We’ve been putting off our spring cleaning for over a month now. 

It’s not that we’re lazy….It’s only that something new pops up every time we go to tackle our to-do list.

One of the tasks we like to leave for last is assessing our decor, knick-knacks, and art. We’ve always thought that these are the little details that can totally transform a space with both the least amount of effort and the maximum bang for your buck. Keeping these items in top shape helps keep our rooms looking clean, well thought-out, and chic.

We can tell you from experience that taking care of giclee canvas art is much easier than taking care of priceless original artwork. Professional art restoration requires years of training and apprenticeship to truly master and involves repairing works of art on a microscopic level. In recent years, this incredibly specialized work has come to the forefront of people’s attention thanks to the efforts of conservator Julian Baumgartner.

The process of repairing Fine Art Canvas’s giclee canvas prints is much more simple than Baumgartner’s meticulous restoration projects. To help you get started on the process, we’ve collected a few tips and tricks to help you navigate all the repair scenarios we could think of. 

Scenario One: Warped Canvas

Since canvas is a type of fabric it is prone to stretching over time. 

While some stretching is common with canvas, your print should not look warped, puckered, or loose. 

If you start to notice any warping on your canvas print, take your print down and turn the canvas over. Take some time to carefully examine the back of the print, determining areas that may be responsible for the warping. 

With a spray bottle and some filtered water, give the back of the canvas a few good sprays until the fabric is slightly damp. Then, carefully massage the moisture further into the fibers and smooth the material out by using both hands. Once your canvas is dry it should be good as new!

Scenario Two: Dusty Canvas

As you go about doing your canvas repairs, it’s probably a good idea to knock off any dust that may have accumulated while your prints were hanging.

Dust is a natural byproduct of, well, existing, and collects on every surface of your home. Thankfully, getting rid of dust is an easy and pain-free process you can do with items you probably already own.

To clean the front of your canvas artwork, you’ll need a soft paintbrush or a lint-free microfiber cloth. We recommend using a soft but dense brush, such as a mop or lacquer brush, to help avoid unnecessary damage. 

Make sure you repeat the process regularly on the opposite side of the canvas as well, taking care to dust behind the stretcher bars and supports.

Scenario Three: Torn Canvas

It’s happened to all of us! 

Maybe you were moving and you packed your canvas away carelessly, or you set it down for a minute to find good old Rover had somehow ripped your print! 

Don’t chuck your canvas in the bin just yet; we may have a solution that’ll help repair and reinforce your print while you come up with a more permanent solution!

For this low-cost repair, you’ll need acid-free PVA glue and some scrap canvas material. We recommend heading to your local arts and crafts store for a cheap blank canvas and some school glue. 

Gently flip your canvas over to the backside and lay flat on a stable surface. Measure the tear, adding a few centimeters on all sides, and cut a matching scrap out of your spare canvas. Line up the patch with the tear to make sure it supports the area before spreading a liberal amount of glue over the area and on the patch itself. Carefully line up the patch with the tear and slowly paste them together, taking care that the front side of the canvas print lines up as accurately as possible before you pressing the patch in. Set your canvas aside for at least 24 hours, weighing down the patched area with a heavy book or paperweight so that it dries with minimal warping.

Once your prints are spick and span again, follow our tips for hanging your canvas wall art and marvel at the difference a little hard work can make in the long run!