As far as job opportunities go, the art world is one of the most exciting and dynamic fields out there. The range of jobs that people in the art world find themselves working is endless, and each job offers a completely unique experience. However, the common thread uniting all these creative minds is a passion for culture and a desire to share an artistic experience with the world. Every gallery, museum, and exhibition we visit has a team of dedicated and highly skilled people working behind it around the clock to deliver the value of art to the masses.
Art-restorers are one group among these art professionals who require an incredible amount of skill and training. As much of the world’s most beloved art is revered for its old age, it’s important to have trained art-restorers working hard to repair and preserve these aging works so that their beauty is not lost forever. The work of an art-restorer is vital and a job that looks as diverse as art itself. Exploring the day-to-day work and training of an art-restorer is fascinating for any curious mind with a passion for art.
What does an art-restorer actually do?
If a work of art begins to display signs of aging or damage, art-restorers are tasked with repairing damage and preserving the original quality of the artwork. There are many different kinds of art restoration, spanning the breadth of cultural objects from painting and drawing to sculpture and architecture. Many writers offer examples of artistic disciplines to be found online in essays on art that deal with the topic. Writing on the topic of the different approaches to art restoration also makes for a great matter for students assigned art essays for university! It’s fascinating to explore the different steps involved in restoring a modern painting or an ancient statue, for instance.
Some of the tasks an art-restorer may perform are:
- Repairing damage or breakage
- Removing water or mold
- Cleaning
- Restoring frames
- Refreshing colour or detail
How do art-restorers get their training?
Before being trusted with treating precious artworks, art-restorers must go through a lot of training and study to possess the knowledge needed to revitalize precious works while keeping them intact. Students of art restoration and conservation will often go to an art college first in order to acquire the necessary artistic skills needed to paint or sculpt. Once an aspiring art-restorer has the practical artistic skills needed to satisfyingly imitate the works of other artists, they must then learn the principles of art restoration.
It’s common practice for art-restorers to reach qualification by doing an apprenticeship with a more experienced art conservator. During this apprenticeship, an art-restorer will study how to assess damage and determine the best approach for its repair. There are many factors that these students will learn to consider, such as the availability of original materials and whether or not certain repairs will detract from the original quality of the work.
Art-restorers often have to get creative in their work. Precious old age works are often made with materials like clays or pigments that may be difficult for contemporary artists to source. In cases such as these, it’s important for an art-restorer to be trained in recreating materials, as well as imitating the style of the original artist. Art-restorers will often spend a lot of time studying how best to recreate the most minute details of an artist’s work, such as brushstroke or chiselling.
Art conservation and restoration are a crucial element of the art world, especially when it comes to preserving cultural objects with an important heritage. The fact that we can visit galleries and still enjoy old and damaged works is a testament to the highly skilled training and expertise of the individuals who undertake this task!
