Q: I will be transporting oil paintings (which will have dried for two months) by removing them from their stretcher bars, rolling them, and placing them in tubes. What do you recommend as an interleaving material? Any other hints on shipping and restretching would be appreciated.
A: Consider placing sheets of wax paper or lightweight plastic bags between the artworks. These layers will keep the paint from sticking to itself as a result of environmental changes that might occur during transportation. Oil paintings take six months to a year to dry completely. They may feel dry to the touch before the six months are up, but they dry not through evaporation but rather they dry, or “cure,” from the inside.
Restretch the canvas the same way you would do before painting. Take heed, however, of the holes on your canvas made from the first stretching because you don't want to develop a tearing problem. A professional framer may be the way to go.
--by Camille LaPointe-Lyons