Comments on: How to repair your damaged paintings (for artists) http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/ painting : drawing : sculpture : mixed media Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:25:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: J. M. Culver http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-109 J. M. Culver Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:25:48 +0000 http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-109 There are so many problems with this painting, I'd really suggest talking to a conservator about it. I'm sure they can restore the painting (most of it anyway). I wouldn't suggest doing this one yourself. It would be a bit complicated, unless you are familiar with restoring artwork. Good luck! There are so many problems with this painting, I’d really suggest talking to a conservator about it. I’m sure they can restore the painting (most of it anyway). I wouldn’t suggest doing this one yourself. It would be a bit complicated, unless you are familiar with restoring artwork. Good luck!

]]> By: R Wallace http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-108 R Wallace Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:10:22 +0000 http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-108 Hi, I have the opportunity to purchase an internationally renowned artist's painting. However it has been kept in relatively poor conditions. It is actually a painting on plywood with a white front fascia. There is light water staining in areas, a few very small areas where the white front within the painting has been chipped out leaving areas where the wood is seen through and the wood is fraying around the plywood edges. There are also some mud marks on the painting. These are all quite small but apparent. What is considered the best way to handle such a piece? Should I try and get it restored (can I?) or best to leave it as a historical find with all the trimmings? Any advice appreciated! Hi, I have the opportunity to purchase an internationally renowned artist’s painting. However it has been kept in relatively poor conditions. It is actually a painting on plywood with a white front fascia. There is light water staining in areas, a few very small areas where the white front within the painting has been chipped out leaving areas where the wood is seen through and the wood is fraying around the plywood edges. There are also some mud marks on the painting. These are all quite small but apparent. What is considered the best way to handle such a piece? Should I try and get it restored (can I?) or best to leave it as a historical find with all the trimmings? Any advice appreciated!

]]> By: J. M. Culver http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-107 J. M. Culver Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:43:31 +0000 http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-107 From my research online, I found that the ratio should be 75% Beeswax and 25% Damar. From my research online, I found that the ratio should be 75% Beeswax and 25% Damar.

]]> By: J. M. Culver http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-106 J. M. Culver Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:41:31 +0000 http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-106 You will need to wet the back of the painting with hot water and restretch it with new stretcher bars. It makes it easier to go ahead and dampen the canvas before stretching. Make sure there is unpainted (or just gessoed) space around the painting for stretching. Otherwise, I suggest that you just have it framed without glass. Paintings are never displayed with glass unless at a museum for protection. It is a shame when people enclose a beautiful painting in glass where you cannot see and experience the color and texture up close. You'll need to use the beeswax/damar technique to keep the painting from flaking. If the cracks are still visible (with the canvas showing through), you will need to take a small brush and paint in those places. You can then add a finish varnish coat to protect the surface. If you aren't comfortable repairing the painting, I'd suggest going online (such as Craigslist) and finding a local artist or art student that could do it for you. Good luck! You will need to wet the back of the painting with hot water and restretch it with new stretcher bars. It makes it easier to go ahead and dampen the canvas before stretching. Make sure there is unpainted (or just gessoed) space around the painting for stretching.

Otherwise, I suggest that you just have it framed without glass. Paintings are never displayed with glass unless at a museum for protection. It is a shame when people enclose a beautiful painting in glass where you cannot see and experience the color and texture up close.

You’ll need to use the beeswax/damar technique to keep the painting from flaking. If the cracks are still visible (with the canvas showing through), you will need to take a small brush and paint in those places. You can then add a finish varnish coat to protect the surface.

If you aren’t comfortable repairing the painting, I’d suggest going online (such as Craigslist) and finding a local artist or art student that could do it for you.

Good luck!

