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Now You Can Restore Your Own Priceless Art

by Joanne Gonzales updated 03/04/2021, 9:49 pm 1.7k Views

before and after photos of the Jsus fresco that was painted over by the old woman in Spain

Every time I see another mention of a well-meaning citizen who took it upon themselves to try to restore a 1,000 year-old piece of art back to its shiny fresh origins, I feel equal parts horrified and giggly.

The (re)finished piece is always cartoonishly hilarious, the piece of art becomes famous, and I imagine the person who did it in wide-eyed confusion that anyone would be upset with them.

I started to think about what it would be like to grab a paint brush and tub of acrylics, head out to the Art Institute for the day and see what I could make prettier!

In lieu of vandalizing multi-million dollar masterpieces, here is a way we can all collab with Van Gogh or the ancient Greeks without being thrown in the clink for our efforts.

I’ve compiled a group of visual masterpieces and religious relics for you to either: print out and paint or draw all over, or import into the graphic editor of your choice and restore them back to their original glory. Whatever you perceive that to be.

Watch a real conservator at work if you need some help getting into your role:

It wouldn’t be fair of me to leave out viral sensation, “Monkey Jesus”, aka Ecco Homo, painted by Elias Garcia Martinez, and then made much more hilarious by Cecilia Gimenez in 2012.

Below is the original for you to download, and below that is the makeover of the painting. You can proudly wear the Cecilia Gimenez version on a t-shirt by Nerdist here.

Study for an Equestrian Monument, Antonio Pollaiuolo, early to mid 1480s The Met

Anthony van Dyck, Self Portrait, 1630, etching, The Met

He obviously forgot to draw the rest of himself, so we should help.

The oldest Byzantine icon of Mary, c. 600, encaustic, at Saint Catherine’s Monastery

Aphrodite, 2nd century B.C. Greece The Met

Aphrodite lost her head and arms, poor dear.

Portrait of a young girl, 1st century (Portrait of the poetess Sappho?) Image source

Landscapes of Autumn and Winter(Winter), Sesshu source

This obviously needs livening up so it doesn’t look so somber.

Headdress Wood-Sculpture 19-20th century Nigeria; Ejagham Cross River Wood, leather, metal, bone, cane, paint Met

Here are some of my experiments, made entirely in PicMonkey, for your inspiration.

If you’d like more inspiration, check out these art restoration fails.

What do you think?

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Written by Joanne Gonzales

Joanne Gonzales has a passion for getting creative. Whether she is making personalized DIY gifts or taking part in larger arts and crafts projects, she puts her all into making new and beautiful things.

She lives with a group of close friends and believes in the natural way of life. Joanne has built an outdoor arts and crafts gallery that overlooks the countryside in her hometown, which is where all of her creations come to life.

Art started off as a hobby, but over time Joanne has mastered her skills and sold some of her favorite pieces. She works full time as a florist and has done for many years. It helps keep her creative juices flowing and she hopes to one day open her own florist shop with a twist.