How to Restore Art Painted Off a Canvas
Restoring oil-on-canvas paintings is a complicated business, and a restorer needs a lot of experience to be successful. Someone inexperienced in restoration techniques can easily destroy a canvas painting. If you wish to learn proper techniques for restoring paintings, practice on cheap artwork before moving on to any valuable art pieces. A beginner can use cleaning techniques involving simple household products to restore a canvas oil painting safely.
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Things You'll Need
- Polyurethane foam
- Vacuum cleaner
- Pliers
- Metal ruler
- Onions
- Lemons
- Mild lemon dish soap
- Sodium carbonate crystals
- Soft sponges
- Absorbent cotton
Instructions
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Cover a table or workbench with soft cushioning material such as polyurethane foam. Place the painting face down on the covered work surface.
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2
Vacuum any dust from the back of the painting and the frame. Use care when vacuuming the canvas.
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Remove the nails holding the painting in the frame, using pliers. Lever the pliers against a metal ruler to avoid damaging the frame.
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Clean between the canvas and the wooden stretcher, using the crevice tool on the vacuum cleaner. Vacuum gently to avoid cracking or flaking the paint.
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Cut an onion in two. Rub half the onion gently over the painting. Cut small slices off the flat surface of the onion throughout the process to refresh it. Add a few squirts of lemon juice to the onion for a stronger cleaning effect. Wipe the painting with a damp, soft sponge and allow it to dry.
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Mix warm water with delicate lemon detergent for deeper cleaning. Soak a soft sponge in the soapy water and wipe it over the painting. Be careful not to soak the canvas. Allow the detergent water to sit on the canvas for a few minutes to loosen the grime from the painting, then wipe off with clear water. This medium level of cleaning may be necessary if the painting has been in a smoky environment.
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Dissolve a bit of sodium carbonate crystals in a cup of warm water. Dip a ball of absorbent cotton into the water mixture and test it on a small corner of the painting by rubbing it on with a circular motion. If you see little cleaning effect, add a bit more sodium carbonate to the water. Continue the process until you have achieved the proper solution to remove grime from the painting. Wipe the solution over the painting with a sponge. Then use a sponge dipped in clear water to remove the solution from the painting. Sodium carbonate can leave white streaks on the painting if overdone or not properly rinsed.
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References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
