Restoration/Conservation Arts Studio
The expertise of Eclectic Art & Objects Gallery's Restoration/Conservation Arts Studio is put to practice the moment we are presented with a painting in need of repair...The first step is to identify the cause of the damage and through careful analysis, determine the proper treatment and specific materials required to bring the painting back to its original line, color, texture, and brush.
Our goal
Once we have examined the painting and determined a restoration plan, we select a small area on the face of the canvas to test the various emulsion cleaning formulations and strengths. If deep cleaning is warranted , we also test various varnish removal agents to determine the age and type of varnish or other sealer that may have been used... and determine the appropriate solvent and strength to facilitate the removal of varnish without damaging the painted surface. The goal is always to return each painting back to its intended original condition. |
Spot tests are performed to evaluate emulsion cleaning
solutions and varnish removers |
The proper emulsion cleaning formulation will assure a clean surface without paint loss.
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Once the painting has been cleaned and stripped of dirt and varnish, holes or tears in the canvas are sealed on the face of the canvas. Now, the delicate task of repairing holes, tears, and other canvas/support imperfections is undertaken...Once all repairs have been made to the unpainted reverse side, we return to complete the restoration on the paint side of the canvas.
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Tears & holes in the canvas were sealed in place with tape before repairs were made on the reverse side of the support
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Matching color, brush strokes, special effects and missing painted detail, is perhaps the most important part of the restoration process and requires the eye of an experienced artist to identify and painstakingly recreate the original color palette that the artist likely used when executing the original work. Oil paint is rarely applied to a composition in a raw, solid color. As a matter of fact, it is part of the painters dance to mix and borrow color from around the palette in order to unify the painting with hints of borrowed color that are generally not consciously perceived by the naked eye. It is the very magic and life that is inherent in great works of art.
Restoration Services Include:
Restoration Services Include:
The Difference
by Robert Keller
by Robert Keller
After over twenty years of restoring old oil paintings, the restoration team at Eclectic Art & Objects Gallery has cleaned and restored over a thousand oil paintings in various stages of disrepair due to what I call the "art enemies" that include: dirt/smoke, water/moisture, sun/UV exposure, dry rot, cold/freezing, physical trauma/tears, and worst of all the destructive practices of past restoration/conservation efforts. Over fifty percent of the paintings that we restore back to their original intended condition were initially improperly restored...most often within the past decade.
It appears that they fell victim to the hands of inexperienced and/or misguided restoration/conservation technicians and crafts persons who may lack basic artistic TALENT and skills, misplaced trust in voodoo TECHNOLOGY, and seat of the pants restorative oil painting TECHNIQUES. After twenty odd years of fixing the restoration disasters of others, I boiled this highly secretive and often misunderstood craft down to three non-negotiable pre-qualification realities for successful restoration outcomes... "The Three "T"s": Talent...Technology...Technique...
It appears that they fell victim to the hands of inexperienced and/or misguided restoration/conservation technicians and crafts persons who may lack basic artistic TALENT and skills, misplaced trust in voodoo TECHNOLOGY, and seat of the pants restorative oil painting TECHNIQUES. After twenty odd years of fixing the restoration disasters of others, I boiled this highly secretive and often misunderstood craft down to three non-negotiable pre-qualification realities for successful restoration outcomes... "The Three "T"s": Talent...Technology...Technique...
Talent
Oil paintings are like fingerprints and are unique to each individual artist. Therefore, there can be no single solution to achieving a successful restoration of "one of a kind" creative work of art. It is only through the hand of an experienced painter that the various effects and nuances of oil paint applied to canvas can be duplicated and/or rediscovered.
Artistic Talent is the main driver to assuring that a damaged painting with missing paint, tears, holes, and/or professional malpractice through poor color match and a failure to faithfully reproduce the brush, palette and spirit of the original artist's style.
In one case, the artist used feathers, toothbrushes, an old torn license plate and other found objects to accomplish his intended effects. But when the painting came in to ourrepair a large tear it was necessary to research the artist's technique, rediscover the tools that were used to execute the original effect and practice until the repair was indistinguishable from the undamaged portions of the composition. |
Technology
Todays conservators have dissected the process of cleaning paintings via nano technology that relies on electron microscopes, and dead animals to perform impact testing on various emulsions and cleaning agents and their effects on the environment and the safety of restoration /conservation technologists.
This new focus on issues that do not effect the quality of the restoration/conservation process is mainly the concern of the conservation industry not the owners of damaged paintings. So don't be concerned with your newly restored oil painting causing deleterious health hazards to you and your families due to a particular brand or type of chemistry used to clean your dirty painting. What you do need to be cautious of is the restoration specialist who uses warm soapy water, Amway cleaning sprays and other environmentally correct cleaning agents for do-it-yourself cleaning solutions that will likely destroy your treasured oil painting. (This is not a joke!)
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Technique
Techniques in Lining and relining of oil paintings is an age old art that when properly executed using traditional canvas and melted beeswax can bring new life and longevity to an oil painting. Conversely, improper lining, relining, or even remounting of an oil painting on wood, Masonite, plastic or other non-canvas support can essentially ruin the value and esthetic of the painting. Remember, it was the artist who chose the appropriate support for their paintings not the conservator/restoration artist.
Over the years I have seen a wide gamut of seat of the pants short cuts, and outright malpractice in lining/relining techniques.. and the repair of holes and tears in canvas supports are among the worst...i.e. Tire patches, toothpaste, band aides, duct tape, plaster, and gorilla glue are just a few of the "quick and dirty techniques employed to mend canvas tears/holes...sagging canvas, etc.
