Workshop Modern resins for varnishing and retouching

by Jill Whitten, Robert Proctor & René de la Rie

8th - 10th June 2020 | SRAL Studios
PROGRAMME
Many different materials have been used for varnishing and retouching. Traditionally, natural resins were primarily used for this purpose. In the 20th century synthetic polymers were introduced. These are often chemically and physically more stable than their natural counterparts. The optical properties of varnishes are however largely controlled by their molecular weight. By using synthetic low molecular weight resins for varnishing and retouching, an appearance similar to that obtained using natural resins can be achieved. Factors affecting stability and appearance, as well as application methods and solvents suitable for these new resins, will be discussed. The workshop will focus on synthetic low molecular weight resins and how they differ from polymers and dammar. Participants will use practical sessions to evaluate the properties of resins used as varnishes in terms of their application and appearance. Through these practical sessions and demonstrations, participants will establish how the choice of resin, solvent or stabiliser will affect the properties of the varnish not only on application but subsequently upon ageing. Participants will leave the master class with an individual canvas board (60x80cm) on which at least 15 varnish recipes have been tested.

René de la Rie (University of Amsterdam & CRCC, Paris) is currently chercheur associée at the Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation des Collections (CRCC/CNRS), Paris and a guest researcher at the UvA. He was head of the scientific research department at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC from 1989 until 2012, a position endowed by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Jill Whitten received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art at the University of Texas, Austin. She studied conservation at Buffalo State College, where she received a Master of Arts and a Certificate in Conservation. She has worked as a conservator and undertaken resin research at the Art Institute of Chicago, J. Paul Getty Museum and the National Gallery of Art.

Robert Proctor has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Tulane University in New Orleans and a Master of Arts and Certificate of Conservation from Buffalo State College. He trained in Munich at the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, worked at the Saint Louis Art Museum, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Jill Whitten and Robert Proctor have been in private practice in Houston, Texas since 1998. They work on private and institutional collections.

WORKSHOP FEES

Early Bird: € 850 (before 1st April) Standard € 950

Fees will include lunches.
Language: English
Social Event: an opt-in dinner (at own costs) will be organised for the group on Tuesday 9th June

There will be 20 places available for emerging professionals and mid-career conservators.

Registration requests should be sent to info@sral.nl by 15th April 2020

Accommodation and Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the participant. Discount bookings for
accommodation at Townhouse Design Hotel through SRAL.

Organisers: Kate Seymour and Siska Losse

Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg (SRAL)
Avenue Ceramique 224
6221 KX Maastricht
The Netherlands

T.: +31(0)43 3218444
www.sral.nl