Upon arrival at our facility, this painting of a 1960’s woman on canvas was creased and damaged by fire and improper storage. The extreme heat from fires cause excessive drying to the canvas. The heat further causes paint to chip and become unstable. As if that wasn’t bad enough, soot further creates a dingy surface appearance to paintings that mute and distort vibrant colors and brushtrokes.
The first step taken in the restoration process involved conducting a chemical cleaning test and analysis to ensure no further damage to the piece. In other words, we tested the cleaning agents in a small, nonvisible area of the painting to make sure there wouldn’t be any chemical reactions between the paint and chosen cleaning products. Once surface grime and soot particulates were fully removed, the canvas was deodorized. Deodorization extracts any lingering odor resulting from the fire.
The next step requires stabilizing the canvas and any flaking paint to mitigate further paint loss and remove the appearance of creases. Once stabilized, the creases were filled alongside sections with missing pigments. Lastly, the canvas was in-painted over the fillings, matching colors and camouflaging repairs. This painting on canvas was sealed with UV-stable varnish that enhances the vibrancy of pigments, prevents sun damage, and seals out airborne dirt and contaminants.
Do you or someone you know need photos, paintings, statues or collectibles, repaired, restored or cleaned? Contact Back in the Frame Art Restoration today to get your artwork back in the frame!
