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Question: Dented canvas -- how to fix!?
I'm working on a long painting, and today I dented the canvas from behind!. Does anyone know any way to undo a dent in a stretched canvas!? Store-bought, pre-primed cotton duct canvas with an unfinished oil painting on it!.

Geez, I hope so!. I've been working on this painting for two weeks out in public with dozens of interruptions by passersby !. !. !. !. Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
If the dent has not punctured the fabric (cotton duck, by the way) you can probably get it to shrink some and retighten by spraying the back of the area with hot water!. Don't over-saturate it or you may go through the priming into the oil paint!. Applying some heat with a hot blow dryer might help to dry it and shrink it further!. If the dent has a sharp point to it you may never get it to go away completely!. But try the hot water!. It is the least invasive, least damaging way to proceed!.

If that is a no go, you may have to resort to removing the canvas from the stretchers and mounting it on a panel!. Careful gluing and working the dented spot so it lays flat will make it go away!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hi,

The best way to remove dents in paintings on canvas is to take a wet - but not dripping - sponge to the back of the canvas ( i!.e, the side with no paint ), while at the same time holding a very flat object to the side with the paint on!. Push the two sides one against the other very tightly for a minute!. Leave to dry!.

If the dent is very big, you might have to repeat the process!.

A word of warning about other methods: spraying water without pushing something flat on the other side only causes minimum shrinkage to the canvas, which means that your problem will not be solved!.
While please do not, by any means, never ever iron a canvas !
Be aware that ironing can cause all sorts of permanent damages to a painting in oils!.

Luckily for you, since you are working in public ironing will be almost impossible!.

While you could turn the process of removing the dent a public experience in which the public participate!.

Good luck with your work! Painting a large canvas in public sounds like a really interesting work and I would love to see it!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com

Small dents are easily removed by placing a wet washer on the back and let it dry naturally!. It the dent is too deep, you could try a warm iron over it!. Be sure to protect the canvas with some baking paper!.

PS baking paper is great for transporting paintings!. It doesn't stick onto a canvas that's still a little 'wet'!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If its not too badly dented , you can spray water on it & re shrink it with a hairdryer!.
Have also used a steam iron to steam out creases !.
Some of my acrylic stuff got dented in a move & actually ironed it from the back at low heat !.
That worked but it was crap & had noting to lose!.
Best regardsWww@QuestionHome@Com