Wood That It Were So Simple: Conserving a Split Panel Painting Part 5 

Hey folks, since many of you asked; the white dot in the eye was not paint or a glint. It was a chip in the paint layer that was filled in and retouched. It looks odd that the eye has no flint or highlight, and at one point it may have but was lost during another cleaning. I’d love to add one but injecting narrative into the painting isn’t my job and so as much as it cries out for a highlight- I’m not the artist and as such cannot add that. Bummer I know but thems the breaks.

"Put up with a five part series." Listen, Julian, I'd watch a 20 part series if you put one out, these potato chips aren't gonna eat themselves.

So when is this documentary getting an Oscar? Best thing I've seen in 5 years.

Client: "Excellent work! Would you like the payment in cash or check?" Julian: "You owe me one soul."

I understand most clients want to keep their privacy, but if there's ever a client willing to share their reaction I'd love to see it. Question as well: Have there ever been paintings that you refused to conserve? What circumstances would cause you to refuse a painting?

Julian: *thanking us for watching a 5 part series* Also Julian: *giving us fans the best film of the summer*

Julian: Makes a restorative art channel for other people in the community to come together and see different techniques The comments: 👁👄👁 w e s t a n. We don’t know what’s happening but w e s t a n

Julian: So you can stay up at 3am, sitting on your bed, eating potato chips, binging on your favourite art conservation videos Me: YOU DON'T NEED TO CALL ME OUT LIKE THIS! *munch a potato chip*

Imaging being the client and watching this. Mans built a table especially for this painting.

“Put up with a five part series” as if I haven’t been eagerly waiting for each episode.

Before restoration: This painting has been defiled by bad conservationists After restoration: This is my baby now, look how beautiful it is

Julian, dressed as Gandalf: Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship The crowd: *crying uncontrollably*

Julian: *says something educated* Me(someone who doesn't know what's going on a lot of the time):*nods head* Yes, of course.

My heart exploded with affection when he mentioned eating potato chips in bed at 3am watching his videos. He knows us.

The retouching needs to be invisible...just like your internet trafick Julian.... you did it again

“Put up with” is the wrong phrase. “Enjoyed” is more like it. True craftsmanship my friend. Absolutely brilliant.

Julian: *makes hydraulic table and reads thousands of pages to fix painting* also Julian: eye scary :o(

I've got to say, your commentary especially during the retouching process was excellent. In the past you have always done an excellent job of explaining the process and your decision-making. But this time I also felt like we were given a view of how you feel while retouching. Telling us about how you focus on something fun first and leave a 'cherry' and the end of your work made me realize how much you love your job and made me feel like I love it too. Thank you again for what I'm sure was a very lengthy restoration which I bet took an equally long time to record and edit. You've provided myself and many others a view into a line of work that we may have not gotten to see otherwise. To be frank, this series is in my opinion on par with some of the things I've seen from the Smithsonian. You are not just showing us your work and the pieces you are working on. You're taking us on a journey.

Julian outing himself as an Anime fan in the middle of a classical art restoration is legendary.

10:40 did he just acknowledge all those „staying in bed, eating potato chips“ comments 😂

Julien: "Final video in this series... really I promise" Also Julien: EPILOGUE

Me to myself, spraying krylon clear coat onto my quarantine paint-by-number: "Now, spray a second coat from a height to achieve that crystalized effect"

me every time julian shows us the finished product: dang he really just did that.

10:40 i can HEAR him smiling. how dare you call all of us out like this.

I feel emotionally attached to this painting and this series lmao , I don’t want it to end .

Me: I'm gonna catch this ad this time. "The retouching really does need to be invisible... you know.. just like your internet traffic." *Shocked* Got me this time!

Julian really said we “put up with” a five part series like we wouldn’t have watched the entire process in real time, completely absorbed

imagine: a youtube channel 100yrs from now, whose videos are dedicated to checking up on all of Julian’s restored works, ‘where are they now’ style

This could've been a 27 part series and we would eat it up.

Anyone else want a “Julian reacts to botched restoration paintings” video? 👀

I wanted to say that i loved sooo much that kind of, vulnerable moment around "the eye" thing. Its nice to know a bit of what is passing trough your mind while you work. How you cope with the anxiety that such responsibility provokes. You even give us life lessons! With that being said, man, what a GREAT conservator you are. I mean, AMAZING. Such a true passion can be sensed from not only every one of your proyects, but even every one of your words! I truly admire you Julian!

Julian: The eyes are the super-focal point of the painting. Me: but that nose

I like that you can see how long the retouching took by tracking the healing of the wound on the knuckle of his thumb.

I love that this chanel created a comunity with inside jokes and attachment to paintings we’ve never seen IRL

It's 2023, it's my birthday, I'm 60 yrs old today. I'm bingeing this series, and as many more as I can listen to! I love this man, his voice is truly what I see! Julien, thank you so much for this! Have a great day, I am!

