Canvas repairs for the artist
Whether we paint pet portraits, family portraits, landscapes, or house portraits, we all like to think our pictures will suffer the test of time. Using a high quality linen, that is properly prepared with several layers of gesso on both sides and stretched over kiln-dried hardwood stretchers, they can last a lifetime . However, with the best will in the world, it doesn’t matter how well you prepare a canvas, it will always be vulnerable to damage through accidental pressure on the canvas causing dents or even rips in the surface. Such damage is not inevitably disastrous for the painting and, in most cases, a damaged canvas can be repaired.
If inadvertent pressure on the canvas causes a bulge, it can be removed by gently rubbing the area on the back with a wet finger. If this is not sufficient, more moisture can be dabbed onto the canvas with a sponge, but care should be taken not to make the canvas too wet. Distortions can be rectified using a cool iron over the back of the canvas. Where pressure on the canvas has in reality caused the paint surface to crack, ironing from the back can reduce the appearance of the damage.
Little tears and punctures are repaired by adding a piece of the same type of canvas on the rear of the picture. The patch should be at least 2 inches larger on all sides than the tear itself, and frayed around the edges to disguise it’s presence. The traditional adhesive for this is beeswax or beeswax and damar, and the patch is applied with a iron that is just hot enough to melt the wax. There are modern alternatives to this adhesive but be sure that only conservation quality ones are used.
Whenever you try to make any of these repairs, always make sure that the canvas is set face down on a flat surface and supported by a blanket covered with brown craft paper.
After a while canvases can become lax, if this occurs, do not automatically tighten the wedges as minor distortions are very likely to correct themselves. If you find that you do need to tighten the wedges, avoid driving them in any more than is absolutely necessary, otherwise you run the risk of cracking the paint and cheap commercially prepared canvases may also rip. Canvases should always be kept on the stretcher, if they are removed for a long duration, the canvas can relax making it difficult to re-stretch. If it does become necessary to take the canvas off the stretcher, maybe for the purposes of transportation, paintings should always be rolled so that the paint surface is on the outside, as there is less risk of the surface cracking.
Picture restoration is a highly skilled line of work and those who practice it have had a lot of experience in the field. The advice offered here is principally aimed at the artist wishing to repair his or her own works, anybody wanting to repair a valuable work should always take the painting to a professional picture restorer.
