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querying the hive mind
Ideas for repairing torn/damaged watercolour paper?
My sister gave me a thrift shop print of geese that was mounted on a faded mat board and the frame didn't go with my décor. I tried to take the print off the mat board in order to remount and reframe it, and in the process I damaged the print in one place and tore it in another. I could crop the image, but it would look odd and it would mean sacrificing the handwritten title, artist's signature, and print number and date. Does anyone have any tips for repairing damaged or torn watercolour paper?
posted by orange swan on May 08, 2024 at 3:52 PM
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i used to work at an art store with a framing shop, and they would repair things like this all the time. i would take it there and see what suggestions they have, because they would know the best ways to repair it with materials that won't harm the piece further.
posted by koroshiya at 4:49 PM
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Needs professional help it sounds like...Yes, take to framing store.
posted by Czjewel at 5:40 PM
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With your background in fabrics and creative construction, I think you would enjoy repairing this print as a project. This is just my recommendation from looking at the images quickly on your account:
Take a wooden clay working tool or bone tool from bookbinding and smooth the front fibers down flat as much as possible. Take a flat surface like plexiglass and fix the image face down so it doesn't move; I would fix it at the corners. On the reverse, take some Japanese book repair paper or very sheer silk and cut a patch for the reverse side where it is torn. Apply some bookbinding glue to the patch and to the reverse side in very thin applications to minimize water absorption by the paper. Burnish the patch lightly to fix the patch to the reverse. Set some heavy book on the image face down to allow the glue to set and dry; put a sheet of parchment paper between the surfaces to protect the image from unwanted adhesions.
You could probably find additional ideas and recommendations on a bookbinding site. I hope this is helpful.
posted by effluvia at 5:48 PM
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The best choice is to take it to a framing store. But if I was determined to do this myself, and I probably would be, I would buy some of this mounting board with the adhesive already on it.
I would take a cool iron and press the back side of the damaged areas -- lightly, so so so lightly -- to smooth them out. Use whatever the lowest setting on your iron is, with no steam.
I would then let it cool, and put washi tape on the FRONT over the torn part to hold the pieces together. This is temporary.
Then I would find a big paper roll, like maybe the kind that gift wrap is on, and I would roll the print around it, with the inside facing in.
Then, and only then, I'd remove the cover and expose the adhesive on the mounting board, and I would so so so slowly match the edges of the print to the board and so so so slowly unroll it without pressing it down. When I got to the ripped part, I would go even slower to make sure all the pieces were in alignment as they unrolled. You will only get one shot at this, so be super careful. you will have to live with whatever the result is.
Then I would work out any air bubbles, if there are any, and then I'd remove the washi tape.
But really, you should take it to a frame shop.
posted by OrangeDisk at 5:57 PM
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I uh don't mind the imperfection of it. I have a piece of art that my grandma gave me. It has a big whitish off-color spot where she scrubbed out the crayon I creatively added when I was 5. No harm in fixing it but also no harm in enjoying the added character of imperfection.
posted by RoadScholar at 6:02 PM
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I've always found paper conservation to be a lot of bang for the buck - it's surprisingly affordable and a good paper conservator can do amazing things to restore damage.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 7:26 PM
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