Repairing a rip in artist's canvas is detailed but not complicated.
Art canvas can be expensive, especially for beginning artists, so when it gets damaged it can be a real setback. Art canvas gets torn when it is stretched on a frame and something falls against it. It is even more brittle when it has been painted on it. If the painting is valuable, the best way to preserve that value is to take it to a professional. However, if the canvas hasn't been painted on, or if a professional restoration is out of your price range, art canvas can be repaired with little to no expense.
Instructions
1. Gather your materials. It is important that you use archival quality glue. Animal glues can yellow over time and destroy the look of the painting and PVA emulsions are not water soluble when dried. The best types of glue to use are wheat paste, rice paste or methylcellulose.
2. If you don't have this kind of glue, you can make some at home.To make wheat paste, heat one cup of water to near boiling. As it heats, mix three tablespoons of white flour with enough cold water to make the mixture pourable. Stirring constantly, pour this substance into the hot water and bring it all to a boil until it thickens into paste. The Solar Cooking Archive recommends adding one tablespoon of sugar to the mixture at this point to increase the strength of the glue. Allow the mixture to cool before applying.
3. Using one of your small brushes, spread some glue on the canvas scrap and gently press the canvas scrap to the back of the art canvas behind the tear. It should completely cover the tear.
4. Turn the canvas over and support the area of the patch using a book that is the same width as the width of the frame. In other words, the art canvas should be resting flat on the work surface with the paint side up and the book should be underneath the canvas at the place where the patch is, without stretching the canvas or allowing it to droop. It is important to support the patched area during repairs to avoid causing further damage.
5. Make sure that the torn edges of the canvas have been brought together properly and that any loose or frayed ends are in contact with the glue. You can press loose threads into the glue using the handle end of your brush. Use another brush to make sure there isn't any excess glue built up on the front side. Place another book on top of the patched area as a weight and allow the glue to dry.
6. Remove the books from the canvas after the glue has dried and inspect the front side of the canvas. Look for any loose threads or anything poking out at the front. Use the manicure scissors to trim these threads.
