Shipping Paintings

ironchefmitty

So I’m beginning to have friends take interest in my paintings and running out of space to keep them, and now need to ship them. What are some tips and ways of doing this that you all would recommend? Would it be ok to ship when it’s to the touch dry or would you wait until it’s cured?

TheLandscapePainter

I would wait until its dry enough that you feel confident it will survive the journey. The problem I find with shipping is the size. Mine have all been 18x24 inch so when they are wrapped they have to go large parcel if sending by royal mail. That means my fragile paintings are shipped along with massively heavy and bulky parcels so I worry they're going to be squashed no matter how well I pack them.

Sunnylady

You can detach painting from the stretcher when it is absolutely dry. Roll it in a wide roll paint side out. Disassemble the stretcher and ship those stretcher bars with the painting in a tube rather than big package. When recipient will be framing the company they use will stretch it back before framing.

Boof

Sunnylady this sounds terrifying haha

ironchefmitty

I have to admit, I didn't think that was even possible. How does one detach the canvas from the stretcher?

Sunnylady

ironchefmitty just use flat screwdriver or that special staples remover tool from the stationery shop.

Sunnylady

Boof it does, you are right. I have not done it myself. But I got painting from artist in Europe shipped to USA this way. I bet it will be very expensive to ship it packed in plywood.