How Long Can I Delay Flaking Paint Repair on an
Oil Painting?
If you own a valuable art collection, the idea of damage and age-related wear can feel
disheartening. In some respects, the concept of art restoration can feel akin to the Ship
of Theseus thought experiment. If the original canvas, frame, and paints have been
replaced, is the artwork truly still the original work of a master?
Art enthusiasts can debate this, but they’ll likely all come to the same conclusion
surrounding flaking paint repair on oil paintings – this is a concern that must be
addressed sooner rather than later. Flaking paint is not a design feature or badge of
honour that shows that a painting is suitably aged. It’s a significant issue that a
professional art restorer should resolve.
Flaking paint repair on oil painting can become necessary for many reasons.
Sometimes, this arises from water damage or impact on the canvas. Spot cleaning of
the painting, especially if handled indelicately or without appropriate materials, can
often result in flaking. On just as many occasions, flaking paint repair on oil paintings is
no fault of an owner or anybody who has come into contact with the art. Instead, it’s
simply a matter of age.
Older canvases tend to become increasingly brittle, which can cause paint to rise to the
surface and flake. Equally, old-fashioned or inappropriate materials may have been used
when creating the initial work of art. While we often consider flaking paint repair on oil
paintings a concern for classic collectors that relish works of the Old Masters, more
recent creations that still utilise oil paints can be just as susceptible.
If you’re keen to assess a flaking paint repair on oil paintings in your collection, take your
art to a registered, professional art restorer as soon as you notice the problem. London’s
Simon Gillespie is one of the most celebrated providers of such services. Do not sit on
flaking paint, hoping a solution organically presents itself. The longer the problem
persists, the more layers of colour will be lost – and more work will face the art restorer
charged with flaking paint repair on your oil painting.
Typically, the paint will be replaced by an art restorer with a steady hand, and the canvas
repaired and restored as necessary. Flaking paint repair on oil paintings should only be
attempted by professionals and taken seriously as a hazard that impacts the aesthetics
of an art collection. The sooner this problem is attended to, the greater the chance the
painting will look as good as new.
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