pileofcraft

The lovely thing about this piece is that the signature is really visible.  Sometimes handwriting, paint and all matter of materials prevent a good reading on a signature.  Heron’s name was right there.  It was also printed on the original frame in a lovely brass plate which made things extremely simple.

Now comes the fun part.  I started looking in a variety of places for a painter with the last name of Heron.

Painters sold at auction with the last name "Heron"

Lucky me, there were quite a few, men and women that had been sold at auction with the last name of “Heron.”

One by one I looked at what work was documented.  I was looking for style, but more importantly I was looking for a match in signature.

None of the images allowed too much of a close up, however one did link to a very interesting auction that caught my eye.  Now I know the images is of a port, European, with a steam powered boat as well as sail boats (this helps to date) I also know that in the lower right corner it appears to be what resembles lobster or crab. ( I noticed the bold cadmium color in an initial cleaning of the piece, but this was definitely not Maine or American, or South America (Buildings))

Most recent auction records for James Heron

James Heron of Scotland just happened to have two auctions that involved Lobster.  Maybe he was my man!

So I did what any girl would do late at night and with no Art History Subscription service – I googled.  James Heron just happened to have a watercolor that sold in Ireland via ebay recently.  I was hoping the seller had some “enlarge” details so I could get a good look at the signature.  It’s very difficult to match an artist any other way.  Lots of painters will do studies in the style of one artist or another as a way to understand and explore their own practice.  This was a watercolor so it would be hard to match, however there were some close-ups to look at.

James Heron Watercolor sold in Ireland

It was a beautiful piece.  The best part was the signature!

Here is my oil signature:

Signature in lower left of oil painting "Heron"

Slightly different, but the strokes appear to be the same.  We do have to keep in mind that this was a different medium and signatures do change.  I am pretty determined that “James Heron” painted my lobster fishermen.  I do need to determine the port city to verify everything.  Still, it was a great day for researching.

So, this is what we have to work with.  There is a nice signature in the lower left corner,  the tears are not horrific (the line up and no large chucks are missing), the canvas fibers are large and can be rewoven carefully.

I was excited to see a nameplate on the extremely heavy plaster and gold frame (Researching this artist might not be a massive venture).

Okay, so I have decided that instead of joining up with a painting a day, or some other massive project I would end up abandoning after a few months, I have decide to document and share one of my secret hobbies.

Most teenagers run off each summer to the beaches of the East Coast, I however, went to an Art Restorationist’s Studio in Flanders, New Jersey.

I studied for several years and then continued to study under another Restorationist in Baltimore during my college years.  Grad School came around and as a way to get away from the studio I worked at the Art Institute of Chicago on a special project that again had me restoring work.  I loved making art too much to give it up to repair others, however I have always felt the need to restore a painting that have fallen on hard times.

There is something wonderful about cleaning years of cigarette smoke, dead gnats, leaking ceiling juice and other battle wounds off a canvas.  In my work I have discovered second signatures, hidden details and wonderful artistic anomalies that make it all worth while.

I did an initial section cleaning of this piece just to test, and I am already excited (I found lobsters!)  Okay, some of you may question this, however when a dark carbon covered painting assaults you with a tiny hint of the most beautiful cadmium, and you realize the story in the painting is of fishermen off the coast of Europe it is the most amazing feeling.

*Do not attempt these procedures at home, without supervision or proper training.  All techniques used on this painting as well as all the works I have completed are 100% reversible and done to protect the integrity of the work.

This blog with document the restoration of a lovely painting that my father discovered in a gentleman’s basement.  I hope you check back and enjoy the process.