The Perils of Painting on Panel

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Since the dawn of painting people have been doing so on wood. It's amazing material capable of phenomenal feats. A material however, not without a unique suite of pitfalls.
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[@bobbixvv]

julian: i built the clampinator many years ago also julian: *built it in 2020* (i get it man, time feels different now)

[@rynjeff1073]

Thanks. I didn’t think he made the clampinator that long ago.

[@thejericho]

1 year - a year ago more than 1 year - many years ago 😂😂

[@1959Berre]

@@thejericho In some primitive cultures people count like this: "one, two, many".

[@kolosmenus]

2020 WAS years ago, technically speaking. 2 years ago to be exact :D

[@83hjf]

it was a bit weird but i think he meant he had an older clampinator. this aluminum one is version 2.

[@lucaskramer9076]

I think a lot of people have already thanked you for uploading so frequently, but for me it's really special because your videos have an immensely calming effect on me and help greatly at reducing stress. Thanks a lot !

[@irenedavo3768]

Are you an Artist?

[@IziPizi510]

same, im not an artist but i love his work

[@CL-we8tn]

I'll second that.

[@pistolannie6500]

U don't have to be an artist to watch & enjoy.... to find them immensely calming & satisfying. 😊😌

[@pistolannie6500]

I made a play list that I sometimes use to help me relax, calm my nerves, when I'm either in a LOT of pain again & need something to focus on AND help to relax & calm my nerves & ease off to sleep!

[@liaalexan224]

I wish i could live for 150 years just to see someone restoring Julian's work and being thankful that he did such an amazing job every single time

[@rachel705]

I wish I could time travel and show these artists the care and attention Julien would give to their paintings and visions one day!

[@therealxunil2]

In 150 years conservators will know thing Julian doesn’t know and will be fixing things he did that we think are OK now. That’s probably part of why he uses reversible methods.

[@sensitivecake]

I'm literally 32 seconds into the video and my mind is screaming "SUMMON OUT THE TABLE OF CLAMPS!!"

[@lenastjarnlof437]

🤣

[@irenedavo3768]

Are you an Artist?

[@irenedavo3768]

How old is this Painting?

[@pyroglyphies]

@@irenedavo3768 we've been watching him restore so many things now and we kinda already know what tools he is going to use when paintings have this kind of problem. I think that's why Avery reacted like that

[@fclp67]

Sooooo true

[@linelesscolour]

A few years ago i started watching your videos because they were really relaxing. Restauration got my interest now and next year im starting an internship at a restoration studio in preparation for my restoration and conservation study!! I’m am really thankful to have found this channel and through that (hopefully) my future job!! :))

[@gregpenismith1248]

Keep us updated OP!

[@larissanunes6913]

Wow that's so nice!!!! Congratulations on the internship and success in your career! Keep us updated in the comments, please!!!

[@linelesscolour]

@@larissanunes6913 thank you!! I will update :))

[@mercedesmarton3768]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎉🎉🎉

[@daisyallen4954]

that’s incredible!! congratulations and i’m rooting for you 🤗🤗

[@mortempa5836]

the client: here's an impossible project Julian: hold my clamping table-

[@cheyennepepper301]

This channel has done so much for me. I’m going to be really transparent here. There was a night a few months ago, where I was going through withdrawal from antidepressants. I was having a horrible night, and I haven’t had anxiety attacks like that before. But once I finally got myself in bed, the thing that calmed me down was one of your videos Julian. Something about it made me okay. Having something put back together, step by step, comforted me. I just want to thank you for all you do ❤️

[@SandraNelson063]

Julian has carried me through some rough waters, too. He must be exhausted!

[@thejericho]

antidepressant withdrawals are the fecking worst! glad you're doing better

[@littlebacchus216]

Like you this channel has done more for my mental health in the last few years than almost anything else. Seeing someone take so much care over restoring something is so soothing for me. No rush to 'get it done' everything happens when it should and no sooner. I'm sure for Julian there are days when it feels like a "job" but looking in from the outside it is almost magical how he can take an artists work and restore it to how they gave it to the world.

[@anderswestberg4151]

Why would you stop using the meds? Just curious! Im eating it myself but dont see a reason to stop.

