Pencil on Birch Wood - To Seal or Not to Seal?

[artyczar]

Usually when I paint on birch wood panels, I like to expose a lot of the wood grain on them, so I sand them, seal them with a shellac and DH alcohol mixture over and over, until it's perfect before I paint on them (usually oil). I'll do the front and back.

But now I want to do a series of birch wood pieces that are mostly pencil work, with a little bit of paint. I know from experience that the sealant won't take too well to that sealant, but the birch - unsealed - will take to the pencil beautifully. I'm just wondering what I should do to them when I'm done with the artwork. Should I just spray fixative on them and seal the backs? Can I still use oil paint? Would acrylic be better for this?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Cyndi L]

I'm sorry that no one here had any suggestions for you. Have you thought about asking the folks in the Drawing forum?