Painting conservation, what a mess!

[mdcrossbow]

A restoration was done many years ago on this which made to surface very brittle. The customer bought this on line but asked me 1st if could do the restoration. It told a minute. I relined it with a new canvas and laid it out nice to make the nessary touchups.

 

[mdcrossbow]

This is the typical restoration. Old portraits just plain dirty. The original shellac collects air dirt in the summer when the shellac in softest and in the winter hardens trapping the dirt. Over years it just get darker and darker.

 

[GoGriz]

What a talent you have - I would love to hear the story of how you got into that field and some of the crazy things you must have come across over the years.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Damn, that’s pretty neat

 

[mdcrossbow]

I studied painting conservation in college along with printmaking and painting.
One job that helped me along the way was a 7K ft. house fire. IIt had 80+ painting to restore. Mostly heat and water damage.
I have 2 painting that taught me a lot about the process. Every job is different so I'm always learning.
The Gentleman painting sat in a Doll house for many years taking abuse. He owned a textile mill in Richmond and during the Civil War it was burnt down.

The 2nd landscape ; was hanging in a home and the house keeper brought her cat to work and the cat went crazy knocking the painting off the wall 1811 French painting , full restoration with canvas lining.

 

[mdcrossbow]

What painting conservation has taught me most is the ability to see color. Learning the artist canvas is key, once that is understood painting touch up move quick. Following the artist brush strokes sometime can give me the scene of the artist mood when painting. These are both commissioned painting because of the subject.

 

[kansasdad]

Digging the skill @mdcrossbow. Do you use magnification when cleaning/painting?

 

[mdcrossbow]

Digging the skill @mdcrossbow. Do you use magnification when cleaning/painting?

Sometimes,
I use this device , FYI to the computer. It's inexpensive and really cool to play with.