[@cheyennepepper301]

@@anderswestberg4151 I certainly didn’t WANT to, I just had unfortunate complications with the office I was working through. It’s definitely not healthy at all to cold turkey medicine like that!

[@Bobrogers99]

This painting really benefited from removing the old varnish. My first impression was that it was an ugly, muddy mess, but now fully restored and clean, I like it! Today I learned about how to flatten a wooden panel, a skill that applies to more than just a painting.

[@redwitch12]

Seeing the green just EXPLODE to brilliant, verdant life at 18:15 was amazing. It was clear from looking at the upper half of the painting that the varnish was very discolored, but I almost always underestimate just how badly the old varnish dulls and flattens the original work. It's incredible what a difference it makes just to get that stuff off!

[@marquamfurniture]

Not a fantastic painting despite Julian's best effort......but his clamponator is ingenious. A work of machine art and engineering.

[@mircat28]

ALL his work benefits from his expertise. Watching his skill in conservation and restoration is fascinating. That’s why he has hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

[@mircat28]

@@marquamfurniture The painting IS “fantastic” to the owner or they wouldn’t be paying the restoration fee of a skilled craftsman or a million + subscribers watching.

[@marquamfurniture]

@@mircat28 Thank you for clueing me in.

[@NovaSilisko]

At 24:25 - that was amazing how much the color suddenly exploded when the first brush of varnish went on

[@raniabltaief1002]

14:14 I've been following for years and yet this is the first time I've seen someone work in the studio with Julian 😳

[@Txur_Itan]

I didn't even notice, nice find! But at the same time, of course he's gonna have employees, he's handling at the same time hundreds of painting in his studio, he certainly can't do it alone.

[@raniabltaief1002]

@@Txur_Itan obviously, I just pointed out how they were never shown on video

[@Kadarro85]

apprentice maybe?

[@MarcAmengual]

I thought he said in one Q&A that he works alone and I've read it in coments some times, maybe an apprentice?

[@KayInMaine]

Nice catch. So cool seeing someone else working in there.

[@brebmann]

Hahah I love the little editing errors around 10:00 and 23:00…it reminds me that nobody, not even Julian, is perfect. I have this image in my head of Julian leaned over his computer recording this voiceover and getting a notification on his phone and redoing the sentence

[@GustavoLovato]

I was going to leave a very similar comment but found yours. Agreed, the occasional error just humanizes Julian. :)

[@My_mid-victorian_crisis]

I am too much of a Phinus and Firb fan to not LOVE the Clampinator!!!!🎵Baumgartner Restoration Incorporated 🎵

[@alboyer6]

So glad I am not the only one whose brain went in that direction.

[@killgravehatesyou]

Waiting for clampinator 3000 And oh boy, be careful, it will clamp you, no moves, no distortion😎

[@chrisandrus2735]

🤣 i love it!

[@twiseart]

I’m an oil portrait artist and I used to paint exclusively on wood panel because I loved the smooth surface compared to canvas grain but I recently switched back to canvas and so seeing this title I was like oh no Julian’s calling me out!

[@gregpenismith1248]

I would guess (from watching some of his other videos working with paintings on wood) there could be some process and/or application of a medium to help with cupping. I'd venture even someone that canvas on the back would help with allowing the wood to flex with humidity, but also help keep it flat. I'd stone and drunk though, and don't do anything but watch KZbin, so take it with a grain of salt.

[@twiseart]

@@gregpenismith1248 haha thank you!

[@guspaz]

If the water can be replaced after the wood has bowed, then it can be replaced before it's bowed too. I imagine there must be pre-treated wood that you can buy to paint on.

[@catladyfromky4142]

@Adam Zey Í was going to suggest looking into construction applications. There are wood preservants that harden and petrify wood. With some brands, paint can adhere to the new wood surface. Perhaps one can look into performing this as a pre-treatment.

[@francisterrado1165]

There's a weird audio overlap on 10:39. Other than that, I always love having a new Baumgartner video playing while I work.

[@sarahfrench9336]

Yea I backed it up thinking I have a seizure

[@JohannDakitsch]

There's a weird bleep as well around the 23min mark. Great video though

[@francisterrado1165]

@@sarahfrench9336 same. Except I thought my laptop was having a seizure.

