I run a mobile art framing service in Switzerland and worked on this conservation framing project this week.
A lot of people don’t realize artworks should never directly touch the glass. Small details like UV protection, acid-free materials and spacing make a huge difference over time.
I inherited these two paintings. My grandmother told me they were painted by my great-great-great-grandfather around the end of the 19th century. He was supposedly an amateur, and I believe he never got to visit a coastline or the sea. They lived their whole lives in Central-Eastern Europe. Do those paintings remind you of something similar? I wonder where he could get the inspiration and knowledge… Also how can i preserve/ restore those paintings in their original frames?
Thank you
Hey everyone,
After about ten years of apprenticing and doing professional poster restoration, I finally opened my own independent studio called Undead Cinematic Linen-Backing and Poster Restoration. If you have a rare print, an original movie poster, or an old family heirloom that is falling apart, I am here to help fix it.
Linen-backing is essentially a conservation method where I mount fragile, aging paper onto archival linen and acid-free paper. It flattens out heavy fold lines, reinforces the structure, and makes the poster safe for framing. I also handle general restoration, which includes fixing rips, tears, water stains, and removing old tape using completely reversible archival techniques.
Over the last decade, I have worked on everything from rare foreign Star Wars prints and autographed horror originals to classic Frankenstein, King Kong, and Warhol pieces. If it is printed on paper, there is a very good chance it can be saved.
If you have a piece that needs work or you are just curious if a specific type of damage can be repaired, feel free to drop a comment or reach out. I love looking at obscure prints and talking shop.
Hi
I've been working on a oil painting but after a few days, in some specific areas it start showing some kind of marks, does anyone know if is mold? or something else? Where I live is really hot and I was working on it with my AC ON, we have a lot of humidity too and I think I didn't let the painting dry properly so I think is possible that it started growing some mold but I don't know and it's only showing these marks on the brown painted areas. It doesn't smell to anything besides oil painting so I'm not sure. I hope anyone can help me, thanks 🥲
Hi everyone!
I'm an international student on F1-OPT, which will end at the end of my fellowship. I was thinking about getting another pre-program art conservation internship/ conservation tech job, but I was wondering if there is any institution that would be able to sponsor me with an H1B or J1. With a bachelor's degree, it may be more challenging to find a job with my current qualifications. Has anyone successfully scored a museum job that sponsors your visa, and what institution?
Bonjour,
Je cherche une méthode durable pour marquer/peindre sur mesure les nageoires Scubapro faites en Monprene. Je fais des illustrations détaillées de style pointillisme directement sur les ailerons, donc je cherche quelque chose de précis et durable, pas seulement un simple marquage de nom.
J’ai déjà testé plusieurs méthodes : Posca, Sharpie, différents vernis transparents (spray Motip, Créalia, vernis marin Odif), mais aucune n’a donné de résultats vraiment durables. J’ai même contacté des fabricants industriels de peinture/revêtements et envoyé des échantillons de dérives, mais aucune solution vraiment convaincante jusqu’à présent.
Problèmes rencontrés :
J’ai entendu parler de graver légèrement ou poncer la surface pour améliorer l’adhérence, et aussi de traiter le plastique à la flamme, mais cette méthode me semble risquée.
Alors je voulais demander :
Je cherche surtout quelque chose qui dure vraiment : résistance à l’eau salée, résistance aux UV, résistance aux rayures et flexibilité sans s’écailler ni se fissurer.
Si quelqu’un a réussi à marquer ou peindre ce type de matériau sur le long terme, j’aimerais beaucoup connaître une méthode fiable.
Merci !
Hi all,
I've recently been eyeing this piece that's been on my bedroom wall for years (yes, years 😞🤢). I decided I wanted to swap out the white mat for a different color. The new mat arrived today, so I took down the frame and noticed the appearance of the back - uh oh. I put on a mask I had nearby and then opened the back. I was pretty upset and grossed out. Not only is this a piece I really like/treasure, but it's been sitting above my bed for, like I said, years. Thankfully most of the mold (that's definitely what it is, right?) has been contained within the frame itself, but still very concerning.
I opened this all in my living room. Obviously decided I needed to dispose of what I could. I stupidly went to fold the mat (now with gloves on), and a small cloud of mold/dust erupted. Egh. I disposed of the frame and mat in a double bagged trash bag and immediately took it out, then opened all windows, wiped down nearby surfaces with clorox wipes, and turned on a large air purifier I have in my living room. Somewhere during this process, I stored the drawing itself in a 3 layers of sealed ziploc bags.
