Shipping Your Artwork Safely: Packing Tips

Sending your artwork out into the world, whether to a gallery, a buyer, or an exhibition, can feel like sending a piece of yourself. It’s exciting, but let’s be honest, that moment you hand it over to the courier can be nerve-wracking. Will it arrive in one piece? Did I pack it well enough? That little voice of doubt is common, but with careful preparation and the right materials, you can significantly minimize the risks and ship your precious cargo with much greater confidence.

Getting packing right isn’t just about avoiding damage; it’s about professionalism and respecting the work itself. A poorly packed piece reflects badly on the sender and can lead to complicated insurance claims or disappointed recipients. Taking the time to do it meticulously is an investment in the artwork’s journey and your own peace of mind.

Gathering Your Arsenal: Essential Packing Supplies

Before you even think about wrapping your artwork, you need to assemble the right tools and materials. Don’t try to make do with whatever you have lying around; purpose-built packing supplies are designed to protect fragile items. Here’s what you’ll generally need:

• Acid-Free Glassine Paper or Archival Paper: This is your first line of defense, especially for works on paper, photographs, and the surface of paintings. It creates a non-abrasive, chemically stable barrier against scratches and environmental factors. Avoid regular tissue paper, which can be acidic.
• Bubble Wrap: The classic cushion. Get rolls with both small and large bubbles if possible. Small bubbles are good for the initial wrap, while larger bubbles provide more robust cushioning within the box.
• Foam Board or Multiple Layers of Sturdy Cardboard: You need rigid sheets larger than the artwork to create a protective ‘sandwich’. Foam board is lightweight and strong, but thick, flat cardboard also works.
• Corner Protectors: Essential for framed works and stretched canvases. You can buy purpose-made foam or cardboard corners, or fashion your own from dense cardboard. They absorb impacts at the most vulnerable points.
• Strong Packing Tape: Don’t use masking tape or office tape! Invest in quality plastic or reinforced paper packing tape. You’ll need plenty of it to secure everything properly.
• A Sturdy Cardboard Box: This is crucial. The box should be slightly larger than your wrapped artwork (allowing for 2-3 inches of padding on all sides). Double-walled corrugated cardboard boxes are highly recommended for their superior strength and resistance to punctures.
• Utility Knife or Heavy-Duty Scissors: For cutting cardboard, foam board, and tape cleanly.
• Measuring Tape: Accurate measurements are key to cutting materials correctly and choosing the right box size.
• Padding/Filler Material: Options include packing peanuts (use biodegradable ones if possible), crumpled kraft paper, or additional bubble wrap. The goal is to fill all voids in the box so the artwork cannot shift during transit.
• ‘Fragile’ Labels/Tape: While not a guarantee of gentle handling, they are standard practice and signal the nature of the contents.

Step-by-Step: Protecting Your Artwork

The specific steps will vary slightly depending on the type of artwork, but the principles remain the same: protect the surface, reinforce the structure, cushion against impact, and immobilize within the container.

Works on Paper (Unframed Prints, Drawings, Photos)

These are vulnerable to creases, tears, and surface damage.

1. Lay a sheet of glassine paper over the artwork surface. If shipping multiple prints, place glassine between each one.
2. Carefully place the artwork (with its glassine cover) onto a sheet of foam board or sturdy cardboard cut slightly larger than the piece.
3. Place another sheet of foam board/cardboard on top, creating a rigid sandwich.
4. Secure the sandwich by taping around the edges, ensuring the tape doesn’t touch the artwork itself. Do not overtighten, which could emboss the tape pattern onto the paper.
5. Wrap this entire package in a layer or two of small-bubble wrap, taping it securely.

Framed Artwork (Under Glass or Plexiglass)

Frames add weight and introduce the risk of broken glass or damaged corners.

1. Protect the Glazing: If the frame contains glass (not plexiglass), apply strips of low-tack painter’s tape in a star or grid pattern across the glass surface. This won’t stop it from breaking under severe impact, but it will help hold the shards together, preventing them from slashing the artwork if the worst happens. Note: Some conservators advise against taping directly on glass, especially for valuable pieces, as adhesive residue can be problematic. An alternative is to skip the tape but ensure extremely robust packing. Plexiglass doesn’t require taping.
2. Protect the Surface (if accessible): If there’s no mat board and the artwork surface is close to the glazing, consider adding a layer of glassine *before* taping, if feasible without damaging the frame fit.
3. Wrap the Frame: Cover the entire framed piece with glassine or acid-free paper, paying attention to ornate frames.
4. Apply Corner Protectors: Securely attach cardboard or foam protectors to all four corners of the frame. This is critical.
5. Wrap in Bubble Wrap: Wrap the entire piece, corners and all, in at least two layers of bubble wrap (small bubbles first, then large bubbles). Tape it shut securely.
6. Create a Cardboard Skin (Optional but Recommended): Cut sheets of cardboard or foam board slightly larger than the bubble-wrapped piece and tape them securely to the front and back for extra rigidity and puncture protection.

