Damage to your artwork and collectibles by Bug and Rodents in Storage By Kelly Rose Almeida, Art Conservation Intern

They are everywhere, and love an environment where they can prosper. You may not be able to avoid them, but you can create an environment that helps keep them away. Many LOVE to eat your canvas and important the labels off of frames, they also love damp areas with lots of dust. Well, if you keep your storage room spick and span, these little guys will run away and find your neighbors house to settle in instead. Poisonous bait and other insecticides can be used, but don’t let them be in contact with the artwork. Remember that insect or rodent bait doesn’t last forever… you will need to replenish or replace the bait every so often. Also, make sure they are out of reach of kids and pets!!! Protect yourself  and be prepared in public storage units (even though they say they spray!)… you never know what your neighbor is storing that may be a neon welcome light to invaders.

Canvas is fabric, simple as that. Therefore, these lovely animals love to burrow into your untreated canvas for lunch and dinner, and always come back for dessert. Create an environment to prevent these critters from making your Renoir their home.

For more practical useable, real world suggestions about problems with artwork, paintings, heirlooms etc in storage, see http://tipsforfineartcollectors.org/cleaning/fighting-storage-damage-to-your-artwork-and-collectibles/

Art conservation questions? Call Fine Art Conservation Laboratories, Scott M. Haskins 805 564 3438 or faclartdoc@gmail.com

Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate at 805 895 5121 or jrholgate@yahoo.com

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Family Portraits - Do your ancestors feel your love?

What are Family Portraits worth? Some are valuable, some are important historical figures and some are only valuable to you and your family.

Here are some that have passed through our painting art conservation lab where we have given them some tender loving care.

You may find it funny that ALL OF THESE PORTRAITS are family ancestor portraits. Here's the video: http://animoto.com/play/4TyVeNlWuFOdGSiCGElGHg

All my best

Scott M. Haskins, Painting conservator

America Tropical must be Los Angeles' most famous invisible artwork

Way back in 1986 or 87, at the beginning of the "Saving Process" of the famous mural, America Tropical by David Alfaro Siqueiros in Olvera St. in downtown Los Angeles, I was asked by the Getty Conservation Institute to do the evaluation and proposal for the mural's conservation plan. I'm proud to have been part of this project. You can read ab

out the upcoming unveiling of the completed mega project in this article and I will be blogging about it in the near future as I attend receptions etc. Its very interesting so stay tuned.

David Alfaro Siqueiros' 'America Tropical' awaits new unveiling
"America Tropical" must be Los Angeles' most famous invisible artwork.:http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-siqueiros-unveiling-20120930,0,2300667.story

If you find this project interesting, a super interesting video you will want to see is on YouTube that tells of the saving of, conservation and moving of the Siqueiros mural, "Mexico Today" from the Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles to Santa Barbara... I was part of the team of art conservators and we moved the entire building with the mural! Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACRmeSkgCaA

Art conservation questions? Call Scott M. Haskins 805 564 3438
Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate 805 895 5121

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Mexican Art Master David Alfaro Siqueiros Mural "Mexico Today" Moved

In 1992 a move was afoot to move a famous mural by Mexican Master David Alfaro Siqueiros from the Palisades in Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, CA. It was a BIG deal and the final details were nothing short of an art conservation miracle. The story of the whole mural restoration project is so interesting that, if you like art,  I am sure you will want to see the 30 minute professional video. I was part of the team of painting conservation experts responsible for the saving and moving of this rare mural by one of Mexico's most famous artists of the 20th century. Leave a comment! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACRmeSkgCaA

Art conservation questions? Call Scott Haskins at 805 564 3438

Picture of Christ is renamed "Behold the Monkey!" after Restoration

So much attention has been given this inept restoration of the picture of Christ from a church in Spain! Did you miss it??!!! Well, the restoration was so bad that it has been renamed "Behold the monkey" by some very irreverent types. Here's the before and after the restoration:

But sadly, this situation is not really uncommon! In fact we have a similar example in our lab right now! Here's my blog post, comments and a photo:

http://www.fineartconservationlab.com/in-lab/“restored”-painting-of-christ-in-spain-“behold-the-monkey”/

