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Painting Restorer Training

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Arts, Design and Communication

Arts

Painting Restorer Training

For all levels

Painting Restorer Training

Master the full spectrum of painting conservation, from structural repair and surface cleaning to inpainting and final varnishing. This training covers both traditional techniques and modern scientific methods used by working conservators. Build the technical skills and ethical framework needed to treat paintings with confidence and precision.

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What you will learn:

You will gain a thorough understanding of painting materials—supports, grounds, binding media, and varnishes—and how each ages and fails. You will develop systematic examination skills using visual, photographic, and scientific analysis to produce accurate condition reports. The programme covers structural consolidation, surface cleaning, fill preparation, and retouching with both traditional and modern materials. You will also study preventive conservation, environmental controls, and emergency response to protect collections long‑term. Professional practice topics include client communication, project management, contracts, and treatment documentation. Digital tools, health‑and‑safety protocols, and research methods round out your training for real‑world conservation work.

How you study in practice Painting Restorer Training

How you practise Painting Restorer Training

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Course content

8 Chapters • 40 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)

Chapter 1See details

Foundations of Painting Conservation

Lesson 1 • Ground Layers and Preparation
Covers gesso, chalk, and oil grounds applied before paint layers. Identifies how ground composition affects adhesion, flexibility, and deterioration patterns.
Lesson 2 • Varnishes and Surface Coatings
Introduces natural resins, synthetic varnishes, and wax coatings applied over paint layers. Establishes how coatings age, yellow, and interact with cleaning solvents.
Lesson 3 • Binding Media and Pigments
Surveys oil, tempera, encaustic, and acrylic binders alongside historic and modern pigments. Provides the chemical literacy needed for cleaning and inpainting decisions.
Lesson 4 • Painting Supports and Structures
Examines canvas, panel, paper, and metal supports and their physical properties. Understanding support behavior is prerequisite to diagnosing structural damage.
Lesson 5 • History and Ethics of Conservation
Traces conservation from early repair practices to modern ethical standards. Establishes the philosophical framework guiding all subsequent restoration decisions.

Chapter 2See details

Examination and Condition Assessment

Lesson 1 • Scientific Analysis Methods
Introduces X-ray radiography, cross-section sampling, and spectroscopic analysis for material identification. Results inform solvent selection and structural treatment choices.
Lesson 2 • Visual Examination Techniques
Trains the eye to detect surface irregularities under raking, transmitted, and ultraviolet light. Each lighting method reveals distinct damage types invisible under normal illumination.
Lesson 3 • Treatment Proposal Development
Synthesises examination findings into a prioritised, justified treatment proposal. Connects assessment data directly to ethical and practical treatment decisions.
Lesson 4 • Identifying Deterioration Types
Catalogues cracking, cleavage, flaking, blanching, and biological growth as distinct damage categories. Accurate identification prevents misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
Lesson 5 • Condition Mapping and Documentation
Teaches systematic mapping of damage onto scaled diagrams and digital overlays. Accurate maps form the baseline for measuring treatment success.

Chapter 3See details

Preventive Conservation and Storage

Lesson 1 • Safe Handling and Transport
Establishes protocols for lifting, carrying, packing, and shipping paintings without causing damage. Proper handling prevents mechanical stress and vibration injuries.
Lesson 2 • Storage Systems and Furniture
Designs rack, slot, and flat storage solutions appropriate for different painting formats. Storage geometry and materials directly affect long-term structural stability.
Lesson 3 • Integrated Pest Management
Applies monitoring, exclusion, and low-toxicity treatment strategies to protect collections from biological damage. Builds a sustainable pest management cycle.
Lesson 4 • Emergency Preparedness for Collections
Prepares students to write and execute emergency response plans for fire, flood, and theft. Rapid response skills minimise irreversible loss during disasters.
Lesson 5 • Environmental Controls for Paintings
Covers temperature, relative humidity, light, and pollutant thresholds that protect paint layers. Establishes target ranges and explains the consequences of fluctuation.

Chapter 4See details

Surface Cleaning Techniques

Lesson 1 • Aqueous Cleaning Systems
Covers water-based cleaning using pH-adjusted solutions, chelating agents, and surfactants. Aqueous systems remove ionic soiling while minimising solvent exposure.
Lesson 2 • Solvent Theory and Safety
Explains polarity, solubility parameters, and evaporation rates as tools for solvent selection. Safety protocols prevent health hazards and accidental paint damage.
Lesson 3 • Cleaning Tests and Documentation
Establishes systematic test-cleaning protocols before full treatment begins. Documented test results justify the chosen cleaning system and protect against liability.
Lesson 4 • Solvent-Based Varnish Removal
Applies solvent mixtures and gels to dissolve aged natural and synthetic varnishes selectively. Controlled application prevents solvent penetration into original paint layers.
Lesson 5 • Mechanical Cleaning Methods
Introduces scalpel, micro-abrasive, and laser cleaning for localised surface deposits. Mechanical methods complement chemical cleaning where solvents risk paint damage.

