How to ship a painting

HOW TO PACK

How to ship canvas art pieces

Before packaging paintings for shipping, you should decide whether you want to ship paintings together with the frame or rolled in a tube. You will find below the instructions for both techniques.

• Cover the painted side with glassine paper. Fold the glassine against the edges of the painting and use some adhesive tape to secure it. Make sure the tape only covers the glassine and not the painting itself.
• Tape the glassine-covered painting to a cardboard sheet or a foam board. Wrap the painting with plastic sheeting or put it in a bag. Seal the bag.
• Protect the painting by at least two layers of bubble wrap. Add the corner protectors.
• Sandwich the artwork between two sheets of plywood, Styrofoam or between 2 pieces of foam board and fix the structure by adhesive tape.
• Put the sandwiched painting in the box. Surround it by cushioning materials. For extra safety, you can also put the box with the painting in a slightly bigger padded box.
• Seal the outer box with adhesive tape and add a warning label saying “Fragile” on all faces of the box.

How to package rolled paintings for shipping

If you consider shipping artwork without a frame abroad, you can send it in a mailing tube. Here is how you can send a rolled painting by post or by courier.

• Put the artwork between two layers of glassine and roll it around the smaller mailing tube.
• Secure the roll with a piece of adhesive paper. Make sure it can be easily removed.
• Roll bubble wrap around the artwork. Do not forget to seal the wrapping completely to protect it against moisture and dust.
• Insert the artwork into the tube. Fill extra space with bubble wrap. Make sure you do not damage the corners. Seal the tube.

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FAQs about sending paintings by post or by courier