnandBPatel]

thanks a lot

[@juan-pierrevandermerwe6014]

Hi Joel, I took up your challenge to do a charcoal sketch on a A2 canvas pad. Very interesting to work with and I struggled with erasing on the canvas. Does the gesso make the erasing part easier? I have used white pancils for added highlights and details in the hair but unfortunately much of this detail has been lost after applying the fixative coating, the charcoal also has gone darker especially the shades in the face, is this a problem that you also face or do you think it might be the fixative spray that I'm using thats messing up all my hard work?

[@sunku260]

erasing is easier if you have the first few coat of charcoal very light. once the light and shadows are established, you can go over the dark areas again and make it darker. too much of charcoal on canvas makes its harder to get erased.

[@MichelleColbeck]

Watching your videos are so inspiring...thank you for sharing Do you use a certain type of canvas ..?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

I usually buy my canvases from Milo Art Supplies. Thanks!

[@TheBogusjones]

Is the soft bell gloss the isolation coat he is referring to?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

Yes

[@JohnTomasella]

Does the bounce in the canvas bother you as you draw? I was wondering if putting a piece of MDF behind the canvas would help.

[@JoelPilcherArt]

It hasn't ever bothered me.

[@user-ni2os1bq7v]

wow! Isolation coat is the golden soft gel gloss? and is it 2 parts gel and 1 part water?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

Yep 👍

[@simoneyoung4960]

After the varnish dries can I add acrylic paint to a it ?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

I've never tried that. I suggest doing some research and testing before doing it on a finished piece. Thanks!

[@jamespage4141]

You are an incredible artist! I did not know how to properly preserve my work until today. Thank you so much. I would like to know the brand of Acrylic paint you prefer. It made me curious as why you went with paint instead of fine erasing. Have you experimented with watercolor and/or oil with charcoal

[@JoelPilcherArt]

I've continued to develop my process since I posted this video. I discovered the electric eraser which has made it possible to completely remove the charcoal to gain the brightest highlights, so I don't use acrylic anymore. I haven't worked with watercolor yet, but I have recently been using an oil glaze method over top of my charcoal drawing and I love the result. Thanks!

[@kimknollart]

How many coats of Krylon Archival Matte do you use?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

One good heavy coat has been sufficient.

[@ealons3378]

Thank you for this excellent tutorial! I work on canvas with acrylic and charcoal but when I use the fixative spray it doesn't seal completely. How many layers of the krylon matte spray do you use for your paintings?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

One good heavy coat usually does the trick. I also spray each layer with acetone (nail polish remover) and fixative spray which helps seal it throughout the creation process.

[@ursulareeb4954]

I am glad that I found your video's. I always loved to work with charcoal, because one has to put it under glass I changed to oil. Therefore I am looking forward to my next charcoal portrait and try to use your advice. Love your work, it's absolutely amazing 👏

[@ant11368]

I've tried something similar but on paper and I find that brushing on the medium seems to dissolve the fixative and disturb the underlying charcoal Admittedly I didn't use krylon but I did use a spay that was labelled for charcoal and graphite

[@JoelPilcherArt]

I haven't had that issue so it may be the specific products used or the substrate. Thanks!

[@amandasinger6018]

Can I use modge podge to protect

[@christinemorgano]

Great video and so helpful! Did you ever use any fixative spray throughout the process of your artwork or before applying first coat of matte spray?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

Yes, I spray Krylon workable fixative between each layer of charcoal to help build value. Some of my other videos should give more insight on this. Thanks!

[@christinemorgano]

@@JoelPilcherArt great! Thanks so much for replying! I’ll have a watch☺️

[@tomjones2300]

Joel...am drawing a white polar bear with white charcoal and soft white chalk. If I spray on the acetone won't it darken the white bear? Thanks...love your work and instruction videos.

[@JoelPilcherArt]

Yes, the spray always seems to darken white charcoal. I've had success layering the white. It's more work and still darkens a bit after the final coat, but it's better. Thanks!

[@22222murray]

I am new to charcoal. I have a piece done on tone paper, that I would like to seal without having to frame it. Would the varnish work on the paper? I could apply the paper to a board, but I really would not like to have to cover it with glass. Thank you.