About the eyes, I know that in some Asian painting styles, you leave the eyes for last - especially on dragons and possibly for other mythical figures? I've seen/heard about this with both traditional Japanese tattoos, and chinese watercolors. Because once you add the eyes, you give the drawing life - and you don't do that when it's not fully formed. Also, consider the Daruma figurines. They are made with their eyes blank, and one paints the first eye when making a wish or a goal. They then paint in the other when it comes true.

it's kinda adorable how Julian thinks a 5 part series is enough and we wouldn't sit here for a 15 part series on the same shit

previous conservator: *skins painting and removed wood* julian: *building machinery and a backing system and trying to give the eyes a soul* “and you did this, for what?”

This did not feel "slow" or "longwinded." It was fascinating, and I watched the entire process in complete awe. Beautiful, amazing work.

"Even ExpressVPN can't keep you safe from... grossness" I feel personally attacked.

"It's not like using a layer of polyurethane" Julian, don't even joke.

I desperately want to see the client's reaction to this painting. I feel emotionally attached to this painting right now. So, Could you maybe be do a follow up video telling us what the client thought and your final thoughts on this painting?

We all were literally watching paint dry throughout a 5-part series, and I can't wait for more.

5 part series. 30 part series. Doesn't matter. We love it all and will happily sit through each and every video you make, Julian!!!!!

A theory on the eye retouching: When I was in mortuary school, we had a class called “Restorative Art”. It covered facial structure, damage repair, color theory, cosmetics, etc. One thing they taught us was that in life, we we focus on the eyes. In death, we focus on the mouth. When preparing a body, I always saved the mouth for last. I think you save the eye for last for the same reason. Once you get that right, your focus is pulled towards it and you can miss other smaller things.

Him: Adding the medium to fill in the gaps. My half asleep brain: Ah yes we must caulk the painting.

I only discovered Julian today and watched a couple of his painting restorations / conservations with interest. Part 1 of this was next up and when I saw the state of the piece I was intrigued to see how he could possibly do anything with it. So now here I am over 2.5 hours later; The chemistry, the science, the engineering, the ingenuity, the suspense, the surprise, the artist, the resolution... hands down the most engrossing and mesmeric thing I have watched in forever. Aside from everything I just said, I'm speechless.

As I lay here in my hospital bed (non covid), this finale gave me a real reason to smile. The artistic skill, passion, OCD(?).... are so evident in this series both in the video production and the outcome of the deep, rich, beautiful painting. I could listen to his voice for hours! Thank you for the time and care you put into sharing your work with all of us.

Julian: This is the last video, I promise. Me: [sad noises]

My sister called while I was watching this. Sister: Hey, could you look up BLANK. Me: Sure. I'm just watching a guy fix a painting. Sister: ........Baumgartner?

I'm not fat. I just have a high molecular weight.

I never though at restoration could have me on the edge of my seat! I never knew it was so fascinating! I also never realized just how involved and complicated it was! You do an remarkable job of narrating and explaining what you are doing and why and you make it so interesting! I have a deep respect and admiration for you and your Craft. I love your work ethics.

Me encountering dried duct tape residue yesterday... “I need a dulled scalpel!” (then scraping and thinking that the previous person addressing this metal windowsill was a FOOL to use something that was not easily reversible)😆

Julian: "Its the last one, i promise." Me: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I usually pride myself on being able to call out when Julian is about to segue into an ad, but I didn't see it coming this time. Props to him LOL

The way he said “sitting in you’re bed at 3am eating potato chips” was PAINFULLY accurate.

"So you can stay up till 3am, sitting in your bed, eating potato chips, binging on your favourite art restoration videos" Julian truly knows who he is catering to ♥

Yup, that there man's got himself a pickle jar full o' resin.

Julien: *says something profound and inspiring* Me: Please don't be an ad. please don't be and ad. please don't be an ad.

It's 2 AM, I'm eating a buttercookie and binging my favourite art conservator. And it really crumbles. My God.

Julian: "procrastinating the hard work" Me: if Julian Baumgartner procrastinates WHO AM I not to?!

"The conservator I am now is a better one than the conservator I was before this painting arrived at the studio." I got chills when you said this Julian. As heartbreaking and challenging as 2020 has been for me, I am grateful for the woman I am now, and still yet the woman I will be when we emerge after it. May we all look for the hidden gifts within the challenges laid before us this year ❤ And thank you Julian for taking us along on this wild 5 b part ride. I can't wait to go back and rewatch it all again!

It never ceases to amaze me, the way you thoughtfully bring these pieces of nearly lost art back from the brink of utter disaster. Beautiful work.

10:41 No! You're wrong! It's 3PM and I'm laying on the COUCH eating potato chips xD

There is a moment in all your retouching scenes where it goes from “yup, lots of dots” to “omg it’s so smooth!” and I eagerly await that moment each time because it is so so satisfying. ETA: also your life lessons are on point.

What I find impressive over and over again: The deep passion and love shown in this videos. I don't know if “impressive“ is a good term, but this is what stuck ne on the channel: Someone who not only loves his profession but also the art he is working at. It is a bit like a doting mother to her child: “Oh sweetie, that must hurt. Let me kiss it better and put this fully reversible band aid on it“

Some day I just want to appreciate my job like Julian does.

