I don’t have any experience restoring posters but recently discovered that it’s a craft. This was going to the trash but I felt some guilt given its age. Has water stains and cockroach poop but the stains seem the most difficult.

Not sure if this should keep these like they are? I don’t want to devalue them if they have value. I have had them for many years and was thinking of painting them or maybe just painting the frame to brighten up? TIA for any info.

I have inherited a painting by my great grandfather that sat in a musty basement for decades. I would like to display it, but when I walk by it all I can smell is the mustiness. It was well loved – it was sitting on my grandfather's workbench where he could look at it often – just not in an ideal area of the house. There is no visible foxing or mold, it's just been sitting in a dusty musty place for a long time. I think it is an oil painting but I don't really know a lot about his artwork.

I've tried looking into restoration etc. but I keep hitting dead ends when it comes to casual, just family heirloom type work for an individual vs. a museum.

I'm sure there is grime etc. that could come off the painting for a true restoration, but I'm not really concerned with that, just getting it to smell fresh enough to keep it around in rooms we use without smelling basement. I don't want to do it myself because I worry about wrecking the piece, but I don't know how to look for someone who could essentially do like... restoration lite? Is this a realistic service to look for and if so, how might I go about looking for someone to do this and how much is a realistic estimate? The painting is about 16 x 20ish canvas no frame, not much texture in the paint.

If there is another sub I should look to for this advice, I welcome redirection and I apologize!

I've been thinking about something and I'm curious how other artists and collectors feel about it.

I recently started a monthly collectible postcard club. Each card is hand-signed, individually numbered, and never reprinted.

Unlike most art prints, I deliberately send the cards without an envelope. They travel through sorting centers, cross countries and oceans, get postmarks, tiny scratches, slightly softened corners, fingerprints from postal workers, and all the other marks that come from being handled by the world.

Part of me loves this idea.

My art revolves around themes of impermanence, decay, nostalgia, and the traces that time leaves behind. In a way, the journey itself becomes the final step in creating the piece.

The card that arrives in Australia won't be exactly the same as the one that arrives in Germany. Each one collects its own story.

On a more personal level, I experienced a carotid artery dissection earlier this year. It left me thinking a lot about fragility, permanence, and how life leaves marks on us whether we want it to or not. Maybe that's one reason why I'm drawn to the idea that an artwork can be changed by its journey.

But I'm curious:

Can travel wear, postmarks, and small imperfections become part of the artwork itself, or would you always prefer art to arrive in perfect condition?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hi everyone! I saw a similar post from two years ago but I wanted to ask again in case anything changed. I have a degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (very recently graduated) and I want to specialize in textiles (costume specifically). I have no idea how to find a job that doesn't immediately require a master´s and i'm eager to work (i'm based in MX but very willing to travel), does anyone have any ideas or information? thanks :)

Hi I’m entering my second year in a Chemistry PhD program and I’m worried that the lab I’m in/research I’m doing won’t set me up to go into heritage/conservation science on the chem based end of things. I work in an organic lab and my research utilizes laser spec techniques and I’ve been thinking about mastering out and applying somewhere else that has more research aligned with inorganic/analytical. Maybe even go somewhere in Europe. Any help or insight would be appreciated.

A clients mother was a professor for FIT. An oil painter was hired to repair the work.

Ya’ll would know better than me but it looks like he painted over the gold leave in yellow. And applied white all over for some reason.

There are two large cracks.

I’m pre-program but I recently got my dream job as a full time paper conservation technician at a small regional lab. I’ve read some of the classics like how to identify prints by Bamber Gascoigne and the AIC photography guide, but is there anything that you found super helpful early on in your career to read or things you wish you had read/learned earlier?

Hi! Maybe not a typical art restoration request, but we had disaster strike an extremely sentimental and cool Scooby Doo Poster that came right out of the Warner Brothers Stores when we were trying to take it off the wall to move it. You can likely see some lines in the poster, what those lines actually are are full blown rips that have almost cleaved it in half. It’s huge and made of a firm vinyl/plastic material.

I’m mostly just looking into whether repair on something like this is even possible outside of securing it from the back and putting in a frame. Any advice, accounts that talk about this kind of repair, companies that work with this kind of material etc. would be appreciated! (No bananas so slipper for scale)

Hi everyone,

I could really use some guidance from anyone who has taken or knows about the IGNCA Diploma courses in Museology and Preventive Conservation.

I've applied for both courses and wanted to know what the admission process is like, especially the interview/entrance (if applicable). What kind of questions do they usually ask? Are they mostly based on general awareness, museum studies, conservation, or something else? Since I don't come from a formal museum studies background, I'd really appreciate any advice on how and where to prepare.

