The Sparrows

Not my first restoration, but certainly the most fun.  I fell in love with this 19th century oil on canvas and we were lucky enough to be gifted it. Defects aside, we could see the potential. You don't see sparrows depicted in art very often, and I think they're great little birds. The stretcher and frame were fair, just needing some bracing and a good wax, but the canvas was in a sorry state in spots. 

 

  

 

Let's get started!

The first step is to remove the canvas from the frame to properly assess the damage. Once this is done, we put the frame aside for a while and concentrate on the best plan to clean the canvas, fill and over paint the holes and tears. A thorough clean removes 100+ years of god knows what, and already I see a difference!   We patch the larger holes from the back, using spare canvas and then fill the rips on the front.  It looks pretty messy, but once the excess filler is removed, the potential is there.

 

Now for the fun part!  (And eye strain)

Luckily for me, most of the damage was on some boring bits, but the big rips on the blue & white plate and the bird in flight would be a bit of a challenge.  I also have to perfectly match and blend the colours, so whatever I do is invisible.  I keep reminding myself that I am not the artist, so I just try to replicate the colours and brush strokes, not add anything that shouldn't be there.  No matter how tempting!

          

The above image is taken before filling and cleaning.  The one on the right is after I have completed the touch up. It isn't the first art restoration we have completed, but it is my favourite so far. I am absolutely rapt with the result.

Finishing up

Chris has the frame in good order, and after a few more tacks holding the canvas to the stretcher he will tension it up. Back into the frame it goes and we find a spot on our already cluttered wall.  Pooling our collective talents means there is nothing we can't achieve in the antique/art field. We're delighted with this piece, and look forward to our next art adventure, to hang on our wall, or perhaps yours?