[@Baiswith]

@@JohannDakitsch Same, it's an alarm/notification of some sort - Julian pauses, does a mental reverse, and then picks back up again, repeating some of what he'd just said

[@jennycorey8968]

Does that sort of thing, which we all saw/ heard, really bother ya'll , or do you think you are the only ones who noticed it and feel the need to point it out to us less observant people?

[@angelique_cs]

I come to this channel in the full faith that Julien can fix any problem that presents itself. That's my raison d'etre. Well, that and pizza.

[@SandraNelson063]

Well, pizza of course. And there's nothing wrong with pineapple on pizza.

[@angelique_cs]

@@SandraNelson063 you speak the truth!

[@rosieb949]

Excellent

[@gregpenismith1248]

It's not pizza if it has pineapple. It's just a terrible attempt at a sweet and savior dessert.

[@auntkaz815]

And Doritos. Don’t forget the Doritos! :)

[@jimbo_1]

I'd like it if you could include the artist's name in each painting you restore. It's so interesting to find new artists and to know approximately how old the painting is

[@leopfeffer2419]

George William Whitaker

[@MrWolfSnack]

@Figment That's idiotic nonsense. I have never seen anything so stupid in my life. Put the artist name in the description. Anyone that restricts information behind a paywall is an absolute scumbag. This channel is supposed to be EDUCATIONAL, TEACHING, KNOWLEDGE. And this information is public, it can be found just by Google to begin with. So again - nonsense stupidity.

[@Rybread52]

@Billy White Jr. Oh dang, I was not expecting it to be a painter from Rhode Island! It's always a pleasant surprise when my little state gets brought up :)

[@AnnaLizzyRose]

My favourite part is always the cleaning, seeing the colours come back to life, like you say it never gets old.

[@DipityS]

Beautiful job. I'm old enough to remember a little of the furore over the restoration of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and I recall critics throwing around terms such as 'painted whore' and 'garish and vulgar'. I've since come to the opinion that if Michelangelo had been around at the time those critics may well have ended up being painted into one of his painting in a decidedly unflattering manner for basically saying what he'd originally created was a gaudy mess.

[@auntkaz815]

No doubt! And if you see it in person, it is absolutely glorious… not that Michelangelo could have been after that effect or anything…

[@frostshock13]

I really enjoy the fact you had a plate made that says The Clampinator for that thing. Also, it was weird seeing someone else in the background working.

[@redwitch12]

I did a double-take when I saw the person in the background. And then I smiled so hard my face hurt, because I've often wondered if Julian has someone that he's passing his knowledge to.

[@ericavetsch463]

Have you ever conserved/restored a painting where the artist was still living? Would you consult with an artist on a restoration in that instance? Or collaborate, and have the artist do the retouching that was necessary?

[@gregpenismith1248]

I would guess a painting so young wouldn't need help yet? Though things like fire and flooding, at a thing, and don't care about age of product they destroy.

[@ericavetsch463]

@@gregpenismith1248 yes I was thinking damage more than age.

[@MrBobalew]

@@ericavetsch463 Age ...IS ... damage. I know this on a very personal level!

[@tsbusiness9908]

Awesome questions!

[@kimalimadingdong]

Good question.

[@flipsfan78]

As someone with a background in woodworking and antique furniture restoration, you never cease to amaze me. The Clampinator is an amazing piece of work.

[@PanioNut]

I gasped SO loud when the varnish went on. I love how varnish on dark landscapes/florals brings the painting to life. The *chefs kiss* depth of field. Beautiful

[@eilishfox01]

That first brushstroke of the varnish (24:26) was extraordinarily satisfying! The way the detail appears gives me chills. Love it!!

[@shanettequao9043]

The wood section going flat was amazingly fast

[@rosieb949]

I'm wanting to do this to my deck.

[@davidpeterson5186]

As a woodworker I appreciate the clampinator. Enjoy all your videos.

[@sonyadean6320]

Agreed! I find myself wanting one.

[@rynjeff1073]

I think the clampinator is one of my favorite tools that Julian uses.

[@dawnmason9558]

The fact that you are the first person to see the cleaned beautiful coloured painting since it started to get dirty. That is so special that you see it the same as the artist made it.

[@marinalodi6313]

I just LOVE the brushwork in this piece

[@The.Doom.Merchant]

LOL, the lack of scale in the opening really had me thinking this was, like, 15 feet long or something. the reveal, intentionally or no, of it being relatively tiny--that really got a laugh.

