Who knows how to repair a torn canvas?

[Vianna Szabo]

Hi everyone
I'm not certain this is posted in the correct place, but I am in the middle of this painting and I have a huge problem. The canvas was bumped off of the easel, fell, and caught the corner of my portable working table. Now I have a nasty hole in my canvas. Is there a way to fix this so that the repair will not show? The painting is on linen which is oil primed and there are only 2 or three thin layers of paint in that area. I have not used any medium in this painting. I have included closeups of the tear and also the back of the painting. Help, please!

Vianna Szabo

[Mary Sparrow]

Now this is wierd, I was just coming to ask this exact question. My holes are slightly smaller, but look the same, and unfortunately they are both is obvious spots, I don't know if you will be able to see them with the image sized down or not.

[Vianna Szabo]

Hi Mary

Looks like we received a dose of bad canvas karma. That is a lovely painting you're working on, I hope it can be fixed. Any ideas out there?

[Mary Sparrow]

I wish I could take credit, this was painted by Gian Cassone, I ended up with a few of his portraits that he had in a closet and, well, they need a little TLC.

[Chris Saper]

HI Vianna and Mary,

I moved this thread over to Restoration, as I hope it will get more atttention there.

Vianna what a lovely piece! I'm sure there is a way to repair it, I just don't happen to know it. This is definitely one of the reasons to paint on a rigid surface.

[Vianna Szabo]

Your right Chris, This is definitely one of the reasons to paint on a rigid surface. Do you have a favorite?

Vianna