Paper Art Restoration

Paper Art Restorations

There are many different types of works on paper - watercolors and lithographs, pastels and drawings, maps and documents, fine art prints, and photographs. Paper artwork is particularly susceptible to the environment and can be damaged if not cared for or stored properly. This can include structural damage, such as creases, tears and punctures, aesthetic damage such as dirt, foxing, adhesives, UV exposure, high humidity, or stains from acidic environmental deterioration. Each medium requires its own specialized restoration techniques, depending upon the type of damage. In many cases of paper art damage, a digital restoration may be the most effective technique and can achieve results that are often just not possible with the original paper artwork. Read on below for some examples.

Please contact us if you have any questions, or just pick up the phone and call Anabela at Brush Strokes Fine Art (571) 594-3717 for all you paper art restoration needs.

Paper Art Restoration

This paper art restoration project was a watercolor that had damage from poor storage conditions and brown spots, called foxing.  The damage must be carefully inspected using a magnifying glass under UV light to determine its full extent. Unfortunately this watercolor had also suffered from mounting damage to cardboard with acidic glues, and over time the paper had become brittle and dry. Removing the backing took countless hours of work, including shaving the backing carefully after applying some humidity. The use of a suction table and the right solutions helped to loosen the backing. This watercolor is now proudly displayed in Annapolis, Maryland. The results can be amazing!

Digital images of the restored paper art are also provided on a DVD for the client, including the full restoration process. Additionally, photos and short videos are provided weekly during the restoration process to keep the owner up to date on the progress.

You can watch videos of many of my paper art restoration projects on my YouTube channel

This incredible hand drawing had damaged edges, tears, and missing sections, and scotch tape had left acidic and discolored areas from the adhesive. When it first arrived this drawing was rolled inwards and this made the drawing more brittle. Special methods were used to flatten and remove the tape, and to repair the tear and missing edge sections. The result is a beautifully restored piece of paper art mounted in a frame with museum glass.

Antique Map Restoration

Antiques such as this 1840's Northern United States map presented their own unique challenges. Careful flattening followed by weeks of meticulous hand work mending and cleaning the soot, dirt and grease from the face of the map with archival dry-cleaning erasers.