# Ugly, but large, thrift store, acrylic painting purchased for $2. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 4, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-but-large-thrift-store-acrylic-painting-purchased-for-2/651979 "2013-03-04T05:53:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![angiecrichars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@angiecrichars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/angiecrichars)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-but-large-thrift-store-acrylic-painting-purchased-for-2/651979/1 "2013-03-04T05:53:44Z")
So, I found a 4.5x4.5 stretched canvas, with a boring pastel painting in my local thrift store. I brought it home to repurpose as a vibrant, colorful, envy creating piece of artwork. In transport the canvas laid on something pointy.:smack: No holes were poked, but there is a large (very large) bump mid corner. The canvas must have been professionally stretched, because it WAS tight. The canvas is also framed in a flat modern brushed gold frame. Nice find, but what do I do now. Angiecrichars ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-but-large-thrift-store-acrylic-painting-purchased-for-2/651979/2 "2013-03-04T06:00:56Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-but-large-thrift-store-acrylic-painting-purchased-for-2/651979/3 "2013-03-04T08:01:30Z")
I’m assuming the frame means the canvas isn’t flush with the front surface of the whole assembly - so I would try this: [ul] [li]Get a large book the same thickness as the space behind the canvas[/li][li]Lay the book on a hard floor, then place the picture on top so that the bump is centred over it[/li][li]Place a smaller book on top of the bump[/li][li]Add weights (cans of food maybe)[/li][li]Sight from the edge to ensure that the setup is not making the problem worse (if it is, use a thinner or thicker book as appropriate - pack out with card or paper for fine adjustment)[/li][li]Leave overnight.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-but-large-thrift-store-acrylic-painting-purchased-for-2/651979/4 "2013-03-04T13:28:42Z")
Wet the raw canvas underside of the area. It should stretch back into shape as it dries. You may or may not need to pull the staples out and re-staple the canvas. BTW, thrift shop are great places to find stretched canvases: cheaper than what you’d pay to make new ones. But be sure to buy acrylic paintings: if you re-paint acrylic over oil, it flakes off as it dries. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-but-large-thrift-store-acrylic-painting-purchased-for-2/651979/5 "2013-03-04T14:44:30Z")
As we called them when decorating first house, _objet d’ junk_ ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-but-large-thrift-store-acrylic-painting-purchased-for-2/651979/6 "2013-03-05T05:52:42Z")
Ugly? Large? You might have a Mark Rothko painting! Have it appraised at once!