When is this guy getting his own TV show??? Seriously, I'd watch him for hours retouching painting and discussing the conservation of paintings, sculptors and so much more!

"nobody's gonna know what you were doing at 3am, though, i would recommend you vacuum up your bed" JULIAN-

julian: *thanks us for watching a 5-part series* me, an essential worker who can now only relax by watching these videos: no, thank YOU KING

I'm a artist myself and honestly this is so satisfying seeing a person take care into every detail of a painting, it's makes me feel proud of who I am knowing there are people like him that will maybe one day take care of one of my artworks. Keep up the good work!

Imagine the guy in the picture sitting on a cloud looking down onto Julian’s master workmanship. ☁️

"put up with" a 5 parter? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. WE LOVED IT. This turned out so amazing. The entire time I was like "jfc how much does a restoration like this cost to get done?!" because the amount of work is absolutely insane

Julian: So you can stay up until 3 AM, sitting in your bed, eating potato chips, binging on your favorite art restoration... Me: How did he know? 👁👄👁

I love how Mr. Baumgartner says that we put up with a 5 part series. How could we not enjoy "putting up with" a wonderful series? This channel gives we art lovers a whole new appreciation into conserving the masters we often wish we could emulate. Well at least I wish I could. Thank you Mr. Julian for sharing your knowledge and love of conservation. These may not be teaching videos but I know I have learned things I shouldn't do when I paint something for friends. No shellac, use high quality paints and brushes, and to simply enjoy the process of what I try to paint. It may not be perfect but as long as I enjoy it that is all that matters.

Wow, what a journey! I am in awe of your knowledge, expertise, talent, and patience. What a pleasurable afternoon I have spent watching this entire transformation. Thank you.

"Thank you for putting up with a 5-part series". You say that like I didn't enjoy every moment of table-building, wood-panel sanding, honeycomb sandwich-making, dirty-painting cleaning, paint-retouching BRILLIANCE.

Noticed Julian’s been giving a more in-depth explanation of his work. Made me feel like a virtual apprentice 💯

Anyone else feel like Julian has become their life mentor?

Did I intend to watch these videos to go to sleep? Yes. Did I instead stay riveted for 2 1/2 hours watching all 5 parts? Absolutely! Amazing job Julian, as always!!

I want one more part to this series: the client reaction.

"it's the last one I swear" you say that like we're mad, I don't want this to end!

I like it when he sits down and talks directly to the camera

Julian, in my view you are the greatest conservationist of all time. I love watching your work taking great pauses to learn and respect all that the painter intended for the viewer to feel the emotion of his artistic skill and love of his creative ability. You are also so down-to-earth and funny as well. I would love to have been a friend of yours. Grateful for work, intelligence, and for sharing it all with us. Thank you.

Best way to start the day: with a Baumgartner Restoration video

PUT UP with a 5 part series?!?! Each one of them is a blessing

Love the pickle jar! My grandma would approve.

When I need a psychological re-grounding, I watch this or people saving seals from plastic waste on the Namibian coast. Both give me a wee bit of hope. Oh, and that varnish at the end is amaze-balls. It's like French-polished wood, only better.

Hears “wet on wet”. Immediately starts thinking that’s a hint that Julians doing a Bob Ross painting next.

I'm not sure how you select the pieces you'll feature here on your RU-vid channel, but I for one would appreciate more long form series like this one. It's very satisfying to see you put a horrifically damaged painting back together, and over a few episodes I start to get emotionally invested in the painting- more so than with the one-off episodes. This series has convinced me that you should have a Netflix show.

Coming back to visit this series again and again. Sometimes to help me sleep. Sometimes to just watch it again like my favorite reruns.

“Really, I promise, there’s nothing after this.” Well that was a lie.

And now how we are supposed to live without this series! It's like when you finish a tv-series and become an orphan. I'm grieving here.

"So you can stay up till 3am, sitting in your bed, eating potato chips, binging on your favourite art restoration videos" - He just called out everyone and it doesn't feel good :(

Please do more of these in depth multi-part videos. I'm a tradesman, and while I'm not dealing with literal art, I treat my profession like artwork. This fuels my passion to constantly learn and grow myself and my skills. Thank you

I love how he managed to show us all of his work while keeping a certain mystery upon how he enjoys it

His segue into ads are so genius. You don’t even know it’s coming until it’s too late

I remember asking in a comment once or twice, when we were at a couple of thousand subscribers, about the entire process of conservation before the retouching. A video idea on a bit of an explainer about said process. I also remember Julian once responded that he's got some ideas about that and to stay tuned. Boy, is this more than I ever imagined! Watching the entire channel grow to this amazing series is so awesome. Julian is such an amazing craftsman both in conservation and in documenting his craft to enthuse an entire audience about said craft. Amazing work! Thanks for being you, Julian!

Wow, so worth five episodes. I was disheartened by the sight of the fully cleaned, skinned painting. I need not have been! Thanks!

Back here after “Part 7” was posted. So much for this being the final video of the series.. So glad it wasn’t!