If you’re looking to ship art, You’ll probably need to transport the painting by courier if you sell it to a customer who lives outside of your state. Of course, this brings up real-world issues. How should an oil painting be packaged?
We do not advise rolling your oil painting into a tube for shipping because the canvas has dense regions where many coats of paint have been applied, and It may detoriate quickly. When sliding an oil painting off of its stretcher, the chance of damage rises, although it’s OK for a poster or photographic reproduction. In addition to taking a long time to dry, oil paintings are more vulnerable to damage from light, heat, humidity, dust, and grime. Simply put, it is not economical to risk damage to save on transportation expenses.
It is recommended to ship the goods using a courier service that offers affordable pricing if you are on a low budget, you can get in touch for that If you don’t want to do the following steps, by contacting us here.
Packing an Oil Painting:
Will you be shipping a canvas that is framed or unframed? Finding the ideal balance may be challenging. You want to safeguard your artwork without adding weight to it.
Making sure your canvas is not pierced is your primary priority as an oil painter. If your painting is expensive, you might want to take it to a specialized packing & crating service that creates and constructs unique containers for expensive artwork.
Here is a bit of simple and short advice on shipping an oil painting for the sake of this post. Remember that this is only a broad, illustrative approach to packing. The suggestions may be used for larger pieces scaling up to fit enormous oil paintings which we’ve compelted countless times over
Materials Required For Packing Oil Painting:
Following is the list of materials required for the safe packaging of your oil painting, from our years of experience:
- Acid-free artist tape
- Protective cardboard or foam
- Sealing Tape
- Burp Cloth
- glassine paper that isn’t acidic
- ‘Fragile’ and ‘Handle with care’ shipment labels on double- or triple-wall cardboard boxes
- Stanley Knife or Scissors (utility knife)
- Heavy-Duty Black Refuse or Garbage Bags
- Triple-ply cardboard
Wrap a Light Layer of Foam Around the Canvas:
Paintings on canvas can be shielded from damage during shipping by being wrapped in a thin layer of foam. Avoid using too much foam since the corner protectors won’t sit flush on the frame’s edge. As though it were a fragile present, gently tape the frame into place.
Cover the corners:
The second layer of defense is usually advisable. Most packaging businesses provide corner protectors made of plastic, foam, or cardboard. It is preferable to spend money on foam edge and corner covers for unframed oil canvases. It’s important that the foam protectors be snug but not too tight. Use cardboard or plastic protection if your artwork is framed. However, these must be attached to the frame before covering it with a thin foam layer.
Seal against Dust & Moisture:
After using the corner protectors and properly wrapping your canvas in a thin layer of foam, it’s necessary to protect it from humidity and dirt with plastic or sturdy black garbage or refuse bag. If the bag is much larger than the frame, snip the extra material using scissors.
Insulate the Canvas:
Insulating foam is required to insulate the canvas. Finding insulating foam that is big enough to hold your artwork could be challenging. If so, you might have to use several boards and gently tap them together to create a sandwich. You will need to cut out two insulating foam slabs if the artwork is on the smaller side. With your Stanley knife, cut out two slabs of foam the size of the canvas by following the shape of the piece. Put a slab between either end of the frame.
Documents for Customs and Shipping:
Most businesses offer customs and shipping labels when you engage your courier service. Of course, if you are shipping from one US state to another, customs documentation won’t be required. However, you should verify and check any shipping limitations for the receiving country if you are shipping internationally. At the time of booking, most businesses will automatically produce custom forms and labels. Print off these documents and include them in your delivery. If you are sending something overseas, it is advised to put a backup copy inside the package.
Box the Canvas:
Most packing businesses will use triple-ply cardboard to wrap artwork for a tailored fit. Additionally, it prevents the need for parcel chips and reduces package bulk. It should go without saying that the larger the product, the more expensive the shipping will be. Cardboard from a flattened box or a pre-made sheet may be cut to fit your project precisely.
Similar to wrapping a boxed present, but using sturdier materials, is wrapping artwork. To enable the box’s flaps to be delicately folded and put into place, score each side of the package, cutting corners. Tape the flaps closed after folding them around the frame.
Seal the canvas:
The artwork has been wrapped, and the cardboard has been secured with tape; seal the package now. If your box doesn’t look as it should, don’t worry. It’s not a matter of aesthetics. The edges must be sealed at least twice around the whole perimeter for it to be secure, as seen in the accompanying photo.
Affix labels and paperwork:
It will be necessary to remove, cover, or blackout with a marker any lettering or barcodes that may be present on the box. When the courier arrives to collect, there will be no delays. Carefully affix all labels and customs documentation to the package.
Although rolling your canvas can be cost-effective, it’s not the recommended method for shipping oil paintings. Why not use the finest packaging materials to protect your masterpiece after spending hours perfecting your canvas? In the end, your clients will be grateful.
Cutting the costs of shipping your oil painting:
Here are some suggestions for lowering the price of shipping your oil painting:
- As far as you can, without risking the package’s security, try to reduce its weight. A huge protective wooden container might not be necessary if shipping the artwork is a few hours away. For large paintings, eschewing this norm can help you save some money.
- By seeking shipping quotes, you may compare various providers. It is essential to understand why you have chosen the particular service. Make a cost-benefit analysis by considering the price, convenience, help with packaging, and reviews.
- If the framing of your artwork has not yet been completed, you may postpone it if you can have it done when you get to your destination. Paintings without frames are lighter. In terms of packaging, they may be used more creatively. The artwork could be able to be rolled up, allowing you to send the artwork for less money and with far less wasted space.
Conclusion:
When you have to ship an oil painting to another city, state, or even country, there are many things to consider. Maintaining the painting’s quality throughout the journey is the prime objective of shipping an oil painting.
While there are ways to reduce the cost of transporting your painting, it is always preferable to put security first.
