# Retouching paintings without ruining them

**URL:** <https://www.smartermarx.com/t/retouching-paintings-without-ruining-them/1773>\
**Category:** General Painting\
**Created:** [May 30, 2023, 4:32pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/retouching-paintings-without-ruining-them/1773 "2023-05-30T16:32:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jose1373784](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/jose1373784/32/266_2.png) [@jose1373784](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/jose1373784)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 4:32pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/retouching-paintings-without-ruining-them/1773/1 "2023-05-30T16:32:32Z")

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I have this painting that have these white dots/scratches that need to be fixed. My experience with retouching only these small parts is that when I try to match the original color I could never do so…when the painting is wet It seems like I´m doing so, but as soon as the painting is dry it shows one color/value different from each other. I had better success painting the whole background or foreground but for a scracth like this it might need more than one layer.

What do you think? How do you fix tiny scratches like this without ruining/altering the painting?

Thanks!

 ![image2](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/smartmarx/original/2X/2/2ea393ed0453f634bb99dfac747cf1c5caec9e3c.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Ccaubin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/ccaubin/32/2712_2.png) [@Ccaubin](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/Ccaubin)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 4:37am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/retouching-paintings-without-ruining-them/1773/2 "2023-06-09T04:37:17Z")

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I usually oil out the surface, this brings back a semblance of what it is when wet, and it’s easier to match the color, That said, I also usually go in stages with a layer or two over the spot, you also have to inpaint the spot, I go darker otherwise the white shines out and makes the color brighter. Watch the Baumgartener Restoration channel on You Tube…. I’ve learned a lot from that, you can skip to the parts where he’s repainting lost areas….he uses a special restorative non oil paint that is reversible but you can learn some of the things he does and adapt. Here is a link to one just to get you there [Beauty and Brawn Part 2 - YouTube](https://youtu.be/c-DQi6z2TNw)

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**Author:** ![jose1373784](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/jose1373784/32/266_2.png) [@jose1373784](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/jose1373784)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 5:10am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/retouching-paintings-without-ruining-them/1773/3 "2023-06-11T05:10:50Z")

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Thank you, Colleen for your and kind and helpful reply! I repainted the whole background and foreground, and managed to hide the blemishes using thicker applications of paint. I will try to experiment the method you have suggested me and just try to work and match just one small area of the panting.

I also want to thank you for sending me that video link, it´s so interesting and much to learn about how conservators restore and match different parts of the painting. I´m definately a new fan of that conservator channel! Thanks so much!!!