Carolina Conservation

Carolina Conservation A Fine Arts Conservation Studio We are your go-to resource for paintings, art on paper, prints, photographs, art objects and high value contents.
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Carolina Conservation is the only fine art conservation studio in the country that exclusively specializes in the cleaning and restoration of fire and water damaged artwork. Carolina Conservation has the expertise and experience to properly treat and care for your collection.

A little in-progress cleaning of one of our client’s large, contemporary acrylic paintings (Sarah for scale)---The paint...
10/04/2022

A little in-progress cleaning of one of our client’s large, contemporary acrylic paintings (Sarah for scale)
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The painting came to us exhibiting lifting and delamination of the paint layers, which required injection of conservation adhesive and heat treatment to return the lifting paint into plain. Sarah is cleaning around the areas of loss and lifting paint after the adhesive was applied to consolidate those areas. During consolidation, there is usually excess adhesive that has to be removed before moving on to the next steps of conservation.

09/27/2022

You may remember this gal’s glow-up from a few weeks ago 🌟
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Our Paintings Conservator, Sarah, removed the varnish that was oxidized and yellowed when it initially came to us. The varnish had darkened over time, causing the artist’s intended colors to be obscured. Sarah removed this varnish layer with gels, and subsequently applied the isolation varnish, retouched the painting and applied a final varnish.

A folder fit for a king 👑 (or more accurately, a 1950s Corp of Engineers map)---You may remember the Department of Energ...
09/26/2022

A folder fit for a king 👑 (or more accurately, a 1950s Corp of Engineers map)
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You may remember the Department of Energy map that came into the studio in 19 individual pieces. The map was used by the Corps of Engineers as a site selection map during the Cold War, and had many handwritten notes and lines. We were tasked with combining the pieces into a single document, on top of treating the substantial wear and tear it had experienced through years of use and improper storage. We finalized the project by creating this custom folder to safely transport and store the delicate document so that it will be stabilized and preserved for future use.

Loosey goosey 🐦 (so loose that he lost his head 🥴)---Not only did this outdoor sculpture come to us with the neck of the...
09/23/2022

Loosey goosey 🐦 (so loose that he lost his head 🥴)
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Not only did this outdoor sculpture come to us with the neck of the bird detached, it also had several losses in the area where the neck connected to the body of the piece. We ordered the pieces together, reattached and reassembled the parts, retouched the fills and reintegrated them to match the color and gloss of the rest of the sculpture. Now this bird is back to flying high 🙌

🎵 REVERSE REVERSE…cha cha now y’all 🎵---Currently working on this reverse glass painting, which came to us with a layer ...
09/20/2022

🎵 REVERSE REVERSE…cha cha now y’all 🎵
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Currently working on this reverse glass painting, which came to us with a layer of soot, heavy odor, drip marks, flaking on the surface and multiple losses. Because the frame is a combination of gilding and reverse glass, we are treating the lifting paint on both the painting and the frame.

Strummin’ out some soot 🎸 (and debris…and mold…and drip marks 😳) ---This acrylic on canvas required extensive treatment...
09/14/2022

Strummin’ out some soot 🎸 (and debris…and mold…and drip marks 😳)
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This acrylic on canvas required extensive treatments after coming to us with numerous issues, including the heavy layers of soot particulates and debris, abrasions on the surface, drip marks, punctures and tears, mold growth and a heavy smoke odor. Mold remediation was required, as well as the mechanical removal of deposits, moisture treatments, the mending of the tears and extensive retouching.

A 🐦 👁️ view of some retouching in-progress ---Our Paintings Conservator, Sarah, is currently in the process of retouchin...
09/12/2022

A 🐦 👁️ view of some retouching in-progress
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Our Paintings Conservator, Sarah, is currently in the process of retouching this Shanghai skyline piece that came into the studio after being damaged during shipping. Paper from the wrapping materials adhered to the paint layers in several areas throughout the contemporary painting, causing damage to the paint layer beneath. Because the paint layer is a relatively young one and was exhibiting some sensitivity to water-based solutions during testing, Sarah used a solution with an altered pH that could be used safely to remove the residual paper. After removing the paper from the surface, she filled the losses to the paint layer and is now retouching them.

Giving this gal a much-needed refresh 💁‍♀️---This oil painting came to us in poor condition, with thick layers of dust a...
09/08/2022

Giving this gal a much-needed refresh 💁‍♀️
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This oil painting came to us in poor condition, with thick layers of dust and surface grime, evidence of insect activity, planar distortion and paint losses. The most visually disturbing conservation concern was the varnish that was very uneven in its texture and gloss. The varnish had also turned yellow, dark and cloudy in several areas. Treatments included a detailed surface clean using an aqueous method, consolidation in the areas of loss, removal of the varnish layer and an application of both an isolating varnish and final varnish. Swipe to see her transformation!

Saying deuces ✌️ to dirt ---This antique print on paper was so covered in mud, dirt and grime that it was impossible to ...
09/06/2022

Saying deuces ✌️ to dirt
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This antique print on paper was so covered in mud, dirt and grime that it was impossible to determine the media without first removing the artwork from its frame. Although this is only the preliminary cleaning of the work, already the subject has been revealed and you can now see the Italianate double portrait. Swipe ➡️ to reveal!

What’s your sign? ♐---Our client’s print of Sagittarius on paper came to us covered in a heavy layer of dirt and grime, ...
08/25/2022

What’s your sign? ♐
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Our client’s print of Sagittarius on paper came to us covered in a heavy layer of dirt and grime, especially at the top, center and bottom left corner. Additionally, there was deep creasing throughout the paper, fold lines, small stains and minor foxing. The goal of treatment was not full conservation, but to focus on minimizing the deep creases in the paper support. We gave the map a detailed surface clean, bathed it for stain removal, flattened it and returned it to our client in archival materials. Swipe ➡️ to see the results!

08/23/2022

Our client’s piece from the 1800s was covered in heavy layers of surface dirt, dust and ni****ne that were completely obscuring the artist’s original colors. The darkened, yellowed and oxidized varnish layer also wasn’t doing the painting any favors. Additionally, there were tears, paint losses and puncture holes that required everything from a detailed surface clean and adhesive removal, to moisture treatments for the planar distortions and the removal of the varnish layer.
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Giving a slow clap for this map 👏 👏 👏---Transforming this Visit Aiken SC 1870s map required a range of treatments, as it...
08/18/2022

Giving a slow clap for this map 👏 👏 👏
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Transforming this Visit Aiken SC 1870s map required a range of treatments, as it came to us in an extremely damaged condition after years of not being kept in a protective tube. All four edges were damaged from exposure and handling, the paper had become oxidized and yellowed, the paper support was separating from the fabric – just to name a few of the many issues. After receiving a detailed surface clean, adhesive removal, time in the humidifying chamber to relax the edges and tears, tear repairs and more, the map is stabilized and ready for display. Swipe to see the results!

Address

7740 Broad River Road
Irmo, SC
29063

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

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