Sunday, August 21, 2016

Evaluating Oil Painting Restoration MI Conservators Have In Mind

By Donna Wilson


Most of us are not lucky enough to pick up an old picture at a rummage sale or flea market only to find out later that it is a rare and valuable work of art. Many people do have at least one old painting in their attic or basement that some long lost relative bought somewhere. It may not be in very good shape, and any value it has is unknown. You might really like the picture though and be interested in finding out more about it. If it turns out to be worth something, oil painting restoration MI professionals can help you make it new again.

A local art gallery or antiques dealer could probably give you a sense of the piece's worth. If they feel you have something interesting, contacting an art appraiser should be your next step. For a fee, he or she will assess the painting and give you an estimated valuation.

If your painting is dirty, torn or damaged, the appraiser might give you the name of a conservator that he or she knows or suggest that you get in touch with a museum that can recommend restorers for you to contact. You should never expect to hold the museum accountable for the experience you have with someone they suggest. It is up to you to do the research necessary and get several opinions, if necessary, before you proceed.

Professional restorers have a specific educational background and get extensive training before they begin their careers. You should feel comfortable that you are working with a person who has deep knowledge of art history and materials artist's have used over the years. They should also have the equipment necessary to access your property such as x-rays and infrared lights.

Oil paintings are not protected by glass the way pictures created in other mediums like watercolor are. As such, even the most carefully handled works get dusty and dirty. They must be cleaned periodically. If your piece only needs cleaning up and minor mending, the job should not take long. Artwork that has been damaged by fire or water, or pieces with large areas of missing paint require time and research to repair.

You may decide the evaluation and repair suggestions you get from the restorer is not financially feasible. There may be ways however, to fix some of the problems to make it much more attractive and still stay within your budget. Even though it is not completely restored, the value should increase with the partial work done. You might be very satisfied with outcome.

If you do decide to proceed and end up with a major art piece that would be of interest to a gallery, an antique auctioneer, or a collector, you will have to weigh the pros and cons of keeping it in the family or selling it. Most artwork appreciates over time, so you may decide to hold on to it for a while.

All lot of people really enjoy beautiful and unusual works of art. By restoring a family heirloom, you will be giving future generations a wonderful gift they can delight in for many years to come.




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