TTYS
Scott M. Haskins

Nice Paul Lauritz Seascape for Sale - Art Collector Asks Condition Questions

A California Coastal Scene 30 x 36 by Paul Lauritz, very nice, recently came up at auction and a potential art buyer consulted with me regarding the cracking patterns (see upper left of photo). These were his questions and my answers:

1.     Are the cracks going to get worse?

2.     Do the cracks impact the value? 

3.     Can the cracks be removed with proper painting conservation treatments (lining)? 

4.     How much will lining cost? 

5.     Is the correct term “lining” or “relining”? 

6.     Can the artwork look perfect (without cracks)? 

7.     Does the artwork need to be cleaned?

8.     How much will cleaning cost?

9.     Will the art conservation treatments impact the value? 

This collector/investor was thinking of flipping this painting (quick turn around resale after purchase). So, obviously, this inquiry was all about the numbers. Would you like me to crunch numbers with you?

See the answers to these questions and an interesting discussion about value at http://goo.gl/BzvX2

 YouTube videos I’ve posted are at “bestartdoc” channel (CLICK on “bestartdoc”).

Feel free to contact me with your condition and art conservation questions: Scott M. Haskins 805 564 3438 See a short video tour of our painting conservation lab at http://www.fineartconservationlab.com

Other articles of interest to painting collectors can be found at http://www.TipsForArtCollectors.org

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Scott M. Haskins

Save Collectibles from Smoke Damage - Discover 5 Valuable Tips

I am a fine art conservator which is basically someone who specializes inpainting restoration. At present I am in Utah doing some work for the LDS Church on some very important murals, helping the International Pioneer Museum which belongs to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers with some follow up from the moth before and meeting private art collectors. I’m also consulted and considered an expert on saving collections and treasured memorabilia from disasters because of my book, How To Save Your Stuff From A Disaster. 


Here are 5 proven tips for getting help with your smoke damaged artwork, collectibles, memorabilia, antiques and heirlooms with valuable info on dealing with insurance claims. Click on this link to go to Save Your Stuff Blog: http://saveyourstuffblog.com/smoke-damage/smoke-damage-–-discover-5-valuable-tips-save-collectibles/

This painting was thought to be destroyed but cleaning brought it back to original pre-fire condition. Talk to us before you throw artwork away!

Fine Art Conservation Lab 805 564 3438

See a short video tour of our lab:

http://www.fineartconservationlab.com

Mormon LDS Idaho Falls Temple Mural Conservation Work

Idaho Falls LDS Temple

In June 2012 the temple was shut down for 3 weeks of maintenance and I was asked to go in an take care of certain issues with the murals. All went well! Some of the problems were caused by cracks in the murals caused by the 1985 earthquake that we repaired poorly afterward:

1. Cracking and flaking along previous repairs in the Creation Room

2. Cleaning issues in the Garden and World Rooms will be addressed some other time.

3. No work in Terrestrial Room

4. Water stains and aging issues in the Celestial Room

5. Cleaned murals in Baptistry and organized the maintenance protective coating of the oxen of the font.

6. Repaired flaking of paint along border of mural in landing between rooms.

We loved working with everyone at the temple. They have a great group of people taking care of the building.

For more info, go to http://mormonartconservation.org

Collectibles, artwork, memorabilia, heirlooms: Don't protect and care for them?!!!

Collectibles, memorabilia, heirlooms, scrapbooks, antiques, family history should not be protected?!!! One of my readers wrote me, "Don’t try to protect or save collectibles from an earthquake!"  Whhaaaaaaat? Here's how I answered him: http://freeearthquakeinfo.org/earthquake-proofing/don’t-prepare-to-protect-or-save-collectibles-from-an-earthquake/

Art conservation questions? Call Scott Haskins 805 564 3438

Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate 805 895 5121

Art Conservator Restores Paintings Around the World

Santa Barbara News-Press published a feature article on me and our art conservation lab last week. I was appreciative for the major coverage, photos and placement they gave! Here is the article entitled, “Art Conservator Restores Paintings in Santa Barbara and Around the World” – Art Restorer/Conservator, Scott M. Haskins, Featured in Life Section of Newspaper CLICK HERE:http://www.fineartconservationlab.com/media-room/art-restorerconservator-scott-m-haskins-featured-in-life-section-of-newspaper/
Please click on the “LIKE” button and leave a comment.
Thanks

Scott M. Haskins

The article was written by Marilyn McMahan, staffwriter of the Life Section