Featured Cleaned painting

Discussion in 'Art' started by Marie Forjan, Oct 24, 2021.

  1. Marie Forjan

    Marie Forjan Well-Known Member

    I picked up this little painting at our local flea. I got it because I liked it, saw it was filthy and thought, since it isn't anything special, I could try my hand at cleaning it. I also used watercolors to fill in the spots where the paint chipped off.

    I used the method @gregsglass of spit on a Q-Tip. In the before photo you can see the spot on the top left where I tried it just to see if it made a difference.

    OH BOY! What a difference :)

    CleanedPaintingSideBySide.jpg
     
  2. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    A vast improvement!

    I've got a painting I keep wanting to try that on, but I don't think I have enough spit.
     
  3. Marie Forjan

    Marie Forjan Well-Known Member

    Yea, it takes a lot. Greg said, when he did restoration, they used to collect enough over time. I just stuck a clean Q-Tip in my mouth to moisten it. Even with this little painting I used almost a whole box of them!
     
  4. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    it's lovely, now ! :)
     
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  5. pearlsnblume

    pearlsnblume Well-Known Member

    Very well done.
     
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  6. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    AHHHH! THE ALMIGHTY SPIT!!!:happy::happy::happy::happy: WOW!!!! BEAUTIFUL JOB, @Marie Forjan!!:singing::singing::singing:

    @moreotherstuff, I think you need to get a small (??) jar and save it....might take several 'saves'.....but I'm sure it would be worth it!!! If you do it, hoping you too would take photos before and after to show us!!!???
     
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  7. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    :woot:What a great result! Kudos, it is lovely:)
     
    reader likes this.
  8. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    The problem with this is that once you have started, you are committed. Stopping halfway is not an option. The painting I have is 20" by 24". That's a big commitment of time and effort (and spit).
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2021
  9. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    I have this painting, which is tiny: 3 1/2" by 5 1/2".
    z.jpg

    It came from an aunt who was a heavy smoker. I tried giving it a spit cleaning and a lot of grime came off (I hope that's all), but overall, the result was disappointing. The problem here is that the painting has very vigorous brushwork, a lot of impasto, but a cotton swab doesn't reach down into that brushwork, it just glosses over the top. Now I don't know what to do.
    zz.JPG

    I have a feeling that if it were properly cleaned, it would really pop.
     
  10. Marie Forjan

    Marie Forjan Well-Known Member

    Maybe try spit and a very, very soft toothbrush to get into the folds of paint? Of course, only if the paint is in no way loose on the canvas!
     
  11. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    Tried a paint brush. Didn't work.
     
    reader likes this.
  12. Lark

    Lark Well-Known Member

    just saw the spit trick on Repair Shop show. Want to try it on my mom's portrait. She use to spit on a kleenex to clean my face , I think it only fitting.
     
  13. Marie Forjan

    Marie Forjan Well-Known Member

    OMG! That made me smile :)
     
  14. TheAmateurGuy

    TheAmateurGuy New Member

    Marie, may I ask you a stupid question? If you spit clean a painting, do you need to re-apply varnish afterwards?
     
  15. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    I've had a great time watching YouTube videos by Baumgartner Restoration, a professional restorer (and I suspect extremely high-priced).
    His methods are tailored to the facts of each project; doing tests to see what kind of dirt there is, what kind of varnish, and then uses reversible conservation methods.
    But generally, he would clean, using water or similar cleaning agent that would not affect the paint; then he would remove the varnish with whatever is appropriate (because varnish, especially old varnish, darkens over time).
    But Baumgartner would have tested before proceeding; so he'd know if there was old varnish present or not; and would know what kind of varnish it was, so he'd know how to remove it without affecting the paint beneath the varnish.
    Then do any necessary repair or retouching (again, using reversible methods); then would apply a new layer of varnish.
    He has some tricks to get an appropriate finish to the new varnish, such as brushing or spraying on, then often brushes again when it is partly dry to produce a more matte and less glossy varnish finish; if that is appropriate to the painting in question.
    It is fascinating to watch him work, seeing how good he is at what he does; and frightening to think how much he probably charges for his services.
    I highly recommend those videos, and I'm not particularly interested in restoration - but it is fascinating to see.
    Based on what I've seen, I would NOT reapply varnish if the only thing done was spit-cleaning; because spit-cleaning alone would not remove the old varnish, and you'd just end up with a layer of new varnish on top of the old.
    And if I did apply varnish, I'd note that today there are non-yellowing, UV resistant and reversible varnishes available.
     
  16. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    I might mention that Baumgartner might use the spit method or something similar when cleaning; but often rather than Q-tips, he will wind cotton balls or cotton puffs around a small stick to make something similar to a Q-tip; but that lets him adjust the size and softness of the cleaning swab.
    That method might help tailor the cleaning swab to the amount of impasto, MOS.
    He sometimes uses a product called gelled water which also may penetrate impasto better than plain water.
    You might try checking out some of his videos - he has dozens, if not hundreds - to see how he cleans when there is heavy impasto.
     
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  17. TheAmateurGuy

    TheAmateurGuy New Member

    Thank you very much for your reply. Since I have zero knowledge the elaboration was particularly much appreciated. I'll check out this Baumgartner fellow.

    I got a cheap dirty painting for 5$ at the thrift store today, but it has smokers stain on it. A good opportunity to give it a try.
     
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  18. Marie Forjan

    Marie Forjan Well-Known Member

    Hi @TheAmateurGuy , yes, I knew spit would not dissolve varnish so no need to revarnish.

    My little painting was $30 and way not important, so it was a test for me to try cleaning. I think smoke was a big part of the dirt on mine.

    Make sure to take before and after pictures of your $5 painting, we'd all love to see them :)
     
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  19. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    I've watched quite a few of the Baumgartner videos. There are some less than enthusiastic views of his techniques out there as well. They are fun to watch. I have not seen him work on a piece with heavy impasto. I also wonder how he would handle a piece with a multitude of fine glazes.

    There was a story years ago about a restoration of a Van Gogh. It was a proper and thorough cleaning, but the picture didn't look "right" when it was done. A specialist went in and added tinted varnish to the deepest recesses in the impasto, and that was estimated to have added significantly to the value. People have expectations when looking at old art.

    It always surprises me, in art museums, the way all those old masterpieces look to be in immaculate condition, but the truth is that they've all had tons of work done on them over time.
     
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  20. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    You did good, Marie; the difference in your painting before and after is amazing.
     
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