TREASURE DETECTIVES AUTHENTICATION OF STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN UTILIZED THE UV BLACK LIGHT - Learn more

LAST NIGHT’S EPISODE OF TREASURE DETECTIVES ON CNBC DEALT WITH THE AUTHENTICATION OF A STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN AND ONE OF THE “TESTS” OR METHODS OF EXAMINATION UTILIZED THE UV BLACK LIGHT.

The UV light is a standard method of inspection (or should be!) among vintage painting collectors and art conservators to help see invisible clues in the surface varnish layers. It’s interesting though that most painting collectors mistakenly consider the UV black light a simple method to understand/read. Perhaps that’s because a black light is commonly available to anyone for a reasonable price while other methods of analysis are more expensive and require more expert knowledge. In other words, there is MUCH more to see than just some purple spots that may be retouching.

 

 Here is what I hope is a good review of the use of a UV black light for looking at antique paintings. (Click on the link/colored words) However, a UV light is VERY useful for looking at and inspecting all antiques and collectibles…. I hear they are also useful for seeing scorpions in the dark.

Here is the link to this complete article at Tips for Art Collectors. Generally, thumbs up to Treasure Detectives for making a technical show entertaining. I’m a fan and stay tuned… I’m also in an upcoming episode!

Questions? Call Scott M. Haskins, art conservator at 805 564 34387

Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate at 805 895 5121

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Fake Art... I inspected 3 of them today before noon!

Treasure Detectives TV program is on CNBC tonight... this is the second episode in this new season pilot... should be fun to watch.  We deal with the problem of fake art all the time: Today in the lab, I had to "debunk" or pass a verdict of "FAKE!" on three paintings... all before noon! One was supposed to be by Matisse, one by Franz Bischoff and another by Maynard Dixon. My gosh they were horrible. The lady had bought them after she did research in the internet.

Sold on Ebay as a real painting, turns out that it was a print

Not only don't people know what they are buying but they don't know what they are selling. Ebay is awash with bogus art. Of course, I'm giving some of these people the benefit of the doubt and I'm saying they're just idiots and not fraudulent.

I could write volumes on fake paintings that have passed my way. Some of the stories are great. One of the techniques I use to examine the condition of art is ultraviolet light. Do you know how to use a black light when inspecting paintings? Here's a quick video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeR8_u5qSJM

Questions? Call Scott M. Haskins at 805 564 3438
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Treasure Detectives on CNBC was fun tonight!

Check out Treasure Detectives on CNBC. The show this evening was fun stuff: https://www.facebook.com/TreasureDetectives

Did I tell you that they will be doing an episode with me evaluating art with Curtis (the host) with infrared? They saw my short video and "had to have me." Here's my short vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxOqa-Aa9Nk

Gorgeous Painting by William Kendall - Short Video

Nice short video about the art conservation - painting restoration of a gorgeous painting by William Sargent Kendall for the Springville Museum of Art by Fine Art Conservation Laboratories - Scott M. Haskins. Rita Wright, Director invites you to see the museum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx_pt3P3_yw

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

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Flaking on Paintings 3 good tips for art collectors

by Eleanor Nelson, Guest Blogger

Flaking paint may start in quantities too small to see. In this way it can be a problem that is easy to miss, and exacerbate. The natural (even well-intentioned) urge to clean a painting tends, unfortunately, to manifest in wiping the surface down. This should never be done, whether the cloth used is wet or dry. A damp cloth can cause canvas to expand and contract which leads to further flaking and result in damage rather quickly.

Even a dry cloth, however, can do damage. Areas of flaking that only a trained conservator would spot may only need the encouragement of a sweep of a rag to begin dropping away. If you see flaking, it is best to not touch the affected area at all. When a problem arises, there can be enormous temptation to use our hands to try and solve it – even seasoned art experts can be guilty of touching paintings they know will flake. Each bit of flaking increases the time – and money - that will have to be spent on the project. The more that can be preserved, the better the chances are that the painting’s value will not drop too much.

Unfortunately, people may think they are being extra helpful by using cleaning solutions or solvents to clean a grubby painting. Never do this! Leave it to the professionals! Conservators train long and hard to learn the extremely complicated processes of cleaning works with solvents and even with training each piece requires the meticulous use of very small quantities of these powerful chemicals. Someone without training could damage a painting and impact its value very quickly indeed.

Finally, if you have noticed cracking or flaking, check to see if the piece is being exposed to a heat source like heating vents… even fireplaces, which aren’t used very much for heating these days but are still favorite places to hang paintings, are a less-obvious threat and so could feasibly cause more damage over time.

If you have found us because a similar situation has already happened, don’t despair. The good news is that the below references are trained professionals and the purpose of their job is, more often than not, erasing life’s mistakes large and small.

For a news article featuring Scott M. Haskins, art conservator, Click here: http://www.fineartconservationlab.com/media-room/art-restorerconservator-scott-m-haskins-featured-in-life-section-of-newspaper/

For art conservation and painting restoration questions call Scott M. Haskins 805 564 3438 or faclartdoc@gmail.com

For art appraisal questions call Richard Holgate at 805 895 5121 or jrholgate@yahoo.com

See short videos by Scott M. Haskins on art conservation related subjects at YouTube channel “Bestartdoc” http://www.youtube.com/user/bestartdoc?feature=mhee

See short do-it-yourself videos on collection care and emergency preparedness for art collectors, family history items, heirlooms, memorabilia at Youtube Channel “preservationcoach” http://www.youtube.com/user/preservationcoach

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Art collector's Survey - even if you are not "all that."

A student is writing a thesis in England that would like art collectors to fill out a survey. So I thought I'd help her spread the word around. I did it and it seemed harmless. Even if you are not a sophisticated collector of expensive art, I'm sure she would still like to hear from you. Its an anonymous type of survey. Fill it out! She posted the request on my Facebook page Tips For Art Collectors. http://www.facebook.com/TipsforArtCollectors/posts/128868110618623?ref=notif&notif_t=share_wall_create

Questions about art conservation and how it influences collecting? Call Art conservator Scott Haskins at 805 56 3438

Questions about art appraisals? Call International Appraiser Richard Holgate at 805 895 5121

While you are at Tips For Art Collectors, "friend us"!

Ciao.

Painting Restoration on Artist's Wife and Daughters by William Sargent Kendall 1906

We just finished working on a gorgeous picture by William Sargent Kendall of his wife and two daughters painted in 1906. It belongs to the Springville Museum of Art and we'll be taking it back to them in two weeks. We'll be sad. It so beautiful and we love looking at it in the lab. 

This article about the artwork and its art conservation treatments was written by FACL paintings conservator Oriana Montemurro: http://www.fineartconservationlab.com/in-lab/william-sargent-kendall’s-“the-artist’s-wife-and-daughters”-in-the-lab-for-art-conservation-treatments/

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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