Putting painting on new stretchers

Michele Rushworth · 05-16-2003, 09:25 PM

I searched on this topic and didn't find that much on the forum so far, so I thought I'd ask this question in a new thread:

Has anyone taken a painting off old stretchers and put it on new ones? What was your experience like, if so?

I have an old painting which is on badly warped stretchers and I'd like to get new heavy duty ones and restretch it. Any suggestions? Should I avoid this at all costs or go ahead? It's an important painting to me and I wouldn't want to damage it.

Kimberly Dow · 07-28-2003, 03:41 AM

Michele,

I'd like to see anyone's experience with this as well. Maybe by bringing it back up, someone will answer.

Michele Rushworth · 07-28-2003, 05:20 PM

Since I started this thread I have removed one old painting from its stretchers and put it on new ones. It wasn't difficult at all. I was "cropping" the image though, putting it on stretchers that were shorter, to improve the composition.

I think it might be a lot more difficult to put a painting on stretchers that were the same size as before, trying to get the edges lined up properly. I haven't tried that.

Kimberly Dow · 07-29-2003, 02:06 AM

Thanks Michele. I did this once years ago for compositional reasons also, from a square canvas to an oval. The painting was still wet though. It was tricky and I had to touch up a bit of the background where my fingers touched. It's held up well for 14 years or so. I have a badly warped one that is only 2-years-old. I do not want to crop it, but I'm thinking I'll wait until I have a sturdy frame to put it in. The humidity here can do a number.