Fixing a tear

[IslanderNL]

I'm in the process of drawing this cosmos and was removing some pigment from the flower with sticky tape. Unfortunately, it lifted a small layer of paper with it centrally in the flower, which you may be able to see here. How do I deal with the now roughened area of paper?

Will it be noticeable if I go over it with cp or should I sand it down a little to a smoother surface. The paper is Bristol Vellum, so it has a little texture already.

Any advice would be welcome.

[Elen]

Hi, Jeanette! It`s really a pity - such a beautiful painting ! Although,I cannot see,where the tear you are talking about is... I`m sorry,I cannot help you ,I`ve read here about somebody having the similar problem,and as far as I remember,the solution was to go over the damaged place with a white pencil (or colourless blender ? ) to even out the area... But I am not sure,that it will suit the type of your paper...Well, as you see,I am of no help,sorry about that,hope,somebody more expierienced will pop in and help you .

[faula]

I can't see where the area is on the paper, and I haven't used that paper before so I probably wont be that much help either. When this has happened to me on other surfaces I have had to try to stay away from that area because the CP act differently on the ripped surface, and that area stands out like a sore thumb. You could try sanding it down, but I would think that even doing that might change the surface too much and it would be more noticeable. Hope someone can help, so that we can all get some advice

[ocmd123]

Jeanette, I am also just throwing out a suggestion. I do work with Bristol, but have not yet (only a matter of time, I imagine!) had this problem. My thought is try to smooth it out with a colorless blender (lightly, you don't want an indentation there, as well), and then spray the whole thing with workable fixative. You will likely have to go very light on that area just to get the color that you want, but *hopefully*, you will be able to smooth the surface so that it doesn't appear different.
I would also suggest that you replicate your problem on a scrap piece of paper and try the solutions you have been given. Your drawing is beautiful! I love the background.
Please post back here with the solution you went with and how it worked for you. (I, for one, would really like to know, for future reference! )

[pinkrybns]

^^^^^^
Try what Elaine (ocmd123) said, and yes, try it out first on a scrap.

I don't work on Bristol and I don't use tape to lift color precisely because of what happened to you. I prefer poster putty for lifting color and a small battery powered eraser when I need it.

Also, some folks suggest using Frisket film to lift cp color since it is low tack and you won't run the risk of tearing your paper surface.

[IslanderNL]

Thanks for the suggestions which I will try on a scrap first to see what happens. The tear has lifted a thin layer of paper and perhaps luckily, it is on the white section of the flower. I'm now wondering if I can just work around it and use the torn section as pure white.

I usually use poster putty or an electric eraser too Judy. I was being lazy this morning and didn't want to go upstairs to my studio and get them. Sigh.

[pinkrybns]

Hmm, yes you could just work around it if you can, if it's in the white "white" of the flower. Do you have a colorless blender pencil? You could lightly fill a little in the empty tear area with the colorless blender pencil and leave it alone don't add anything else... it wouldn't show if you do it lightly - but test that first too!

Good Luck! it's a lovely drawing, btw.

[RobinZ]

IF that doesn't work, I'd try lightly sanding that whole section, coat with colorless blender, then spray with workable fixative, and several layers of white. If the borders of the damaged section hit natural borders, I don't think it will be as noticable.

[RobinZ]

I never use tape anymore either, it happened to me on stonehenge.

[scottsart]

You know I had never heard of the poster puddy being used that way until the class with Ann Kulberg. That idea is genius!!! It lifts the color well and you can roll entire sections.

[CRYork]

Jeanette, I have repaired damage to my paper (that was caused by using tape to remove color) by burnishing with white until the area is smooth. If that is a white area anyway, that is probably all you have to do. Otherwise, I would spray with workable fixative before adding another color over the area.

Thanks, Scott and Judy! I will definitely buy some poster putty and give it a try. I bought a battery operated eraser a month ago, and it works great! It removes color all the way down to the paper. It is a little hard to handle for me, though.

Your flower is beautiful, Jeanette! I hope you save the drawing.

Char

[TessDB]

Jeannette-- Your flower is *so* lovely, I hope you'll be able to save it!

Anything I would have suggested has been mentioned, so I'll just 2nd the idea of posting your tests to show what worked and what didn't!

Rosemary

[Mary Woodul]

Jeanette, I don't see the tear, of course I know it is different when you look at something IRL but it is a gorgeous piece. I wouldn't fool around with it too much. I think Judy's suggestion of the colorless blender sounds good, although I am surely no expert.

[IslanderNL]

Thank you all for your wonderfull suggestions. As the tear was in the white section of the flower, I lightly went over it with colourless blender and it worked perfectly! You'd never say there was a problem.

A light spray of fixative and I can seamlessly blend it in with a little shading on the sides. Phew!!!

What a great place this is to have so many kind people willing to help out. Thank you all again. I'll post an update when the piece is finished with a closeup of the 'amended' area.

Poster putty and eraser close at hand from now on!!

[ocmd123]

Yeah! So glad it worked! This is a beautiful piece!