Restoration Services

HACKBARTS

2405 Delmar Dr.
Plano, TX 75075
972.964.3256

Restoration Services

Restoration Services:

The art of painting is today, quite simply, a lost art. Where the painter's understanding of materials and the craftsmanship involved which makes up good painting is as well understood as the images or gimmicks exhibited as today's representations of "nature" or "fine art". There was a time where a painter was a link in a chain. Beginning from a "Master's" knowledge passed down to "pupil" or "apprentice". The techniques and knowledge of materials was never forgotten, no matter what the current styles or fashions dictated. Rather it was built upon. Passed down from generation to generation, a continuous link in a never ending chain.
I have studied incessantly the techniques of western painting for the past several years, beginning with the techniques of Masaccio and Giotto through 16th & 17th century Italy, Netherlands, and Germanic countries continuing through the Pre-Raphaelite movement at the turn of this century. The materials used throughout this time span varied from painter to painter and region to region. Due to my knowledge and understanding of the techniques, methods, and materials used costs are very low in most cases. Please do not hesitate to call at any time for an estimate, as work is done on an individual basis, the needs of each client must be fully understood and respect for the painter must be strictly adhered to. So, we shall get to know one another. We shall always be clear on what the objectives are, and what must be done, as well as, the costs, of course.

General examples of work performed:

What is the second thing any experienced collector looks at in a painting. The rear of the canvas. The rear side (or verso) of a canvas is almost as important as the front. Well....perhaps not. The rear, however, is similar to the inner rings in a tree's trunk. It tells the condition, history, and age of the work. Poor restorations dramatically reduce resale value, and more importantly, can be detrimental to the work as a whole. The front of a painting (or recto), faces a great deal of stress thoughout a varied lifetime as the canvas continuously expands and contracts due to heat, moisture, etc. in the air causing cracking, as well as, the normal darkening over time due to oils and varnishes. There is, of course, also poopr initial technique due to the original artist's impatience due to "divine" inspiration or poor technique, which may cause an unnecessarily brittle canvas. All of these problems can be premanently corrected and repaired. It is quite frightful today to see the complete lack of respect and talent of modern restorers and their lack of respect for the painter, by re-painting in "their own" manner this work they were initially meant to restore. Even moreso, as most have no understanding or comprehension of the methods or mediums used by the painter of that period.
Typical problems, such as those above, incorporate poor prior restoration procedures. Such as the patching job of a hole on the left, and the unbelievably poor re-lining/paste job on the right. The patchwork job on the left can be made completely unnoticeable and repaired/relined with a proper techniques that are no longer understood or used. The canvas can be weathered according to a particular region or environment of the painting and materials are cooked and created in a scientific manner from the most basic of earthly elements. The canvas on the right must be removed and set on a new stretcher or reparation of the old one in a way to properly stretch the canvas can be done. However, it also would be interesting to see what the painting was underneath it. Many times it can be revealed. However, more often than not, it must remain a mystery.

Of course, there are many more examples I could site, however, the issues are as varied as the techniques involved in the restoration process. So, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time for an estimate, or any further information or assistance.