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So, in university we were conserveting this huge painting, that my classmate have goten (this painting was given her by brother of artist (unfortunately, the artist died quite a long time ago), and in his worlds was found under artist bed)

You can see in what terrible conditions this painting was... Canvas was really solid and deformed... We were joking that it s looked like palačinka (pancake, but i think that a bad translation, if you ever seen slavic one, you will see a resemblance)

So, we stared slow, and really carefully straighten this painting, you can see that at the start with really light weight and pressure, and as time went we slowly increased pressure. (Also we softened the canvas with wet clothes, which we placed under the canvas, and with the help of this moisture we made the canvas more pliable, so it can become more flat)

Then we have cleaned surfaces using the dry method (brushes and sponge). You can ask why? If you know a little bit about cleaning the surface, you know, that wet method is a lot easier.The answer lies in the paint itself, because at first we thought it was painted with oil paints (cuz of shine and smell), but as soon as we tested it with water, it turned out that paint was rubbing off!!! Then we tested it with alcohol, and again, the same thing!!!

Unfortunately, artists don't have the habit of writing on the back of a picture what kind of paint they use. In a perfect world, they would also sign the brand of paint they use... ah... Why can't artists do it...its so simple, and would save nervous of conservators :(

So, after asking the artist's brother over the phone, we learned that these are, in fact, oil paints from america, and apparently diluted with something unknown...why its diluting with water is unknown mistory...

Than we srared glueing falling pieces of the paint layer and also pieces of the three-dimensional part of this painting. Three-dimensional gusli, which are apparently made of plaster, but we are not yet sure of this, we will have to verify this through analysis, which will happen today, professionals from another country, with equipment have arrived to our university,

Fan fact we had a lot of lectures from professionals from differents countries in this semester. They were sharing their knowledge and approaches in conservation!its so interesting! •∆•

Than we stared gluing more unstable paint layers and holes in canvas with japan papers which are smeared with a mixture of Beve (I don't remember its number) which is diluted in white spirit, then with the help of a small iron, this papers are sticks to the surface, so that when we turn this picture over, they do not fall off, and at the edges where there are torn parts, so they will not tear even more.

We started doing all this in end of february, and you can see how this painting became flat over time!

Also look at this cute little fellas, one of the best gifts ever •^• (thanks to my brother and sister)