Restoration

Grandsire · Post by **Grandsire** » Fri 23 Nov, 2007 3:16 pm

Can anyone recommend a good book (or website) that deals with the basics of print and watercolour restoration?

Post by **prospero** » Fri 23 Nov, 2007 7:38 pm

Call me Mr. Cynical if you like, but I know just enough about restoration to leave well alone when I don't know what I'm doing. It is a subject that takes years of experience to be anywhere near competant. Learning from a book is OK up to a point but you really need to study under a 'master'.
What works on one painting could be disastrous on another.

Grandsire · Post by **Grandsire** » Sat 24 Nov, 2007 4:51 pm

Thank you for your concern, Mr Cynical, but I have some not very valuable prints that are my own property that I am prepared 'to take the risk with'. It seems to me that the quickest way to start learning about something is to read up on the subject. Can anyone help me, please?

Post by **prospero** » Sat 24 Nov, 2007 5:24 pm

Fair enough.

I didn't men to be discouraging. It's just that I have seen too many slosh-ups in my time.

One thing. I think I am right in saying that there is no way to restore fading in prints. The most often seen defects are creasing and general deterioration of the paper. General surface dirt can be removed with a draft clean pads (the magic sausage) which are muslin bags filled with fine rubber crumbs. This often is all that is needed.
(Check Lion Pic Frames for biggest selection on restoration products. They also do some books.

)

Darkened paper and foxing is cured by bleaching. I have read of Milton fluid (stuff for sterilising babies bottles) used for this. Tears and creases can be fixed although this is where you need greatest expertise.

Remember: paper restoration is a lot more problematic than oils. Bad repairs to oils can generally be reversed but not so paper.

Grandsire · Post by **Grandsire** » Sat 24 Nov, 2007 6:10 pm

Thanks for the guidance, Prospero. Coincidentally, it is the paper restoration aspect (tears, creases etc.) that I am most interested in. Any thoughts on where I might start to look for further information - even if I subsequently decide this activity is not for me?. (The only book on restoration I can find in the Lion catalogue relates just to oil painting restoration.)

JFeig · Post by **JFeig** » Sat 24 Nov, 2007 6:16 pm

I have never seen a "how to" book on paper restoration.

Bill Henry · Post by **Bill Henry** » Sat 24 Nov, 2007 7:09 pm

I might be tempted to buy a book entitled, “Restoration for Dummies”. I would certainly be among the target audience.

Even though I’ve been framing for over two decades, restoration of canvas or paper borne art is way beyond my expertise! I would suggest you don’t mess around and louse someone's treasure beyond salvage.

Contact a conservator; you’ll be doing both yourself and your customer a service.

Grandsire · Post by **Grandsire** » Sat 24 Nov, 2007 7:39 pm

Let me get this straight, my interest in this subject is principally academic (in the true sense of the word) because I'm genuinely interested in it. I have no desire to offer this as a service to my customers, so can we please start from that point before I get any more lectures!

JFeig · Post by **JFeig** » Sat 24 Nov, 2007 7:50 pm

my knowledge is directly from conservators..........

here is a link to some reading.... https://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/bookstore/vie ... ication=10

Roboframer · Post by **Roboframer** » Sat 24 Nov, 2007 7:58 pm

Google 'Conservation books UK'

Here is a link from the first page - with a 'publications' link within and an online journal going back some way.

"Our membership embraces the entire conservation community as well as members of the public who are keen to learn more or show their support for conservation work."

Sounds good to me!

Not your average framer · Sat 24 Nov, 2007 8:01 pm

Hi Grandsire,

I see you are based in Maidstone, Kent. Therefore it might be worth contacting the Camberwell school of Art & Crafts in London. They are easily accessible from Kent and specialise in a lot of related subjects. It's just possible that they may offer a suitable evening class or due to the nature of the subjects they teach perhaps one of their staff members may be able to point you in the right direction of suggest some appropiate text books.

There is also conservation / restoration training available via professional organisations based at Hampton Court and at Kew, but the scope and level of involvement / time required for these courses exceed what you have in mind.

Post by **prospero** » Sat 24 Nov, 2007 9:58 pm

Good for you Grandsire if you do decide to persue paper restoration.

I think the issue is that there are so few true experts in the field that they are kept fully occupied (and well paid) and don't have time to write books. It's a bit like looking for a book called the "Dummies Guide to Brain Surgery". It might be the case that very few framers will also tackle this aspect of restoration. You might have more sucess contacting local museums, public art galleries, etc who often have a restorer on staff or at least know of one who might take an 'apprentice'.

beth · Post by **beth** » Sun 25 Nov, 2007 1:01 pm

Sorry this is nothing to do with a book on restoration but I did see on the news the Bristish Museum do tours of their conservation work shop rooms, may be of interest.

RobinC · Post by **RobinC** » Sun 25 Nov, 2007 1:38 pm

A different tack would be to scan the print into a computer and then use Photoshop to repair the damage before reprinting. At least then you would be able to restore any fading too. If you havent done any work with photoshop, its good fun, creative and no risk of further damaging the original.

Robin