How to repair your damaged paintings (for artists)
I’ve been doing some research on how an artist can repair their own damaged paintings. After a few hours, I finally found a detailed method of repair for flaking and blistering on an oil painted canvas. Here is the information gathered from restoration-advice.org
Flaking and Blistering
When the paint is flaking, blistering or scaling, a condition in which the paint and ground lifts from the canvas, due to the deterioration of the ground (then material used to smooth the canvas before the painting was applied).
The paint then is re-adhered to the painting by strengthening this ground.
This is usually done by impregnating the area with a mixture of Beeswax and Damar resin, known as the Dutch Method.
We recommend the impregnate most canvasses with this mixture as it prevents deterioration of the canvas and the ground, as well as the overall conservation/ preservation of the whole painting.
Beeswax and Damar are molten and mixed together by heating firstly the Damar until dissolved and then slowly adding the Beeswax.
This mixture is applied warm ( 70° -80°C or 160°-175° F).
A mixture such as above doesn’t shrink upon solidifying.
Epoxy is sometimes used in those sort of repairs, as it also is non-shrinking due to the lack of an evaporative vehicle, it (epoxy) solidifies by chemical reaction, however great care should be taken with the use of such materials, as those restorations are non-reversible, and no long term experience is available, while contrary to claims, epoxies do deteriorate.
I personally like to dissolve some of this Beeswax and Damar mixture with some pure turpentine and then flood the flaking area with a brush very carefully so as not to disturb the loose pieces but still let the mixture impregnate the area behind and around the flakes and blisters.
Those flakes can then be re-adhered and flattened with a heated palette knife.
After thorough drying I paste some paper over this section, for protection, then after drying I apply paper over the whole painting, this protects the texture of the painting during the ironing process.
Then after drying I turn the picture over and apply the mixture of Beeswax and Damar warm ( 70° -80°C or 160°-175° F ) on the back, then with an Electric Iron, I iron the area down so as to impregnate the whole picture with this preservative mixture, this flattens and re-adheres the blisters and flakes back against the now impregnated and strengthened ground.
Those with flat heated platen can of course do this by vacuum pressing the painting against those platen, this also allows the painting to maintain its texture.
After cooling I then carefully wash the paper away, the examine the result to determine the further processes needed to complete the restoration.
The reason I prefer this, Dutch Method, is that it is reversible, one can always reheat an area and relocate any pieces of flakes, which are not where one wanted them, something which is impossible if epoxy is used.
I have not yet tried this method. I have a large painting that has been rolled up in storage for several years now and it has some flaking that I’d like to correct. Although the painting is quite large, I don’t consider it an “important” piece of my portfolio, so I’m not so worried about the outcome of the repairing the damage. The only worry that I have, is if the painting will crack or flake again if it is rolled and put in storage.
By the way, I do not sell paintings that have cracks or flakes in them. I’ve only had one painting with this problem and it was due to handling and storage when moving to many different studios over the years. I also don’t recommend for art buyers to repair oil paintings themselves. You should contact the original artist, if possible, and/or a fine art conservator.
I will post an update once I am finished repairing the painting.
-Jessica
Jessica……how on earth do you flatten a dent in an otherwise good painting?….do you just iron it…?
Don
Jessica…..how on earth do you simply flatten a dent in an otherwise good painting…? Do you just iron it…??
The best way to get rid of a dent is to spray the backside of the canvas with enough water to saturate it. If it is just a small dent this will usually pull it flat and straight. If it is a much larger dent, then you will have to saturate the backside of the painting and then remove it from the stretchers to restretch the whole painting.
I occasionally will get a small dent in some of my paintings that are placed in storage or when moving to a new studio. I have always just saturated the backside and apply a little pressure on both sides to smooth it out. It has worked well for me.
I’ve also heard of people using rubbing alcohol on the backside of the painting – but have never done so myself. I don’t know if it would damage the painting in the long run.
Good Luck!
Thanks and much informative………..!!
You’re welcome.
To tighten a painting back to its youth, I’ve had good luck by pouring (hot) water on the back of the canvas for instant results.
oh my lord, my favourite oil painting was damaged (huge dents in 2 places) from a book shelf falling on it during construction. So sad. Its a big one at about 5X5. Just tried the hot water pouring method… totally worked. Turned the painting on its front on the floor, poured boiling water on the back of the canvas, let it sit for 30 secs or so, mopped it up with a towel, and within seconds the dents were gone… thanks Mike Elliot…
I found a gorgeouus painting with a dent in the canvas at the thrift store. I took a risk and purchased it. I just found your sight 2 minutes ago, tried pouring boiling water on the back of it, and 30 seconds later it was perfect! Thanks so very much for the outstanding tip!
ummmm….I just have 1quick question I just got this oil print picture and there’s a smudge on it how and what would I use to fix this problem