Oil Painting Tear Filling - Gesso?

[Bill]

I have an oil painting with a tear that has been repaired by sewing the
canvas and a canvas patch applied to the back. The sewing is about one inch
long and about an eighth of an inch wide. The repair is slightly below the
surface of the painting (indentation) and I would like to fill it with
something so that it will be smooth. (Then paint the filling to match the
painting.)

All I can find on the internet is someone said to use a "gesso like
substance" for this. What should I use to fill the tear? Also I read that
the touch-up painting should be reversible. It is an oil painting and I
will be using oil paints to touch it up. (But only on the tear portion.) Is
there something I should apply first before painting and/or filling? Or
should I use a special paint?

[keith o'connor (tinmangallery.com)]

If it is a very valuable painting - an
excellent example of an historically
significant artist - have a professional
do it.

take care: keith

[Bob & Dale Ford]

Oh for sure.

I wouldn't touch it if it was worth any thing. Better to leave it as is or have a
pro do it. Restoration is quite a skill and way to many variables involved for
you to have much of a chance for a success.
Dale

[Misty Ayed]

In article <3B05F80B...@mb.sympatico.ca>, bdf...@mb.sympatico.ca says...

>
>Oh for sure.
>
>I wouldn't touch it if it was worth any thing. Better to leave it as is or
have
>a
>pro do it. Restoration is quite a skill and way to many variables involved for
>you to have much of a chance for a success.
>Dale

There is a wonderfully informativew web site
for the Western Association of Art Conservators:

http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/waac/

Check out their resource and papers pages on
conservation methods. You'll soon realize that
conservation isn't for the amateur, for sure.
And on the other hand, if someone is bound and
determined to do-it-themself, this site provides
invaluable pointers.