I think the mold stemmed from the mat. I had gotten the mat from another piece of art passed on from a late family member. Although I definitely had not noticed any mold on it before putting it into this frame. Could it be from the drawing itself? That I got during covid. I have no idea tbh. I don't see any mold elsewhere in my bedroom.
I'll go to another sub to ask for advice on whether I've protected myself/my place enough health-wise. But I really love this piece. Is there any saving it on my own? I'd rather not have to take it somewhere to remove the mold, but maybe the point is totally moot anyway.
Thanks in advance.
Hi all,
I was given this by my grandmother. Unfortunately she taped over it and when I tried to remove the tape, I found the ink had bonded to it and was disappearing as I removed it.
Is there anything anyone can do to preserve her writing the best way possible, or should I take photos and box it up? I had it in my car for a while which sadly sped up the degradation.
Really appreciate any help.
"The Migrant Child," a work by the renowned Banksy that appeared in Venice on the night of May 8th, 2019, depicts a child standing with his feet in the water, signaling for help with a fuchsia-colored flare, and has become a symbol of the tragedies of migrants lost at sea. After years of exposure to the elements and progressive deterioration, with an estimated loss of 30% of the original work, it was secured in 2025 thanks to an intervention promoted by Banca Ifis and carried out by restorer Federico Borgogni.
At the Venice Arsenale, Banca Ifis presented the results of the restoration of "The Migrant Child," recovered from the facade of Palazzo San Pantalon and now ready to be returned to the city. On Friday May 8th and Saturday May 9th, the work travelled through the canals of Venice on a boat, giving citizens the opportunity to see it again following the restoration. Upon completion of the works on Palazzo San Pantalon, expected by 2027, "The Migrant Child" will be reinstalled in its original position and permanently returned to the city.
The president of Banca Ifis, Ernesto Furstenberg Fassio, commented: "The project will cost more than 15 million euros, including the purchase of the palazzo, the conservative restoration of both the building and the artwork, and the organisation of events to promote the protection of children's rights."
I recently returned from the US and, despite having completed fellowships at renowned institutions and having a scientific background, I’m honestly shocked by the job market here. There are very few positions to begin with, and some of them pay around €2k net per month, which feels extremely low considering the level of specialization and education required. I even came across one posting where the salary was roughly the same as for the institution’s cleaning staff.
It’s making me seriously question the future of the profession. A friend of mine has been out of work for almost two years now, and I’m starting to wonder whether this experience is becoming common across Europe.
I’d really like to hear from others:
Has your experience been similar?
Are there certain countries or sectors where the situation is better?
Have any of you successfully transitioned into adjacent fields?
And for those who stayed in conservation: what helped you build a stable career?
At this point, I’m honestly considering leaving the profession altogether, which is heartbreaking after investing so many years into it.
Any of you folks have expert tips on restoring copper?
This is a prized possession that’s getting oxidized. It’s a vase from French home decor brand Habitat, from back when Tom Dixon was their Creative Director. He went on to start his own company and has very often worked with copper.
I purchased it 14 years ago but it’s now a design collection piece which will likely appreciate given Tom Dixon’s design influence. Should I even attempt to restore? I cannot mess this up.
Today on the street in Brooklyn, a woman was giving away her mother's gravestone rubbings, which she did before she died. Her daughter was already in her late 60s, so I imagine these rubbings were done at least 20 years ago.
It is roughly mounted on foam board, and wrapped in plastic wrap. It is roughly the size of a standard door.
I would like to eventually get this professionally mounted, but that will cost a lot of money. Does anyone have suggestions for what I can do in the meantime to preserve and display it as a piece of art?
FYI my research tells me it is from a Jewish cemetery in Chinatown and that Walter J Judah was the first Jew admitted to Columbia medical school.
Thanks!
Recently purchased this beautiful frame from an antique fair but it’s quite dirty. I was able to remove the framing tacks on the back and clean the glass- but have no idea how to tackle cleaning the wooden frame itself. It looks like it could be a different color underneath? Or is this just the color it is? I did already go around it lightly with a damp towel and brushed off some dirt with an old toothbrush. Not sure what to do next -any tips are helpful!