[@annebierce5280]

Cleaning the painting never gets old, a close second is the retouching process. Love these videos

[@5809AUJG]

At the beginning of this video, seeing that crack that had broken this painting, and the cupping of the wood, I thought, "Oh Mr B....what can you do about THAT? But , as always, you dealt with it to perfection, and you brought this lovely work back to its original beauty...bravo! You are an inspiration, the best fine art conservator I've ever seen.

[@chiaraoneill2050]

I heard him say "the clampinator is a machine that I built many years ago" and it struck me just how long I've been watching Julian's content. I wasn't even a new viewer when I watched the clampinator come to be. The sound of it lulled me to sleep many many nights :)

[@samanthadean1083]

It always amazes me how brown old varnish can get! I’ll be honest, I thought Julian would have to mill off the wood to fix this painting!!!

[@moi1310]

I appreciate watching these videos as an artist, it makes me consider more what I create on. So it would be very nice if you someday could make a video catering towards how artists can avoid bad practices and prolong their work?

[@sccrespoc]

Use tacks!

[@SandraNelson063]

I'd be interested in a vid like that too, and I have no artistic ability whatsoever. I do appreciate art though.

[@StarCrusher.]

Paint with 10 different kinds of paints mixed together on an old canvas, varnish with epoxy and staple the whole thing for good measure onto a piece of wood from home depot. Oh and don't forget to blow a lot of smoke and dust into it

[@lornabrownlee968]

That sounds like a great topic for a Skillshare course

[@GrimFelArt]

I second this! As an artist myself I mostly hand-embroider, draw on paper with markers and fineliners, and use watercolours on watercolour-specific paper. But if I were ever to get into canvas or panel paintings, I'd love to know some good preparation techniques and long-lasting stable practices that will help my work stand through time and be easily repaired if needs be down the line.

[@dragonssociety3371]

Before the varnish was removed it looked like a swamp. It really does feel like magic to see the beautiful colors hiding underneath.

[@Smittenkitten182]

The application of the resin always gets me. MAGIC.

[@MrTonypace]

Old school flattening mix is solvent(vodka) solvent (ethanol), drying solvent (methanol or 99% ethanol), secret ingredient (glycerol, but i suspect that's not the modern way. But it will unbend furniture).

[@nickyork8901]

interestingly, guitar makers have come up with their own solution to the clampinator problem...it's just a large box and some sticks that can bend, braced against the inside top of the box - and it works really well.

[@fairwitness7473]

I think this is my fav restoration so far. I love the long videos, and no matter how long the video is, it always feels like it is over too soon

[@BeatAces]

Since you said you expected the color underneath the varnish I'd love to see you try and copy what you think a (small) painting will look like after you have finished the cleaning/finishing process and then compare.

[@catsaver2378]

Your channel has made me appreciate art so much more than I did before I started watching your videos. Thank you!

[@tuffymartinez]

Thank You Julian....I LOVE & look forward to ALL YOU DO!!!! ... Question - Between 14:23 to 14:36 in the background. Who is working on your easel? A future conservator in training?, a helper specializing in touchups?, a family member just playing around?, (none of my gosh darn business Tuffy?).... Your work FASINATES ME and watching each step is incredibly educational and entertaining!!!!.....TM

[@IanWatson]

On instagram last year, Julian advertised for -- and then hired -- an assistant, so that's probably them working on a different piece in the background.

[@twiseart]

@@IanWatson thank you for the info!!!

[@tuffymartinez]

@@IanWatson Thank You Ian....Geee a whole year ago.....( get with the program Tuffy ).....TM

[@Digital_Dreaming_]

Great eye!!!

[@auntkaz815]

Elementary, my Dear Watson! LOL, it HAD to be said! 🕵️‍♀️

[@MushroomCloudOfDoom]

I audibly gasped when you brought the second half of the painting into the frame. The sheer horror of a painting ripped in half! As always you worked a miracle. Thank you!!

[@ellesmerewildwood4858]

I'm wondering why you flattened one board but not the other. Still, the painting looks amazing and I'm sure the owner was thrilled. I'm also wondering if you have ever encountered an artwork that was simply too far gone to repair.

