How to Fix a Dented Canvas?

Dents, Ripples, and Indentations on a Canvas

A dent or ripple in a stretched canvas is a common issue. It can occur during shipping, due to improper storage, or because of changes in humidity and temperature where the canvas is stored. At first glance, these indentations can look alarming, but they can be fixed quite easily so the canvas regains its full 100% value.

Dampen the Back of the Canvas

Removing a dent from a canvas is very simple. Just apply a little lukewarm or hot water to the dent, or use a spray bottle. It does not matter whether the dent is pushed in from the front or from the back. The process is the same: apply water to the back of the canvas. This method works on canvas without gesso, with gesso, and even on a finished painting you want to repair.

TIP: Some artists use hot steam from an iron, faucet, or kettle instead of water. The choice of method is yours. From our experience, we can confirm that all of these methods work.

How to Remove a Dent from a Canvas

Always pour water only onto a small area of the canvas where the dent is visible. It’s a good idea to work the liquid in with your fingers so it can soak deeper into the canvas. The surface will tighten and the dent will disappear as soon as it gets wet. You only need to add a small amount of water to keep it from running onto the canvas frame. You can also keep a cloth handy to wipe away any excess liquid. Wet stretcher bars can warp and cause further damage to the canvas.

Spray or add water drop by drop directly onto the dent. If necessary, rub the liquid in with your fingers. The dent disappears as soon as water touches it.

Once you wipe away the excess water, you’ll see an immediate improvement: the canvas will flatten out.

How to Fix Ripples in a Corner of a Canvas

However, this method for fixing dents only works on a properly stretched canvas. If the edges aren’t stretched properly, or the canvas is rippled in a corner, applying water may cause it to return to its original, unsightly shape. But there is a solution to this problem too: insert wooden keys to tighten the canvas. We’ll talk more about this in another blog post.

One Last Tip

To finish, here are a few more tips for protecting your canvas from dents and other damage. Try to store canvases horizontally, one at a time, especially larger sizes. If they have to be stored vertically, always place something like a piece of cardboard between them to separate them and prevent them from pressing against each other. Also, store canvases of similar sizes together to reduce the chance of damage. We also try to follow this rule when packing your orders so they always arrive in good condition.

We’d love to hear your tips and thoughts, too.

Ingrid

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