Stretched Canvas Paintings

The canvas surface is vulnerable to scratches, dents, and punctures. The corners and edges of the stretcher bars also need protection.

1. Surface Protection: Lay a sheet of glassine paper carefully across the painted surface. Do NOT use bubble wrap directly on the paint, as the bubbles can leave impressions, especially on oils or acrylics that aren’t fully cured (allow ample drying/curing time before packing!). Secure the glassine loosely at the back with tape – never tape directly to the paint.
2. Corner Protectors: Attach corner protectors to all four corners, protecting both the canvas edge and the stretcher bar.
3. Rigid Support: Place a sheet of foam board or heavy cardboard, cut slightly larger than the canvas dimensions, against the front (over the glassine) and another against the back. Tape these together around the edges to form a protective shell.
4. Bubble Wrap: Wrap the entire unit generously in bubble wrap (large bubbles are good here) and tape securely.

Unstretched Canvas (Rolled)

Rolling is often safer for very large canvases.

1. Ensure the paint is completely dry and cured.
2. Protect the surface with a layer of glassine paper.
3. Roll the canvas PAINT SIDE OUT around a sturdy, wide-diameter tube. Rolling paint-side-in can cause cracking. The tube should be longer than the canvas width.
4. Wrap the rolled canvas in another layer of glassine or acid-free paper.
5. Wrap the entire roll in bubble wrap.
6. Place the bubble-wrapped roll inside a sturdy cardboard mailing tube that is slightly longer than the roll, padding the ends so the roll cannot slide back and forth. Seal the tube ends securely.

Boxing Clever: The Outer Defenses

Now that your artwork is wrapped, it’s time for the final container.

1. Choose the Right Box: Select a strong, double-walled cardboard box that allows for at least 2-3 inches of padding on all sides (top, bottom, front, back, left, right) around your wrapped artwork package.
2. Prepare the Box Base: Add a layer of cushioning to the bottom of the box – crumpled paper, packing peanuts, or a layer of bubble wrap.
3. Insert the Artwork: Carefully place your wrapped artwork package into the center of the box on top of the base padding.
4. Fill the Voids: This is crucial. Use your chosen filler material (packing peanuts, crumpled paper, more bubble wrap) to tightly pack all the empty spaces around the artwork package. Ensure it’s snug on all sides, top, and bottom. The goal is zero movement. Gently shake the box; if you feel or hear shifting, add more padding.
5. Add Top Padding: Place a final layer of padding material on top before closing the box flaps.

Considering Double-Boxing

For extra valuable or fragile pieces, especially framed works under glass, double-boxing provides superior protection. This involves packing the artwork as described above into a primary box, and then placing that entire box into a larger, second sturdy box, again using padding material (at least 2-3 inches) to fill the space between the inner and outer boxes.

Sealing the Deal: Taping and Labeling

You’re almost there! Don’t rush the final steps.

• Secure Sealing: Use your strong packing tape to seal the box securely. Apply tape along the center seam where the main flaps meet, and then across both edge seams (forming an ‘H’ shape). Add extra tape along all edges for reinforcement.
• Labeling: Attach the shipping label clearly and securely to the largest flat surface of the box. Include your return address prominently as well. It’s wise to place a duplicate label or contact information slip inside the box, just in case the outer label gets damaged or detached.
• Mark as Fragile: Apply ‘Fragile’, ‘Handle With Care’, and potentially ‘This Way Up’ stickers or tape on several sides of the box. While handlers may be rushed, these labels serve as important visual cues.

Never skimp on packing materials. Using cheap tape that fails, thin cardboard that punctures easily, or insufficient padding is a false economy. The potential cost of damage to your irreplaceable artwork far outweighs the minor savings on supplies. Invest in quality protection every single time.

Final Thoughts on Shipping

Once packed, consider your shipping options. Look for carriers with experience handling artwork if possible. Always, always insure your artwork shipment for its full value. Document the artwork and your packing process with photographs before sealing the box – this can be invaluable if you need to make an insurance claim.

Packing artwork properly takes time, effort, and the right materials, but it’s an essential part of being a responsible artist or collector. By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with shipping and ensure your work arrives safely, ready to be appreciated.