[@rosieb949]

And if flattening wasn't necessary, why not prepare that raw side with the "special sauce" so no future bowing would happen?

[@insederec]

I assume because repairs should be conservative. Thus, "conservation". If it's settled like that it's best to touch as little as possible

[@rosieb949]

Excellent answer

[@ApolloReloaded]

I guess if the board has not bowed over time yet, there is no reason to expect for it to bow in the future if you remember the graphic with the wood grain, maybe the part of the panel where the other half is, was with a grain structure that distorts only to a negliable degree

[@bleedblue4hockey]

@@insederec I agree with you but maybe also it has to do with the client’s wishes. I noticed on the front of the painting you could tell where the painting was in a frame. I would assume he would have “touched” that up if he had full permission on this painting.

[@trooperj9152]

Just curious, the painting is cleaned but looks like there's still a 'patina' of grime in the impasto. Is this out of caution of overcleaning or to keep it not looking too 'new'.

[@denaristergerian]

Noticed that too. And decided maybe both?

[@anagutierrez8455]

In this case it would be both you don't want it to lose its age by looking brand new he's just healing it

[@nerdpiggy]

i didnt know until i took an art history class that a lot of stuff that this dude says is actually controversial in parts of the art world. i used to just watch his videos and calmly nod along but now i hear him say things like "there is no such thing as a patina on a painting" and i gasp dramatically. what a bold statement! also in that class i wrote an essay about how the mona lisa has 500 years worth of grime on it and we NEED to clean it despite the amount of people who would consider it to be "destructive" or whatever. i just really want to see the mona lisa, like what it ACTUALLY looks like, instead of the layers upon layers of brown-yellow varnish on it. sorry that was a tangent great vid 👍🏻

[@arkaniist]

the mona lisa is a complicated case, because the technique used to paint her was so different than most paintings. it is unfortunately impossible to remove the many layers of varnish on her without damaging the painting itself. i can't remember if it was paint between many layers of varnish or colored varnish itself, but the result is the same - the painting you see today is inextricable from the varnish, it was created *with* the varnish. 😔 it really is very sad that da vinci didn't know the varnish would discolor so badly or he might have used a different technique...

[@charlie2.048]

Remember we only see the paintings that he DOES clean. We don't see the paintings where he and the owner end up deciding it would NOT be possible to safely do this restoration. The Mona Lisa would be one of those paintings. It's simply not possible based on the way she was painted to remove the varnish without damaging the paint layer. He is also a private business. Museums are beholden to any number of boards and committees that often prefer to be overly conservative in their decisions and the conservators who work for them must follow that ruling. On the other hand, the only person he has to work with is the owner of the paintings.

[@batfurs3001]

I once went to an art museum (against my will, not enough dinosaurs for my museum tastes) with a friend of mine who studied art and when I pointed out that 90% of the paintings there could use a good cleaning bc they're all yellowed and gross looking she just about fainted. Like. Why would you let it stay yellowed and gross when cleaning is possible. In cases like the mona lisa where the technique makes it all kinds of difficult to clean I'd understand, but I highly doubt most of the paintings in that museum would be impossible to clean lmao

[@gregpenismith1248]

Controversial how? And which statements?

[@francesconicoletti2547]

@@gregpenismith1248 the arguments I have seen have not been so much about patina as artistic intent. Many art historians have argued that those muddy browns that we see now is what the artist intended. I imagine that is why Julian puts so much emphasis on the ageing of the varnish. For example the controversy about the cleaning of the Sistine Chapel was epic. Even after the conservators had demonstrated that the chapel ceiling was coated in centuries of candle soot and layers of post Michelangelo varnish, some are art critics could not accept the restored bright “garish “ colours of the chapel were the original colours. They imagined some sort of brown varnish had been applied to the frescoes by Michelangelo to make the chapel match their taste.

[@marieokamoto8791]

Anyone else think Julian is like the Doctor working the Tardis controls when he is at the Clampinator?

[@molz505]

that first sweep of the varnish at 24:26 is NUTS omfg

[@lukemoisey7049]

Ummmm, what is the special sauce you used to replace the hydration in the panel??? For that matter, what solvent did you use to evaporate the water? As a chemist, I know of several solvents that will work fit that, but I didn’t see you use any protective gear. A bit concerning.

