Q: I am planning a four-month painting trip this summer. How
soon will I be able to remove the canvas from the stretcher and roll it?
A: Canvases with a thin layer of paint can be rolled when
they are dry to the touch--but you should unroll the canvas as soon as
possible. Roll the finished or partially finished canvas around a
fairly large cylinder--rug cylinders are a good choice. Roll it face
out to lessen the strain and the likelihood of cracking. Before
rolling, place a piece of unprimed canvas over the painted surface.
(Paper and even glassine tend to stick to a painted surface.) Smaller
paintings can be tacked facedown to sheets of wallboard or a similar
surface. Cover with another piece of wallboard, wrap with craft paper,
and secure with packing tape.