Art Restoration and Conservation
I carefully restore old and damaged paintings, especially portraits, to bring back their original look and details while keeping their history intact.
Pricing Guide
Surface Cleaning & Varnish Renewal
Core Cleaning Process
- Solvent Testing: Preliminary spot testing with various solvent mixtures to ensure paint stability.
- Grime Removal: Layer-by-layer removal of surface dust, soot, candle smoke, and environmental pollutants using cotton swabs.
- Old Varnish Stripping: Chemical removal of oxidized (yellow or brown) varnish layers that obscure the original color palette.
Preservation & Finishing
- Varnishing: Application of a fresh coat of non-yellowing, reversible conservation varnish (Gloss or Satin finish).
- Fungicidal Treatment: Anti-fungal wipe-down to prevent organic growth and preserve the canvas.
Service Experience
- Digital Assessment: Initial evaluation based on provided images.
- Progress Updates: Photo and video documentation of the cleaning stages.
Paint Consolidation & Crack Filling
Stabilization & Consolidation
- Paint Fixation: Injecting conservation adhesive into areas where paint is peeling or lifting to re-adhere it to the canvas.
- Flattening: Gentle heat and pressure treatment to lay down raised paint flakes.
Aesthetic Restoration
- Crack Filling: Filling deep cracks or missing paint chips with conservation-grade putty or gesso to level the surface.
- In-Painting: Precise color matching using fine brushes to retouch only the damaged areas without painting over original work.
- Detail Recovery: Reconstruction of specific features like eyes or jewelry if damaged by flaking.
Canvas Maintenance
- Canvas Tightening: Tightening the canvas on existing stretcher bars to correct sagging.
- Backing Clean: Removal of debris from the reverse side of the canvas.
Structural Canvas Repair & Lining
Structural Reconstruction
- Patching & Mending: Repairing physical tears, rips, or holes using thread-by-thread mending or canvas patches.
- Strip & Full Lining: Adhering the original brittle canvas onto a new linen or cotton support to provide long-term structural integrity.
- De-acidification: Chemical treatment to neutralize acidity in old canvases to halt rotting.
Complex Visual Reconstruction
- Large Area Recreation: Re-painting significant missing sections of the artwork to match the original style.
- Texture Matching: Recreating brushstroke textures in filled areas to blend repairs under light.
Hardware & Support
- Stretcher Bar Works: Repairing frame damage or replacing unusable stretcher bars entirely.
- Protective Backing: Installation of a board behind the canvas to prevent future rear-impact damage.
About Art Restoration and Conservation
Why I Restore Art
Art tells stories, and I see my job as bringing those faded stories back to life. Restoring old paintings isn’t just technical work to me - it’s about showing respect for history and culture. I feel the same about an old portrait as I do about traditions like yakshagana and pilivesha from Tulunadu. Preserving heritage, whether it’s a festival or a painting, matters.
What I Work On
Mostly, I focus on antique paintings, especially oil on canvas. Portraits are my thing - I get how important it is to capture someone’s true spirit, even on a work that’s torn up or discolored. Some of the art I restore is almost a hundred years old - peeling paint, big cracks, faded colors, canvas showing through - I tackle all that.
My Restoration Approach
It’s slow and careful, not some quick fix. I use reference photos, match the original artist’s style, and work one brushstroke at a time. My goal is to keep the khubsurti (beauty) and the character of the painting intact. I’ve restored paintings for places like the Indian Council of Historical Research, so I know how much trust goes into this work.
A Real Example
Recently, I brought a 1935 portrait back from the brink - paint peeling, canvas exposed, face barely visible. After restoration, the colors popped, the cracks disappeared, and the person’s expression was finally visible again.
Where I’m Based
My studio is in Mangalore (kudla) but I work with people from everywhere in India. I’m all about keeping your art safe and making sure it gets a new lease of life.
Meet your Expert
Kamils Art
481 connects in last 3 months
My Story
Art is my heartbeat, my escape, my job. Kudla is home, Tulunadu is my soul. If you’ve seen my murals, you’ve seen Yakshagana or Pilivesha dancing on walls – that’s me, painting our stories. Lost 20kgs too, gym taught me discipline. 'Be Proud, But Never satisfied' – I keep that for both my art and fitness. Not at my peak yet, something wild is always cooking.
My Work
All Kinds of Art - I do custom canvas paintings, doodle art, family portraits, and big wall murals about Mangalore culture.
Wall Murals that Stay - My murals last over 15 years. I use spray, doodle, and Mangalore mural painting styles.
Colorful Portraits - Love making couple and family paintings. Mostly acrylic or oil, a Pilivesha canvas portrait is a favorite.
Art Restoration - I restore old paintings, even from 1935. Bringing history back feels special.
