Focus On Artwork Restoration, Repairs, Painting Problems and Art Defects

A painting starts to crack, the canvas begins to warp, dull patches spread over the paint layer, and water damage threatens to spoil months of work. A painting that has high financial or sentimental value can cause further worry. How can the artist save an oil painting from the bin?

Cure for Damaged Oil Paintings

The good news is that an oil painting can be remedied, regardless of the damage. A torn canvas can be repaired; dirty varnish can be removed and the artwork restored to its previous vitality. Understanding the root cause of these defects will help the same thing happening again.

This collection of articles explores practical solutions to a wide range of oil painting problems, from surface flaws and structural damage to conservation and insurance.

Common Defects in the Oil Pigment

An oil painting is the most durable, robust and tough medium in existence. Take a look at the Old Masters, paintings that have survived time, heat, damp and handling. An oil painting will never crack if prepared properly. Canvases and panels are tough, resilient and varnish provides a tough protection against pollution, damp and harsh conditions.

But things can still go wrong and this is often due to improper preparation and care.

Cheap Art Materials to be Avoided

Oil painting can be cheap. I use old rags, used brushes and cracked saucers for palettes. But I never skimp on the oil paints, the art mediums and the gesso. I stick to Daler Rowney, Winsor & Newton or another tried and tested brand. Cheap art pigments can degrade over time, and the colour may fade, darken, or crack. Touching up a few areas is possible, but prevention is better than cure.

The Reason why an Old Master Cracks

Craquelure is the web of fine cracks that may spread across older paintings. Some craquelure is expected in historic artworks. A close look at the Mona Lisa for instance will reveal fine lines, which adds charm and which some artists even wish to emulate. But more severe cracking may indicate underlying structural issues.

How to Treat Craquelure

The root cause of a cracking paint layer often stems from inadequate art surfaces and insufficient sizing (known as grounds, or gesso). The oil in the pigment ‘sinks’ into the bare canvas or panel beneath. This is why proper sizing is vital to an oil painting. Art surfaces are thirsty and will suck the oil right out of the pigment, causing the paint to brittle.

The vehicle in oil paint is linseed oil (or safflower as in titanium white). Even once dry, the oil provides plasticity for temperature changes and movement. A brittle layer cannot bend at all. Read my article on how I treated a painting with craquelure due to a lack of sizing, and how to avoid paint from cracking in the future. Read also how I hid a defect in the paint layer.

Preventing and Curing Canvas Warp

Over time, the canvas where the oil painting rests, becomes flabby. Once as tight as a drum looks more like a bin bag after emptying. This can affect the appearance and stability of an artwork. Changes in humidity, poor stretching and damp conditions can contribute to a canvas that starts to sag from the frame and may even tear.

Read my article on how to repair a torn canvas. Then read how to prevent a flabby canvas and how to tension a flabby canvas once it occurs.

Repairing Damage to a Painting

Small holes, tears and defects to the canvas (or panel) is another matter and requires extra attention. With the correct tools and technique, the painting can be repaired, saving money on costs.

Read my articles on how to repair a hole in canvas, tear in an oil painting and hide a defect in the paint layer.

Professional Restoration Services and Conservation

The age and value of the artwork should always be considered before the repair. What may be suitable for a personal project, may not always be right for Victorian oil painting or a notable piece. Valuable, historic or sentimental paintings often require specialist conservation services to avoid causing further damage.

Professional restorers use carefully tested techniques designed to preserve the appearance and integrity of the artwork. Knowing the limits of DIY restoration can prevent costly mistakes and preserve valuable works.

Artists and collectors who own valuable paintings should understand when to employ an art professional restorer and to insure the painting against further damage.

Dull Patches and Uneven Finishes on an Oil Painting

Many artists have felt disappointment when an oil painting dulls and become patchy as it dries. Areas that once appeared rich and vibrant may suddenly die and dull over.

These changes can be due to inadequate gessoes, as seen earlier. But certain pigments dry quicker than others, creating an uneven finish. Oiling out an oil painting can help, as well as using special varnishes that will bring the oil painting back to life and unify the finish. Read my article on how to treat dull patches in the oil painting.

Painting Problems Solved in One Go

Every artist encounters technical difficulties during artistic exploration. Fortunately, most problems can be prevented or corrected with knowhow and careful decision-making.

Whether you are dealing with cracks, flabby canvasses, holes in the art surface or restoration, this hub page provides pathways to the advice sought after. Each examines different oil painting problems.

Use this page as a central resource for troubleshooting, restoration and oil painting maintenance. As new articles are added, they will be linked here to create a broad guide to preserving and protecting artwork for the future.

Further Reading

Read my hub pages on proper art materials for oil painting, that prevents problems later on.
And all about oil painting mediums.
Erase mistakes from your painting
Cure for dirty color mixes
Cure for insipid colors in paintingOr browse my full collection of articles about oil painting problems.

Looking for additional drawing and art tutorials? Visit my sister art blog. Find an article on the true colour wheel to clean up colour mixes.