Painting restoration YouTube is the niche relaxation you need
This post is part ofHard Refresh, a soothing weekly column where we try to cleanse your brain of whatever terrible thing you just witnessed on Twitter.
If power-washing porn is your cup of tea, then historic painting conservation is going to be your new relaxation destination.
When I need to unwind, I turn to the highly educational and surprisingly calming YouTube genre, popularized online by conservationist Julian Baumgartner. (Baumgartner is the most popular YouTube conservationist, which is an admittedly small community to begin with.)
This is the video that made me a fan:
In general, we can break painting conservation into a few major steps. The process varies depending on the extent of the damage and the piece's needs, but Baumgartner usually follows the same playbook.
First he evaluates the painting's condition and what type of paint the artist used, so he can be sure chemicals won't harm the original work. After that, he often needs to remount the painting onto a new canvas or surface to ensure the painting is strong enough to be handled. Next comes the cleaning process, where layers of dirt and buildup are oh-so-satisfyingly removed. Finally, retouching: parts of the work that are lost or damaged are repainted.
Baumgartner mixes chemicals and solvents to take off the mixture of varnish and grime that has accumulated -- sometimes over hundreds of years. It's a delicate process that is both disgusting and immensely gratifying.
In the video below, Baumgartner is tasked with removing an oil painting on paper from the piece of wood to which it's adhered. He chisels all the wood away until just a thin layer is left, then removes that layer using a scalpel. It's a bit like watching a surgery, but with none of the gross bits for people who are squeamish.
Baumgartner also narrates quite a few of his videos. His voice is even and mellow, which suits the steady pacing. It’s also nice to know exactly what's going into the process -- especially one that's so unfamiliar to most people.
Most of the videos don’t stick to the same auditory scheme either. Some of his videos are borderline ASMR, in which the sounds of the cleaning, repairing, and painting are front and center. Like in this video:
In some videos, he takes the musical approach, pairing his work with classical compositions. Personally, I find this method to be so soothing that I've nearly fallen asleep to it. If that sounds up your alley, check this video out:
At this point, I've spent several hours watching these videos and frankly, I've learned a lot. I now know the importance of reversible paints (so future conservators can take off the past conservation jobs without harming the original painting), and that B72 resin is paramount for stabilizing wood and other surfaces the paint sits on.
And I'm clearly not the only one who's a fan. In December of last year, Baumgartner won a YouTube Creator's Silver Award for surpassing 100,000 subscribers, and in true conservationist and YouTuber fashion, he made an unboxing video.
While these videos are very pleasing and will make you feel like an expert, just remember that Baumgartner is a professional. Please don't try these methods on your own priceless antique paintings (that you have). The chemicals used are very dangerous and you would likely turn your paintings into mush without the proper training.
Featured Video For You
This company wants to illuminate our skies with artificial shooting stars
-
Apple Watch bands: 5 favorites to consider as Apple Watch 10 looms全国名特优新!肇庆再添5个农产品一棵好“茄”如何炼成?省农科院蔬菜所深耕育种结硕果全国供销系统齐聚湾区,擘画东西部协作蓝图Pakistan Cricket at crossroads after shock defeat at Pindi我在广西融水有个“园”!庭院经济让方寸地变致富园广东“豪横宠粉”:游长隆,抽大奖,开埃安!疏附县组织积极就业增收典型代表赴山东、湖北开展交往交流交融活动18 Places for Epic Outdoor Adventure Across Colorado海洋牧场游出“好年鱼”!海威年鱼礼领“鲜”发布,“性价比”十足!
下一篇:Best tablet deals as of August 27
- ·CeeDee Lamb secures record
- ·北京多个单位领导、专家到广东海纳百川公司调研
- ·以“归零”心态 持续抓好安全生产工作
- ·同比增长6.5%!2023年广东农村居民收入增速快于城镇
- ·Understanding Relational vs. Non
- ·万亩园亩万元 饱肚子挣票子
- ·直播带岗 高效便捷 就业“触网可及”
- ·拧紧思想开关 一以贯之严实作风
- ·AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 may get revealed at the Apple September event
- ·发挥人社力量 助力茶叶采摘
- ·河源连平县2023年高素质农民培育培训班开班
- ·敲响一审民事案件 适用普通程序独任审理第一槌
- ·Apple iPod: The First 10 Years of the Ubiquitous Media Player
- ·疏附县组织积极就业增收典型代表赴山东、湖北开展交往交流交融活动
- ·东莞常平镇积极推进“四小园”建设,点亮乡村美丽幸福新篇章
- ·茂名占鳌头,但榜眼与探花让人意想不到丨“市委书记抓乡村振兴”2023年度盘点①
- ·古物:回望时间的印记
- ·焦点访谈丨护航高考 助力学子圆梦(雅安篇)
- ·品牌建设实地特训!华南理工大学组织“头雁”惠州研学行
- ·会“功夫”的服务区,来这里切磋一下咏春丨服务区里的“年味”⑤
- ·I used the Pixel 9 Pro XL in the shower — does the screen work when wet as claimed?
- ·发挥人社力量 助力茶叶采摘
- ·开展“扎染”特色课 熏陶学生艺术潜质
- ·茂名占鳌头,但榜眼与探花让人意想不到丨“市委书记抓乡村振兴”2023年度盘点①
- ·Scientists discover where the huge dinosaur
- ·创建安全文明校园环境 不断增强师生法律意识
- ·New image shows the North Star is changing. And it has spots.
- ·发挥技术优势 解决群众难题
- ·寻味暖冬,品一碗让人着迷的糯米醪糟
- ·直播带岗 高效便捷 就业“触网可及”
- ·Travel Back in Time and Uncover Old
- ·“中华好年鱼”新鲜出炉!“2023中国年鱼排行榜”揭晓
- ·村里来了“CEO”,助力江门新型农村集体经济“加速跑”
- ·广东“豪横宠粉”:游长隆,抽大奖,开埃安!
- ·Wordle today: The answer and hints for August 29
- ·韶关:农林牧渔业增加值增长6.1%,强镇富村公司营业额超7亿元