Chapter 5See details

Structural Consolidation and Repair

Lesson 1 • Facing and Temporary Support
Applies tissue and adhesive facings to protect fragile paint during structural treatment. Facing must be strong enough to hold flakes yet removable without residue.
Lesson 2 • Consolidants and Adhesives
Surveys animal glues, synthetic resins, and acrylic dispersions used to reattach lifting paint. Adhesive selection balances penetration, flexibility, and reversibility.
Lesson 3 • Lining and Relining Techniques
Teaches wax-resin, aqueous, and cold-lining methods for full canvas support. Each system suits different paint layer conditions and institutional requirements.
Lesson 4 • Panel Stabilisation Methods
Addresses cradle removal, crack bridging, and controlled humidification for warped wood panels. Panel treatment requires understanding wood movement and grain direction.
Lesson 5 • Canvas Repair and Tear Mending
Covers thread-by-thread tear mending, local patch repairs, and strip-lining for edge damage. Structural repairs must be invisible from the front and reversible from the back.

Chapter 6See details

Fill Materials and Ground Reconstruction

Lesson 1 • Modern and Synthetic Fill Materials
Introduces Paraloid-based, Modostuc, and acrylic microballoon fills for flexible or complex losses. Modern fills offer adjustable working time and improved reversibility.
Lesson 2 • Texture Matching Techniques
Replicates original paint texture using stamps, brushes, and casting materials on filled areas. Texture matching is essential before inpainting to achieve visual integration.
Lesson 3 • Leveling and Surface Preparation
Sands, scrapes, and isolates fills to achieve flush, non-absorbent surfaces ready for inpainting. Proper levelling prevents inpainting colours from sinking or appearing matte.
Lesson 4 • Traditional Fill Materials
Covers chalk-glue, gesso, and wax-resin fills used in historic and traditional conservation practice. Traditional fills offer compatibility with aged grounds but require skill to apply.
Lesson 5 • Loss Assessment and Mapping
Quantifies and maps paint losses before filling to guide material selection and application sequence. Accurate loss mapping prevents overfilling and underfilling.

Chapter 7See details

Inpainting and Retouching

Lesson 1 • Brush Control and Application
Develops fine brush control for applying thin, layered strokes within loss boundaries. Precise application prevents inpainting from overlapping original paint.
Lesson 2 • Retouching Strategies and Methods
Teaches tratteggio, pointillism, tonal, and illusionistic retouching as distinct philosophical approaches. Strategy selection depends on loss size, viewing distance, and institutional policy.
Lesson 3 • Colour Theory for Conservators
Applies Munsell hue, value, and chroma to colour matching in conservation contexts. Precise colour language enables consistent communication and reproducible results.
Lesson 4 • Evaluating and Finalising Retouching
Assesses retouching under multiple light sources and at varying distances to confirm visual integration. Final evaluation ensures the treatment meets ethical and aesthetic standards.
Lesson 5 • Inpainting Media and Materials
Compares watercolour, conservation acrylics, and resin-based paints for retouching stability and reversibility. Media choice affects long-term appearance and future retreatability.

Chapter 8See details

Varnishing and Final Presentation

Lesson 1 • Final Treatment Report and Handover
Compiles complete treatment records, before-and-after photography, and material specifications for handover. Thorough documentation ensures future conservators can build on the work.
Lesson 2 • Framing and Presentation Standards
Addresses archival framing materials, glazing options, and hanging hardware for long-term display. Framing decisions affect both protection and the visual presentation of the work.
Lesson 3 • Gloss Adjustment and Matting
Modifies final surface sheen using matting agents, wax polishes, and layered varnish systems. Gloss adjustment restores the painting's intended optical character.
Lesson 4 • Varnish Selection Criteria
Evaluates gloss level, yellowing resistance, and solubility of available varnish systems. Selection must balance aesthetic goals with long-term reversibility requirements.
Lesson 5 • Varnish Application Methods
Covers brush, spray, and aerosol application techniques for achieving even, streak-free coatings. Application method affects final gloss uniformity and coating thickness.

Certification

Your valid completion certificate

This course is for you:

Studio artist: eager to add conservation skills to an existing creative practice.
Gallery or auction house professional: wanting technical depth beyond art handling.
Museum volunteer or collections assistant: ready to move into a specialist role.
Career changer with a science background: drawn to applied, material-focused art work.
Private art collector: seeking expertise to responsibly care for personal holdings.
Framer or art handler: looking to expand services into professional restoration work.

What our students say

Your lessons are perfect. I purchased the one-year package and finally have the opportunity to follow various topics of my interest without needing to change platforms... I'm grateful for everything you do, I've already recommended you to other people...