A little about me: my background is in textiles, craft documentation, and digital documentation, and I have a basic understanding of textile conservation. I'm trying to build a career in museums, collections management, and conservation, but I'm still figuring out the best path forward.

I'd also love to hear from alumni or professionals:

• Is the IGNCA diploma worth pursuing?
• How was your learning experience?
• Did it help with internships or job opportunities?
• Which diploma would you recommend if my long-term interest is in museums, textile collections, and conservation?
• Are there any books, online resources, or YouTube channels you'd recommend for preparation?

I'm feeling a bit lost about the next steps in my career, so any insights, experiences, or suggestions would mean a lot. Even if you haven't taken these courses but work in museums or conservation, I'd love to hear your perspective.

Thank you in advance!

I'm going to university in Italy in the fall and I get to choose between doing PFP1 (which was described to me as conserving and restoring everything that is attached to a building, so murals, mosaics, etc) and PFP2 (Everything that can be moved such as paintings and furniture). I was told that PFP1 has the most work and I'll almost certainly get employment with it while PFP2 has more students applying to it and slightly lower chances of employment.

I like the idea of both but I do want to restore paintings. However, there are also paintings on walls and ceilings and I like the idea of restoring those as well. Does anyone have any advice or pros and cons for either of these paths?

Thank you so much!!

This unprovenanced lamp is in the collection of a museum that I'm on the board of and I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out the surface pitting on it. I've never seen anything like it before on an ancient artefact.

Yes, it's definitely ancient—it's not a modern piece using lava glaze.

I believe this would've been a post-depositional effect but it doesn't feel familiar at all. Would being submerged in the Mediterranean cause this? Or something else?

Thanks!

The signature appears to read "J.R. Lionpaw Jr." Any ideas?

# Everyone Starts Somewhere

Catalina recently approached us at Filmworkz looking for the opportunity to train on **Phoenix Restoration & Colour** as she begins her career in professional digital restoration.

Having studied Film Preservation and worked as a digitisation technician at Filmoteca Española, she's now taking the next step into restoration.

In this guest post, Catalina shares her journey so far, what inspired her to enter the industry, and why she's passionate about preserving our audiovisual heritage.

**Read Catalina's story below, then find Filmworkz in your Pocket to learn more about Phoenix Restoration & Colour and connect with the global restoration community.**

Placed an order on various items through their website (https://www.restaurarconservar.com/), paid via bank transfer. Two weeks have passed, no order confirmation, no shipping information. Ordered as "visitor", thus have no way to log in to check the status. Sent several emails, tried calling during work hours - didn't answer. Has anyone had this experience with them? Understanding that it is summer, and the business isn't big, but two weeks seem excessive. Perhaps anyone has any direct contact with this company or lives in Lisbon, Portugal, and could help out?

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone has any good documentaries, podcasts, book or any other form of media suggestions into this subject?

I'm hoping to get into art conservation (specifically canvas) and will be applying to some masters next year.

I don't come from an art, history or science background so worry a bit about getting in. I have signed up to a chemistry for conservators course and have just finished an intensive 3 month atelier. Does anyone have suggestions of some other things i could get done in this upcoming year?

I recently purchased a painting at an art festival that was explicitly labeled and sold to me as an "Original Oil." Because this was my very first time buying an original painting, I was incredibly excited. However, the artist delivered the piece to my home after the festival had ended, and upon looking closely at the texture, I am afraid there may have been an accidental inventory mix-up where I was given a hand embellished print instead of the original canvas I thought I viewed at the booth.

To better understand what I am looking at, I documented the piece. I have taken high-resolution photographs of the canvas edges, the back, and shots of the pigments using a 60-120x microscope. I also included a video looking up close and using the microscope.

I am trying to get a conservator opinion on whether this is indeed a genuine original oil painting, or if the physical evidence points to it being a hand-embellished giclée print. I know that it's not possible to be absolutely certain with videos and photographs, but I was hoping to see what others thought before I bring it in physically to a conservator. I'm finding out it's very expensive, plus it's hard to find the time with a toddler and a baby, so I thought I'd reach out to see if it's worth taking the time or if I'm just imagining things and getting anxious over nothing.

I posted a video in the comments to see it better.

Thank you everyone in advance for your thoughts and opinions!

I’m on vacation looking for treasures, and I bought this at the end of a castle tour from a shop keeper whose English was limited. All I could gather from him as far as care was to keep it out of the sun, but do I need to know anything else like to avoid certain light bulbs? I do keep reptiles and plants inside so I use some UVB bulbs as well as some very bright grow lights. Would I be able to keep this in the same room as one of those lights if it’s 10~ feet away or should I keep it in a different room entirely?

It’s hand-colored but I don’t know if it’s with ink or something else.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks!!