If your floors are concrete, moisture can be wicked up by the canvas in your artwork. Leaving stored paintings on the floor also makes them more susceptible to pests, dust, dirt, and damage during a flood.
Proper storage for acrylic paintings
I wouldn’t stack them on top of each other but might consider stacking vertically. i.e. canvases standing on their edges. Stacking on each other may cause the bottom ones to stick together. I might also suggest using glasseine in between to act as a barrier. Glasseine is a coated paper that has a rather non stick finish to it. Can be purchased in sheets and rolls. It is typically what stamps are placed in when you buy bulk sheets at the post office here in the states. Check here[/URL] or here[/URL]
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January 31, 2010 at 10:46 am #1131943
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I paint mostly on linen panels from 8 x 10 – 18 x 24. After the paint cures and putting on the isolation and varnish, I let it dry a good 3 three weeks and then I store them in plastic bags that are acid free. I will also wrap them in wax paper which will prevent any possibility of the surface of the painting sticking to the bag. I store them flat on top of one another on shelves I put in the upper part of our closets. Works well for me.
January 31, 2010 at 10:55 am #1131941
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avoid cardboard….may stick and it has acid in board from manufacturing process…my opinion. I like cotton fabrics, wont rip and since i buy cotton duck to paint on already, its a natural to use for protecting and seperating. some good opinions above this though!
[FONT=Arial] Michael Sherman
January 31, 2010 at 5:25 pm #1131936
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My storage: 
A poster rack for all my old paintings on photo carton of 40×28″ and 28×20″ A storage room for all my paintings on masonite and canvas. All vertically stacked. This is an old photo. Now the walls (both sides) are entirely covered with paintings and the bookshelf had to go. 
Connie
www.connievanwinssen.com
January 31, 2010 at 9:12 pm #1131942
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you are prolific connie
[FONT=Arial] Michael Sherman
February 1, 2010 at 8:51 am #1131937
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I mostly paint on canvas panels and stack them with the painted sides facing each other (face to face.) I put cheap wax paper between the paintings which prevents them from sticking together. If framed, or if transporting long distances, I put bubble wrap in between them, tape them together at the edges, and transport them in a standard travel suitcase.
Christophervasil.com
February 1, 2010 at 12:55 pm #1131945
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I mostly paint on canvas panels and stack them with the painted sides facing each other (face to face.) I put cheap wax paper between the paintings which prevents them from sticking together. If framed, or if transporting long distances, I put bubble wrap in between them, tape them together at the edges, and transport them in a standard travel suitcase.[/quote this seems like what I will try seems effective and cheap enough to try haha
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February 1, 2010 at 4:03 pm #1131938
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Very cheap!! Just get the wax paper they sell in rolls at the grocery store. For transport I use a suit case with wheels which makes it easy to roll them around when traveling to art fairs etc.
Another cheap trick. If you frame, paint pictures on panels that match the standard frame formats like 16×20 12×16 or 11×14. You can pop those canvas panels into really expensive looking over the counter frames sold in those standard sizes, rather than having to donate plasma to raise money to pay the framer. Last summer I framed 14 paintings like that for under 200.00. (Nice frames too.)
If you paint on stretched canvas (provided you paint in those standard size formats) you can buy these .10 brackets that attach to the over the counter frames which secure the frames to the canvas. If you want to get fancy, you can glue cheap packing paper to the back of the frames as a dust cover.
Lightly Dust Each Canvas Before Storage
You’ll want to keep dust off of stored artwork, which means you’ll want it to be dust-free before it gets wrapped and put away. Use a soft cloth to carefully remove any dusty buildup or other debris.
Moisture, heat and widely varying temperatures can all damage paintings. Water can encourage mold growth and mildew damage. The cold and heat can cause your canvas to repeatedly expand and contract and, eventually, warp.
You’ll want a temperature-controlled storage unit or area of your home where the temperature and humidity are easy to control and keep consistent.
Keep Stored Art Out Of Direct Sunlight
When deciding where to store your paintings, you’ll also want to avoid direct sunlight. UV rays can fade your wall art and break down canvases over time.
- Oil Paintings: Oil paintings are probably the most sensitive to the fading potential of direct sunlight.
- Acrylic Paintings: Acrylic paintings are not as susceptible to UV damage as oil paintings but can still lose vibrancy and experience canvas deterioration.
- Watercolor Paintings: Watercolor paintings need to be kept out of the sun too. You’ll want to make sure that any mountings are acid-free and that the artwork is stabilized before storing.
Store Your Canvas Paintings Upright
You don’t want to lay wall art horizontally or stack pieces on top of each other. When you lay paintings down or stack them, you risk canvas sagging and the stretcher bars pressing through and leaving imprints on your artwork. Horizontal storage also encourages more dust collection.
Separating paintings that are stored together from each other is also important. You don’t want the paint to rub off, frames to chip and flake, or glass to break. Wrap each piece in acid-free paper and place a sturdy, acid-free board in between each piece.
Be wary of any other packing material you use. Some tapes and glues can leach through to your artwork, causing stains or yellowing.