[@vandiththotla6156]

Hi Joel, I'm working on charcoal portraits on a Canson Mixed Media paper. Can you please suggest process and products to seal my drawings? I want to get a gloss finish but I'm little scared of the portrait getting smudged or darkening.

[@JoelPilcherArt]

I'm not sure of the best way to seal charcoal on paper, other than a fixative spray. That's the main reason I started working on canvas. I wanted to be able to brush on a varnish without ruining the drawing surface. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[@ERic-ic8wp]

Also, where do you buy your canvases from?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

This one was from Milo Art Supply. Thanks!

[@aaaaanimalllll]

So...can I do this on paper instead of a canvas? Thanks!

[@user-ci3ye1oq5b]

Hi Joel, do you think this process can work on paper?

[@andrealeobons]

Hello! I’ve just entered a bit of a rabbit hole watching your channel. Great videos! You are very generous with your knowledge, thank you. What an awesome idea to draw on canvas, I also don’t like to draw on paper that much. I have a question: the Krylon Matt is like a matt varnish? I don’t have Krylon in my country. Thank you. God bless you.

[@JoelPilcherArt]

It's a matte finish spray. Similar to a varnish, but not as thick and protective. That's why I brush on the isolation coat and varnish after the matte spray. Thanks!

[@andrealeobons]

@@JoelPilcherArt Thank you for clarifying that for me. That’s very kind. Have a great day!

[@madhavibhaskar4183]

What's the coating if you could write down

[@ferqiyecalalova222]

Hello,I asked you about the final work on this work.Please which substance did you apply first and which substance did you apply last?I want to know she order of their names.I have Artists Fixative for pastel ,charcoal and pensil .Can I refer to what I bought in the form of a sprey? Good luck.Hope to see your new works.

[@JoelPilcherArt]

Krylon Matte Finish spray, Golden Soft Gel Gloss, then Liquitex Satin Varnish

[@samyg14u]

@JoelPilcherArt what OZ liquitex Satin varnish you use 8 or 32, 13 oz fixative wont work instead of krylon matte coat? Krylon is not available in our country

[@Allahisinsideyourheart]

Can you mention the name of the products you used?

[@user-ci3ye1oq5b]

Hi Joel, do you think this process can work on paper? i have a work on paper that i want to seal.

[@vlexlockheart5615]

What do you apply before you start drawing with charcoal??

[@FellundFarbe]

I have this question too! Thanks @Joel for your answer. 😊

[@JoelPilcherArt]

In the past I haven't done any additional prep to the stretched and pre primed canvases I buy, but I have just recently started experimenting with gesso. It has a bit of a different result, but so far I'm liking it.

[@FellundFarbe]

@@JoelPilcherArt thanks so much for your answer. This is so helpful for me. 😊

[@JanHackettArt]

@@JoelPilcherArt is there a certain brand of gesso you prefer? Thanks for all your help.

[@kathydawson8413]

Do you use the clear gesso which has some tooth to it or the white gesso?

[@jessvettel11]

Amazing! Do you prep your canvas in a certain way before you start a piece?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

This one was just stretched and pre primed canvas. But on my more recent projects I've been adding a couple layers of gesso because I like the added texture. Thanks!

[@silviatovar4112]

Hola es un sellador?

[@ransumed]

where do you get your reference photos?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

I either work directly with photographers to gain permission or purchase rights from various online resources.

[@artvibestudios]

Would this be good to do on a canvas that is on a plywood?

[@JoelPilcherArt]

Yeah, that should work too.

[@artvibestudios]

@@JoelPilcherArt thank you 🙏

[@petehamada7073]

The bitch of it is, I've been drawing on canvas with carcoal seance the 90's. I live in hawaii and only do seacapes.

[@rubyroseline9093]

Praise the LORD JESUS Brother I want lamination glue please adress me

[@skycladraven1248]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. If I may suggest that you eliminate the music, I find it distracting to your purpose of education rather than entertainment. Or at least turn the recorded volume down. Thank you for the inspiration.