[@EricTrimbur]

Obviously I'm just speculating, but would something as simple as an alcohol work for speeding up the evaporation? I'm just as interested in the special sauce as you are, after looking closely at the video, the solution he is using can be seen labeled at 14:50 as "DPG" which is presumably dipropylene glycol. After some googling, it seems to be a water soluble solvent that has a very low evaporation rate. His seems to be more yellow than what I can find online, but it's the only thing that makes sense to me as more common things that don't evaporate like oils are not water soluble, and anything else I found was too exotic or expensive for him to have a huge container full.

[@bclairelarr]

Julian has mentioned previously that part of owning a conservation business is using proprietary solvents and materials for specialty processes. We probably won't get to know 🤷‍♀️

[@FiveTrackTape]

I'll guess Polyethylene glycol.

[@JDBComp]

Propylene glycol is used to conserve historical wood from boats etc so it might be that.

[@zlatan_2197]

I instantly knew you'll surely use clampinator for this one, because vertical pressure was necessity for this panel. I don't know why but I get so happy when it turns out I assumed correctly.

[@thehumblespinster]

you are one of my favourite youtubers. I save your videos for Saturday nights where I go to bed early with a load of potatoes, and I lie in bed, watch you work and eat potatoes as my way to recover from a week of work. thank you xxz

[@donhalley5622]

Too many comments to make! (1) I absolutely want this painting - gorgeous! (2) I can't believe how perfect the repair to the split went. (3) The mystery water replacement component can be Googled for the terminally curious, (4) Several audio glitches got overlooked in post, but nothing very detrimental. (5) I am so jealous of your mastery of color. You have an amazing eye. (6) This is one of your vest vids ever. So much great information. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@RobertWrightOneManCovers]

Love your content, Julian! Could you include a little more history about the paintings themselves? You often do, but not always -- I'd love to know the year this panel was painted, and a little something about the artist.

[@mortalclown3812]

That stuff is on his Patreon link.

[@Txur_Itan]

I'm really appreciating the frequent upload! ♥

[@kanexoxo]

Julian, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for uploading so often now. I've been going through such a tough time and I've been having trouble sleeping, and when I don't sleep I get severely depressed and my mood swings become more frequent, so I become out of control and make bad, sometimes life threatening decisions. I'm trying to get better and find ways to cope that are healthy and not harmful to me, and your videos truly do help calm me down and put me to sleep. Again, thank you so much for your content and hard work!

[@MsEJMcLaren]

The moment he put the first brush stroke of new varnish on this painting I gasped in delight! It went from boring and dull to full of life and color. Amazing!

[@bradquinn2859]

What woods are commonly used as panels? I know that some woods are more stable than others, but I'm wondering if they all receive oil paint equally well.

[@Excitable67]

I'm amazed at how great the painting looks cleaned up! It's quite nice! So much more detail is visible now! Never would I have figured that just putting water on the back of that panel would flatten it. I thought you'd have to steam it or something. Very cool!

[@shadymaru309]

Bless you for pronouncing raison d'etre. I just realized I don't think I've ever heard anyone say it aloud before.

[@StarryScribbles]

omg that brushing of the varnish was chef's kiss, actually stunning

[@annwagner5779]

It’s a lovely little painting and it’s wonderful to see you pull it back together. Could we see it in its frame? Since you mention how it is framed as one of the reasons the warp needed to be corrected, I’m curious to see that final result in the frame. I always love watching your work.

[@creatrixcorvusarts876]

Now I’m curious about what that 3rd ingredient is! I’m sure your mixture is proprietary, which is why you didn’t tell us? I hope your work was well received by the client.

[@open_flame3730]

This isn't the first time he has withheld a solution's composition from us. I imagine it's both because the mixture is proprietary, but also to prevent amateur conservators from trying to make the solution themselves and do damage to a painting.

[@renerpho]

@@open_flame3730 Very true. I guess the first reason is the main one, but if it prevents wanna-be chemists from doing damage to art then that's good, too. It's also possible, though less likely, that the ingredients of that component are problematic in some way. If, for example, Julian needs a license to buy some chemical X that is also used in the production of, say, Chrystal Meth, then not revealing it will protect us from trying to purchase that chemical.

