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Whether we paint pet portraits, family portraits, landscapes, or house portraits, we all like to think our pictures will stand the test of time. Using a high calibre linen, that is correctly prepared with many 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 your canvas, it will always be vulnerable to damage through inadvertent pressure on the surface causing dents or even tears in the canvas. Such damage does not need to be disastrous for the painting and, in most cases, a damaged canvas can be repaired.

If accidental pressure on the canvas causes a bump, it can be removed by lightly 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 piece should be at least 2 inches larger on every side than the rip itself, and frayed around the edges to camouflage 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 new alternatives to this adhesive but be certain 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 stay on the stretcher, if they are removed for any period of time, the canvas will 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 primarily 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.