Paintings and prints by Gillie Cawthorne

Care of your artwork 

I want every purchase to be a source of pleasure for years come. To that end I would like pass on a few words of wisdom I have acquired over the years, from real experts, or by bitter experience!

Receipt of rolled paintings or prints

On receipt of paintings or prints (which will have been rolled in a cardboard tube for posting) don't be tempted (like I once was) to try to roll the opposite way around the tube to try to flatten the work. This causes cracking / wrinkling of the surface and wrecks the work.

Flatten the work by leaving it opened out for a few days under a heavy weight. Put it on a clean, flat surface, with a board on top, then a heavy weight, (for example a few large books).

Hanging pictures

Position paintings out of direct sunlight. Although I use artist's quality materials, with good 'lightfastness' ratings, colours may eventually fade in sunlight. Mountboard too, fades and can alter significantly in just a few years.

Avoid hanging paintings on a wall which is prone to damp, as this can cause cockling of the paper - the paper goes wavy. Also mould can become a problem. Kitchens and bathrooms are not good sites for this reason.

Avoid hanging paintings over radiators or other heat sources, as this too can cockle the paper.

In any of these situations I would recommend a print rather than an original (or expensive limited edition).

Cleaning

A light dust now and then is all pictures usually require. If picture glass becomes dirty, it can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Avoid spraying glass cleaner onto the glass. I once did this and allowed the cleaner to run down the glass. It soaked into the mount board, discolouring it. I had to replace the mount straight away, to avoid damage to the painting. Glass cleaners are acidic, and can cause a great deal of damage to anything made of paper.

Enjoy your pictures.

Give them a rest now and then, and move them around. It can make a huge difference. A picture you've been walking past without really noticing, can, if moved elsewhere, grab your attention again, and renew the excitement it generated when you first saw it.