[@lancewhite1477]

Possibly the same stuff as the Vasa and Mary Rose were sprayed with, PEG, PolyEthylene Glycol. I think it basically replaces the water in the wood cells with wax. Although in the ships case, they were sprayed for decades.

[@apcolleen]

@@lancewhite1477 oooh i was going to say glycerin! I guess he would want to avoud people accidentally poisoning themselves or a kid or an animal so yeh probably why he withheld.

[@trueppp]

Probably a Glycol of somesort...Useful on Axes and Hammers too. Dip the head in antifreeze for a day or two and it won't ever come loose again

[@hannahpratt3205]

I gasped out loud with that first stroke of fresh varnish, that sky came to LIFE

[@jefflea9239]

Your work is amazing and your videos are instructive. Some thirty years ago I had an administrative position with The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC. There was a Conservator there as well. I never went in to her studio because I didn't want to have an accident! But it looked like such fascinating work!

[@Vallenthorne]

Me: ok time to go to slee… why do I have a notification. Oh Baumgartner uploaded. Guess I’ll be going to sleep in 30 minutes

[@sirairness24]

Thats it. I've decided. I've seen too many of his videos and I've figured it out.... dude is a wizard. A legit wizard. Only way he can keep pulling this stuff off! lol another great piece man!! Well done!

[@dmcgee3]

Haven’t really watched the video yet, but I feel that ad. Spent all of lockdown woodworking and gardening. Now I have no time or energy and a garage with several half done projects and a garden growing weeds. I envy people that get two days off in a row.

[@Irish-Triplet]

There were people in this painting! You couldn't see them before. And maybe sheep? they are looking at. It's amazing how un-clouding and cleaning something can bring the light to something unseen before. It's like 2020-2021 are clearing out... Thanks for this one!

[@IlkkaVuoristo]

There is a way to make wood panels that are more stable. It requires that the timber is sawn radially. With this method all the wood fibers go in the same direction on the board and when the wood dries it doesn't distort much. This is of course a time-consuming, specialist job which wastes a lot of the timber. Therefore the panels are very expensive.

[@marianmagdy123]

The fact that you designed and built a machine like this is so impressive and mind blowing 👏🏼

[@biancap3943]

He made a video when he built the clampinator.

[@favouritemoon4133]

IIRC Julian also made the plans for it available to others for free.

[@brianaheisermann5918]

This is the first time I *really* appreciated removing old varnish. It looked so bad I actually thought “why would anyone want to spend money conversing that?”. Then I saw it when it was cleaned and went holy s**t I get it now!

[@XLseattle]

What a lovely landscape by George Whitaker - so glad you were able to restore it

[@golddragonette7795]

Ah PEG, the same thing we use to stabilise waterlogged artefacts, inc the Mary Rose!

[@lihigers1290]

If it is PEG than it is either really low weight one or highly diluted one because that substance was completely watery.

[@golddragonette7795]

@@lihigers1290 it does come in a massive range of molecule sizes, and it's a thin piece of wood compared to most archaeological equivalents

[@kellygregg8123]

Love how many videos you've put out recently! ❤️

[@douglascampbell1695]

As an artist self taught, any and all good information is valuable. As an example I am saving thousands of dollars on frameing my own work's so thank you for your videos and yes they are relaxing...

[@tiffanyholman4028]

I hope Julian knows that the meditative quality he gets from watching Anne and Josh is exactly what he does for all of us. Also, my little professional chef's heart is soaring, hearing Julian talk about "mise."

[@sondereve]

why was no isolation layer applied does anyone know? how does the retouching work without matching the colours to the varnished version

[@sueparras6028]

Just LOVE how often you use the word "problematic", it's so interesting.

[@carol-anns1549]

Honestly, we can see how proud you are of the Clampinator and when you show and explain its use, and you sure can be proud of your work in designing it! It does precisely what it was designed to do and I'm sure it makes your work easier and it seems much safer for the paintings. I love your videos btw!

[@anna9072]

What a lovely little painting. I’m so glad they brought it to you to clean and repair, I hope they were thrilled to see that transformation.

[@DocWilco]

The lack of labels on Julian's chemicals is giving us slight anxiety... 😅

[@joeb4142]

In a previous video Julian mentioned that his insurance company wouldn’t let him get specific about the types of solvents he used.

