Painters Online Logo

Login/register

Studio

Fixing a hole

Welcome to the forum.

Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.

Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.

Hang on Studio Wall
Author
Message
forum pic p.o

Peter Smith

  • Esteemed User
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 750
Posted
I've just bought a box of four canvases and two have a hole in that looks to have been punched through the box at some point. I know I could send them back but is there a way of fixing the holes so I can use them?  I use acrylic so I can put pretty thick paint over the damaged area if necessary. The holes are about 2cm long and the canvas is all there, it just folded back.  I wondered about duck tape on the back but it won't look very professional.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 24825
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 8654
Posted
Send 'em back.  If you go to YouTube you'll find many videos telling you  how to repair a torn canvas, but none of the methods is reliable.  However, if you really don't want to send them back, and you're painting in acrylic, depending on how big the hole is - 2cm isn't much - you could try robbing a small piece of canvas from the turned back area, and sticking it on the reverse side of the canvas with acrylic medium or acrylic varnish - and make very sure it's stuck.  Depending on how thickly you paint, the holes might still show, but if you can put up with that it might not matter much.   I wouldn't use duct tape; wouldn't use paint or priming either, because the medium would be stronger.  

Alan Bickley

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 11904
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4496
Posted
I’ve done restoration work in the past Peter, and I’ve glued a piece of scrap/spare canvas to the reverse to cover the offending hole or cut. Turn the canvas to the front and fill the hole with gesso on the front and let dry…  Smooth down if necessary.
forum pic p.o

Peter Smith

  • Esteemed User
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 750
Posted
Thanks for your advice chaps; I've done as you suggest and it seems to have worked pretty well, certainly enough for me to do pictures for myself if not to sell.