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Art Restorer Training

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Arts, Design and Communication

Arts

Art Restorer Training

For all levels

Art Restorer Training

Master the full spectrum of professional art restoration, from initial condition assessment and preventive conservation to structural repair, cleaning, inpainting, and final varnishing. This training covers paintings, works on paper, ceramics, metals, and mixed-media objects using current ethical and scientific standards. Build the technical skills and professional knowledge to work confidently on real restoration cases.

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What you will learn:

You will learn how to examine artworks using visual, scientific, and analytical methods, then translate your findings into professional condition reports and treatment plans. The training covers environmental control, safe handling, and disaster preparedness to protect collections before damage occurs. You will practice controlled cleaning of surfaces, structural stabilization of compromised supports, and precise inpainting of losses across multiple media. Varnish selection and application, project budgeting, client communication, and final documentation are all included. You will also explore digital tools, conservation science, cultural property law, and emerging technologies such as laser cleaning and AI-assisted examination.

How you study in practice Art Restorer Training

How you practice Art Restorer Training

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With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your own business and the way your company needs.

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Course Content

8 Chapters • 37 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)

Chapter 1See details

Foundations of Art Restoration

Lesson 1 • Understanding Artistic Materials
Surveys the primary materials artists use across media and periods. Provides the material literacy needed to diagnose deterioration accurately.
Lesson 2 • Professional Ethics and Documentation
Introduces ethical obligations, informed consent with clients, and thorough record-keeping. Documentation skills underpin every treatment decision made throughout training.
Lesson 3 • History and Philosophy of Conservation
Traces the evolution of restoration from repainting to minimal intervention ethics. Establishes the philosophical framework guiding all subsequent technical decisions.
Lesson 4 • Deterioration Mechanisms and Causes
Explains physical, chemical, and biological agents that degrade artworks. Connects cause-and-effect understanding to preventive and remedial strategies.

Chapter 2See details

Examination and Condition Assessment

Lesson 1 • Scientific Imaging Methods
Introduces X-radiography, infrared reflectography, and ultraviolet fluorescence imaging. Each technique reveals hidden layers and informs treatment planning.
Lesson 2 • Condition Report and Treatment Planning
Synthesizes examination findings into structured condition reports and prioritized treatment plans. Students practice translating technical data into clear professional documents.
Lesson 3 • Analytical and Sampling Methods
Teaches micro-sampling, cross-section preparation, and laboratory analysis techniques. Sampling decisions must balance information gain against minimal damage to the artwork.
Lesson 4 • Visual Examination Techniques
Covers raking light, transmitted light, and magnification methods for surface analysis. These non-invasive tools form the first step of every assessment workflow.

Chapter 3See details

Preventive Conservation Principles

Lesson 1 • Environmental Control Fundamentals
Covers target ranges for temperature, relative humidity, and light exposure in storage and display. Proper environment is the single most cost-effective conservation intervention.
Lesson 2 • Storage Systems and Furniture
Reviews archival storage furniture, racking systems, and housing solutions for paintings, works on paper, and objects. Proper storage prevents compressive and abrasive damage.
Lesson 3 • Safe Handling and Packing
Establishes correct manual handling procedures and packing materials for various artwork types. Reduces mechanical damage risk during movement and transport.
Lesson 4 • Integrated Pest Management
Introduces biological threats, monitoring traps, and non-toxic treatment protocols for pest control. Students apply IPM principles to create collection-wide protection plans.
Lesson 5 • Disaster Preparedness and Response
Covers risk assessment, salvage priority lists, and first-response procedures for water and fire damage. Preparedness planning is integrated into institutional preventive care.

Chapter 4See details

Cleaning and Surface Treatment

Lesson 1 • Aqueous and Solvent Cleaning
Covers water-based cleaning systems, organic solvents, and solvent gels for surface dirt removal. Students select appropriate systems based on material sensitivity and test results.
Lesson 2 • Varnish Removal Techniques
Addresses aged natural and synthetic varnish removal using solvents and enzymatic systems. Controlled varnish removal restores optical clarity without disturbing original paint layers.
Lesson 3 • Cleaning Theory and Testing Protocols
Explains solubility parameters, pH, and surface tension as they relate to cleaning agents. Systematic test-spot methodology prevents irreversible damage during cleaning.
Lesson 4 • Cleaning Works on Paper and Textiles
Adapts cleaning methods for the unique fragility of paper, parchment, and textile supports. Students practice aqueous washing, local cleaning, and deacidification procedures.
Lesson 5 • Overpaint and Restoration Removal
Teaches identification and selective removal of non-original paint layers added by previous restorers. Requires precise mechanical and chemical control to preserve original material.