[@alyciagabrielle1203]

When the varnish was taken, I could really feel the painting. What a amazing work, thanks Julian. 💖

[@Joe___R]

Carving kitchen utensils is also one of my favorite hobbies. Making someone an object they can use everyday for the rest of their lives and pass it on to their children for generations is a great ability to have.

[@jackiechow860]

Thank you Julian. The increased frequency of uploads makes my nights easy

[@shanettequao9043]

Not even a minute in and I’m already horrified and intrigued as to how this panel painting will be fixed!

[@Tinyvalkyrie410]

It’s really interesting to me how many of these videos have errors in the narration audio. Baumgartner is so precise about everything, so it’s always surprising to hear the mistakes. I can’t decide if it’s charming or annoying…probably both. Anyways, it’s always lovely to see a new upload, and the return of the clampinator!

[@lightlaughter4992]

I'm trying to imagine the owner's reaction to this incredible transformation ... completely awed, I guess. Brilliant job and excellent video! Thank you so much!

[@dibbuk5730]

Always a joy to see a painting return to its' bright coloration.

[@jessicalutz0315]

I have a question! A little while back you mentioned (and showed) that you were trying out a new retouching paint because you thought they might be more optimal than what you were using previously. Have you stuck with those new ones, or have you gone back to what you were using prior?

[@heatherk1929]

That’s the first time I’ve ever watched the entire add. I was pleasantly surprised to see Anne and Josh featured!

[@chrisdavis1722]

I like that you included how wood acts and how you combat its natural tendencies. It’s very interesting and insightful. Great job 👍

[@MrMomo182]

Oh no! It split perfectly down the middle somehow. I'll just have to use the Clampenator..... What's this small hatchet doing here?

[@pheotus]

At 10:40. Is that a hidden message buried in the audio?

[@miran248]

A sign of parallel universes colliding

[@TheEternalGoth]

Every time Julian says "Clampinator" I wait to hear "Doomenshmirtz Evil Incorporated"

[@slotho122]

I love that clamping device you invented. It’s really a marvel for me.

[@CritterHunter]

Did he ever address why he painted over the letters on the painting in last video?

[@calypzo69]

Which video? Last video was a master. I've never seen him do that if it's original to the painting. Maybe my mind is going...

[@CritterHunter]

@@calypzo69 ya the icon. He covered the halo writing

[@calypzo69]

@@CritterHunter Gonna watch again. 😯 Update: My blood went cold when I saw it. This man is meticulous. He did address it in his comment section, in full. I use these videos for pain and saw some shapes but didn't put a mind to it until later. Thought Justin believed it was someone else's attempt to alter or forge. I did think about who would have painted it because usually there are words around the halos to show that they are certain saints in particular. Since I saw nothing on the woman, didn't expect anything on the child, again suspicious. That and my phone is small and oldish. Like he says, he's human after all. Thank God for his reversible tecniques. From now on, I hope I don't miss anything. Thanks for commenting. I would've never known.

[@CritterHunter]

@@calypzo69 read the comments. Everyone is wondering

[@ahmadarida9058]

Kinda curious. The hide glue is soluble to water. There are a number of steps after the hide glue removal that use water, such as removal of the fill-in medium, and water-based paint. With so little fill-in medium, and such a thin joint for the hide glue, is there concern that the water could compromise the hide glue in the wood joint? Also, I was curious why both panels weren't treated to water-exchange process.

[@JoelVela13]

He covers the glue joint when he applies the most water, the other ones are after flattening the painting so the joint could easily reglued

[@M.Campbell]

Only the one side warped. The other side was stable and didn't need the treatment. The old saying "If it isn't broken, don't fix it" applies literally, in this case.

[@galba2715]

My most favourite part of your video is applying the solvent because it really make the paint color pop up

[@katherinejacoby4433]

I'm totally sending this video to Dan Povenmire bcuz u, sir, built an "inator" & he def is the master of the "inator"...love these...

[@Discotechque]

Congratulations, Mr. Baumgartner! You are our lucky winner of a lifetime supply (terms and conditions apply) of 10 mm staple wires. Going forward please furnish the form attached to this email for us to send you your prize. Please expect the shipping time to be longer than normal due to our logistics staff misplacing their gas coupons due to lack of staples. Thank you and have a good day.

[@arranaburden5667]

Evil! Profane! (Hilarious 😆)