]]> By: J. M. Culver http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-105 J. M. Culver Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:36:27 +0000 http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-105 If it has any dents you will need to apply hot water to the back and let it dry to straighten it out. It needs to be restretched and not rolled back up for storage. I'd suggest the beeswax/damar technique, it will make sure it doesn't flake. If it is cracked in areas, where the canvas is showing through, you will need to take a small brush and paint in those areas seamlessly. You can then add a final varnish to seal the painting. Good luck! If it has any dents you will need to apply hot water to the back and let it dry to straighten it out. It needs to be restretched and not rolled back up for storage. I’d suggest the beeswax/damar technique, it will make sure it doesn’t flake. If it is cracked in areas, where the canvas is showing through, you will need to take a small brush and paint in those areas seamlessly. You can then add a final varnish to seal the painting. Good luck!

]]> By: J. M. Culver http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-104 J. M. Culver Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:34:27 +0000 http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-104 You are probably right. You always have to follow the "fat over lean" rule with oil painting. If the acrylic is applied really heavy and the oil is really thin, it can cause cracks. Also, storage, age, and temperature can cause cracks. I'd suggest the beeswax/damar technique to keep it from flaking off. You will need to go in with a small brush and paint any exposed canvas. If you aren't comfortable doing this, I'd suggest finding a local artist to do it for you. Good luck! You are probably right. You always have to follow the “fat over lean” rule with oil painting. If the acrylic is applied really heavy and the oil is really thin, it can cause cracks. Also, storage, age, and temperature can cause cracks. I’d suggest the beeswax/damar technique to keep it from flaking off. You will need to go in with a small brush and paint any exposed canvas. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, I’d suggest finding a local artist to do it for you. Good luck!

]]> By: J. M. Culver http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-103 J. M. Culver Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:28:03 +0000 http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-103 Do you mean two "dents" on the canvas? If they are dents, then you can just use the hot water on the back and it will straighten out your canvas. If there are cracks, then you need to use the beeswax/damar method to keep the paint adhered to the surface. If the cracks are still visible, you will need to go in with a fine brush and use paint to fill in the cracks to make it look seamless. If you aren't able to do this, I'd suggest finding a local artist to do it for you. Good luck :) Do you mean two “dents” on the canvas? If they are dents, then you can just use the hot water on the back and it will straighten out your canvas. If there are cracks, then you need to use the beeswax/damar method to keep the paint adhered to the surface. If the cracks are still visible, you will need to go in with a fine brush and use paint to fill in the cracks to make it look seamless. If you aren’t able to do this, I’d suggest finding a local artist to do it for you. Good luck :)

]]> By: J. M. Culver http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-102 J. M. Culver Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:26:54 +0000 http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-102 A tear is difficult to repair. Large tears can cause a canvas to curl or distort, which doesn't sound like it will happen in your case. Conservators mend a tear with a variety of techniques, it is filled and textured to imitate the original canvas or paint texture. It is still challenging for a conservator to mend the painting and depends on the imagery and texture of the piece. I'd really suggest talking with a conservator about the tear, unless you are an artist and would like to try mending it yourself and don't mind "adding" to the painting. Good Luck! A tear is difficult to repair. Large tears can cause a canvas to curl or distort, which doesn’t sound like it will happen in your case. Conservators mend a tear with a variety of techniques, it is filled and textured to imitate the original canvas or paint texture. It is still challenging for a conservator to mend the painting and depends on the imagery and texture of the piece. I’d really suggest talking with a conservator about the tear, unless you are an artist and would like to try mending it yourself and don’t mind “adding” to the painting. Good Luck!

]]> By: J. M. Culver http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-101 J. M. Culver Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:19:57 +0000 http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-101 Yes. The moisture must have caused the dent to straighten out. That's very interesting that a painting can have been "naturally" repaired due to weather conditions. Usually it's the opposite. Thanks for sharing! Yes. The moisture must have caused the dent to straighten out. That’s very interesting that a painting can have been “naturally” repaired due to weather conditions. Usually it’s the opposite. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: J. M. Culver http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-100 J. M. Culver Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:17:19 +0000 http://jmculvergallery.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/how-to-repair-your-damaged-paintings-for-artists/#comment-100 Your welcome. I'm glad it worked for you. :) Your welcome. I’m glad it worked for you. :)

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