Art supplies are expensive, and accidents happen. Let's learn how not to waste both time and money.

Recently on a trip through the clearance section of my local art store, I snagged a total bargain: a package of two 16x20" canvases for $2.40. Why so cheap, you ask? The front canvas had a nasty tear through the middle of it, and the second canvas was pretty dented, too. Now, I have no idea how these particular canvases were damaged, given that the wrapping was perfectly fine, but I'll take art supplies at prices like that any day.

I've been an artist my entire life. My mother said that most kids went crazy at Toys-R-Us and the candy aisle. But us? She says she couldn't take us anywhere near the store without walking out with a new project. So I've learned a thing or two in over a decade or creating.

My first instinct was to use Mod-Podge on the front, but it still felt structurally weak. Walking around the house at 2 am reveals no loose canvas in sight, so– naturally– the next thing I reach for is packaging tape and a glue stick. I tore off a few pieces about an inch longer than the tear on both sides and applied it to the back of the canvas.

Just to make sure it was secure, I liberally applied glue to the edges of the tape as well, massaging it into the unprimed fabric one layer at a time.

Needless to say, I now have two canvases that were acquired for around $5 total, and for a poor college student, I wish that happened more often!

The internet is your best friend when it comes to DIY repairs.

According to About.com– one of my favorite sites to hit up for help– the best way to repair the issue is to cut a circle of canvas– or heavy-weight paper if you don't have any canvas on hand– and adhere it the back of the canvas using white craft glue or acrylic gesso. Then turn the canvas over and place it between two books so that the glue is firmly pressed into the canvas.

If you're worried about ruining the books with glue spill-over, you can line them with aluminum foil or wax paper. Once the glue is thoroughly dry (about an hour, depending on the humidity and temperature), you can go over the front of the canvas with a fresh layer of gesso.

Obviously, this fix isn't for canvases that have already been painted– that fix is for another time– but I think a very similar format could work, given a little more care and perhaps some clear varnish instead of gesso. In the end, ingenuity can solve almost any problem, it just takes a little more thinking sometimes than it does for others.

Sources:

http://painting.about.com/od/paintingforbeginnersf...