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There's no doubt that pastel paintings are gorgeous. The medium is like no other in that, due to the way the pastel gets applied to the surface they end up almost glowing! Each stroke lays down in 1000's of microscopic particles, at many different angles, creating facets of color which catch and reflect  light like tiny gems. This is one of many reasons why pastel paintings should never be sprayed, after they are finished. The liquid of the spray, however minute, will dissolve and flatten those tiny facets. The painting will never look as alive.

I frame my work in two very different ways. Most of the time I use traditional frames, and anti-reflective glass, so they appear the same as, say, an oil painting on your wall. Here are two framed traditionally, with no mats, which I much prefer.

Recently, I was asked to come up with a "no-frame" framing method which would protect the pastel from being rubbed off (all pastels must be behind glass or other clear substance). I decided to mount some paintings on wood cradle panels, and cover them with plexiglass! No frames, just clean, sleek, contemporary looking paintings for those collectors who desire a more modern look. I devised a way to do this that does allow for the painting to be removed and re-framed traditionally after purchase, if the collector desires. (just make sure your framer does NOT spray it!)

Here is one from the side so you can see the mount, and a grouping of mine which are in the Art Escape Gallery, 206 Miami Ave W, Venice.  There are a number of traditionally framed works of mine there also. So which do you like best? Which fits your lifestyle? Those with Plexiglass and the wood panel are more affordable, since the materials of the framing method are not as costly, so you can buy several!