Chapter 5See details

Structural Stabilization and Repair

Lesson 1 • Object and Ceramic Repair
Covers adhesive bonding, gap filling, and armature construction for three-dimensional objects and ceramics. Students balance structural strength with visual and material reversibility.
Lesson 2 • Metal and Stone Stabilization
Introduces corrosion stabilization, mechanical cleaning, and consolidant application for metals and stone. Active corrosion must be arrested before any aesthetic treatment proceeds.
Lesson 3 • Works on Paper Structural Repair
Teaches tear mending, fill insertion, and backing removal for paper and parchment supports. Treatments must respect the flexibility and sensitivity of paper-based materials.
Lesson 4 • Consolidation of Flaking Paint
Covers adhesive selection, injection techniques, and facing methods for securing loose and flaking paint. Consolidation is often the most urgent intervention to prevent further loss.
Lesson 5 • Canvas and Panel Treatment
Addresses tear repair, strip-lining, full lining, and panel cradle removal for paintings on canvas and wood. Structural support choices depend on material condition and future display needs.

Chapter 6See details

Inpainting and Aesthetic Reintegration

Lesson 1 • Principles of Aesthetic Reintegration
Establishes the ethical boundaries between restoration and falsification in inpainting practice. Students distinguish tratteggio, pointillism, and neutral fill approaches.
Lesson 2 • Conservation Colors and Varnish Media
Introduces stable conservation pigments in resin media for durable inpainting on paintings. Students learn to match gloss and texture as well as color.
Lesson 3 • Watercolor and Gouache Inpainting
Teaches watercolor and gouache application for reversible inpainting on paintings and works on paper. Water-based media allow easy removal and are preferred for initial reintegration layers.
Lesson 4 • Fill Materials and Surface Preparation
Covers fill material selection, application, and surface leveling before inpainting begins. A stable, correctly textured fill is essential for durable and convincing color reintegration.
Lesson 5 • Inpainting Three-Dimensional Objects
Adapts inpainting principles to ceramics, stone, and metal fills where surface curvature and texture differ from flat paintings. Students practice tonal and textural matching on objects.

Chapter 7See details

Varnishing and Final Presentation

Lesson 1 • Varnish Application Methods
Covers brush, spray, and aerosol application techniques for achieving uniform varnish films. Application method and environment directly affect the final optical result.
Lesson 2 • Protective Coatings for Objects
Addresses wax, lacquer, and microcrystalline coatings for metals, ceramics, and stone surfaces. Protective coatings must be stable, reversible, and appropriate to display conditions.
Lesson 3 • Varnish Types and Properties
Surveys natural resins, synthetic resins, and wax coatings used as final varnishes. Material choice affects optical quality, aging behavior, and future removability.
Lesson 4 • Gloss Adjustment and Matting
Teaches the use of matting agents and layered varnish systems to achieve specified gloss levels. Gloss matching to the original surface is an aesthetic and ethical requirement.

Chapter 8See details

Advanced Treatment Planning and Case Management

Lesson 1 • Complex Multi-Media Artwork Assessment
Applies combined examination and analytical methods to artworks with multiple materials and deterioration types. Students develop comprehensive treatment strategies for complex cases.
Lesson 2 • Final Documentation and Reporting
Produces complete treatment records, before-and-after photography, and client-facing summary reports. Thorough final documentation fulfills professional and archival obligations.
Lesson 3 • Project Scoping and Budgeting
Covers time estimation, material costing, and fee structuring for restoration projects. Accurate scoping protects both the restorer and the client from unexpected outcomes.
Lesson 4 • Treatment Execution and Monitoring
Guides systematic execution of multi-phase treatments with ongoing monitoring and adjustment. Students practice adapting treatment plans when unexpected conditions are encountered.
Lesson 5 • Professional Handover and Follow-Up
Covers artwork packaging for return, client briefing, and scheduled follow-up inspection protocols. Professional handover completes the restoration cycle and builds long-term client trust.

Certification

Your valid completion certificate

This course is for you:

Fine art dealers: wanting to assess and preserve inventory value independently.
Studio artists: seeking to understand how their materials age over time.
Museum volunteers: ready to transition into a formal conservation support role.
Private collectors: determined to protect and maintain their collections professionally.
Career changers: drawn to a craft-based profession rooted in cultural preservation.
Antique restorers: looking to upgrade their practice with rigorous conservation standards.

What our students say

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