Lining oil paintings patching tears and holes canvas restoration |
Client Comments:
* Surnames omitted for privacy considerations
* Surnames omitted for privacy considerations
_______________________________________ December 12, 2017 _________________________________________
"I have been using the conservation and restoration services, provided by Eclectic Art & Objects Gallery, for approximately 15 years. I normally do not provide client testimonials, but wanted to make sure my opinion gets posted on Eclectic Art & Objects Gallery's website. Bob and Sheila Keller (owners of Eclectic Art & Objects Gallery) have restored many pieces of fine art for me, including oil on canvas, oil on board, pastel, watercolor, frame repairs, etc. In all the years I have worked with Bob and Sheila, they have always been professional and strive for the same perfection that I seek for my 19th century fine art collection. Their work has been impeccable and shows that experience matters. They have been doing this type of work for many years, before I knew of them, and, in my opinion, are the best at what they do".
Gerald*
Gerald*
_______________________________________________________________________________
Gerald is an established art dealer/consultant specializing in 18th, 19th, and early 20th century
art and oil paintings for collectors in the Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, and New York City markets
Gerald is an established art dealer/consultant specializing in 18th, 19th, and early 20th century
art and oil paintings for collectors in the Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, and New York City markets
__________________________ March 20, 2018 _____________________________
"Bob Keller, restorer extraordinaire has cleaned ,relined and just generally repaired a large number of oils and other media on canvas, board and panel for me over the past 5 +years. He does an amazing job fixing frames as well as patching and gilding and making some badly mistreated paintings look like they historically did. He has also done some incredible efforts on works on paper .The best parts of his endeavors are that the paintings are so vastly improved It is nearly impossible to see any trace of his extraordinary talents. I would recommend him without hesitation".
Frank*
"Bob Keller, restorer extraordinaire has cleaned ,relined and just generally repaired a large number of oils and other media on canvas, board and panel for me over the past 5 +years. He does an amazing job fixing frames as well as patching and gilding and making some badly mistreated paintings look like they historically did. He has also done some incredible efforts on works on paper .The best parts of his endeavors are that the paintings are so vastly improved It is nearly impossible to see any trace of his extraordinary talents. I would recommend him without hesitation".
Frank*
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*Frank, has amassed one of the finest and most significant private collections
of 19th Century American art and oil paintings of our time.
*Frank, has amassed one of the finest and most significant private collections
of 19th Century American art and oil paintings of our time.
_______________________________ February 2014 _________________________________
Robert & Sheila Keller Directors,
"I would like to express to you our sincere gratitude for the beautiful restoration work that you did on the icon of St. Demetrios..
The icon/painting was in very bad condition and in need of repair. The canvas was cracked and sagging and was pulling away
from the frame, dull and faded. We came to an agreement that I should have the icon restored since it was obviously
a very old and holy icon. I went on a mission to find the appropriate restoration service that would treat the project
with not only expertise but with a certain amount of reverence and respect, since the icon is much more than a work of art in our Faith.
As a result of my research, I located a studio in Emsworth PA , the Eclectic Art Gallery. After an evaluation of the icon/painting,
they determined that the restoration would be time consuming and difficult but possible. They eventually agreed to do the work
which included utilizing their team experts and varied processes. After about a month, I heard from Robert Keller,
the restoration artist. He reported that the restoration was complete and invited me to the studio. As soon as I saw the restored icon,
I could not believe my eyes. I was more than satisfied. The result was amazing and beautiful...Truly, a miracle had taken place!"
Fr. Stelyios M. PhD*
Robert & Sheila Keller Directors,
"I would like to express to you our sincere gratitude for the beautiful restoration work that you did on the icon of St. Demetrios..
The icon/painting was in very bad condition and in need of repair. The canvas was cracked and sagging and was pulling away
from the frame, dull and faded. We came to an agreement that I should have the icon restored since it was obviously
a very old and holy icon. I went on a mission to find the appropriate restoration service that would treat the project
with not only expertise but with a certain amount of reverence and respect, since the icon is much more than a work of art in our Faith.
As a result of my research, I located a studio in Emsworth PA , the Eclectic Art Gallery. After an evaluation of the icon/painting,
they determined that the restoration would be time consuming and difficult but possible. They eventually agreed to do the work
which included utilizing their team experts and varied processes. After about a month, I heard from Robert Keller,
the restoration artist. He reported that the restoration was complete and invited me to the studio. As soon as I saw the restored icon,
I could not believe my eyes. I was more than satisfied. The result was amazing and beautiful...Truly, a miracle had taken place!"
Fr. Stelyios M. PhD*
______________________________________________________________________________
The St, Demetrios icon restoration was one of the most rewarding of the many restoration projects
we have completed over the years...The results were literally deemed "A Miracle" and the icon/painting was
permanently installed in the church entrance as a tribute to the rescued icon of St. Demetrios.
The St, Demetrios icon restoration was one of the most rewarding of the many restoration projects
we have completed over the years...The results were literally deemed "A Miracle" and the icon/painting was
permanently installed in the church entrance as a tribute to the rescued icon of St. Demetrios.
Complimentary Oil Painting Evaluation
by Appointment
412 877 2615
Visit our Pittsburgh Location at 8275 Ohio River Boulevard Pgh 15202
for a complimentary evaluation of your old and/or damaged oil paintings.
We will give you our professional assessment of the painting
and a realistic expectation of the restoration processes required, related costs, and completion date.
No deposit is necessary if you choose to leave the painting in our care.
Bob & Sheila Keller
by Appointment
412 877 2615
Visit our Pittsburgh Location at 8275 Ohio River Boulevard Pgh 15202
for a complimentary evaluation of your old and/or damaged oil paintings.
We will give you our professional assessment of the painting
and a realistic expectation of the restoration processes required, related costs, and completion date.
No deposit is necessary if you choose to leave the painting in our care.
Bob & Sheila Keller