It is not important whether you have one-of-a-kind expensive art, one of inspirational posters, or something you made yourself. You have to make sure it arrives at your new home safely and in one piece. Packing is already hard but Packing artwork and paintings for a move has its own different kind of problems. Art is usually large, fragile and flimsy and the elements like frames and glass that are used to protect it sometimes end up damaging your art during a move if not packed carefully. Here are some ideas to pack your art safely.
Supplies.
The first step is to know about right packing supplies.
Moving boxes: You will need sturdy moving boxes prefer those, which are just little bit larger in height, width, and length than the painting or photo. Do not buy wax paper or parchment paper. They can damage your artwork.
-Bubble wrap
-Glassine paper
Dunnage: This is a material used to absorb shock inside the box. Use purpose-made packing paper, not newsprint or packing peanuts.
-Blue painters tape (Only if your artwork has glass).
-Flat cardboard sheets
-Packing tape
-A permanent marker
Packing
Before you start packing, tape up any glass with painters tape. Make a large X across the face of the glass with the tape, and then lay tape down around the border of the glass. This tape will help keep the glass from shattering if it gets cracked or breaks during your move. Next, cover the glass area or open canvas with protective cardboard. If your artwork is canvas and it is not covered by glass, we place a sheet of Glassine between the canvas and the cardboard.
CANVAS ART
The first thing that you are going to need is paper. Nevertheless, choose carefully. Many people use Newspaper, which seems harmless but is the worst of all options. Because the print remains slightly wet for months after it is printed, so even old newspaper could still transfer ink onto your precious painting and completely ruins it. The best and safest choice is new, plain, brown packing paper. Wrap your prints and secure with masking tape.
ARRANGE THE PRINTS PROPERLY
If you have multiple prints which you are going to move at the same time ,package them together after wrapping , but how you arrange them all is very important. Arrange them face to face and back to back reducing the risk of them damaging each other.
Bubble wrap and boxes
Once you complete all the packing with paper and taping around the corners, wrap your artwork in a layer of bubble wrap. If there are, any exposed corners, use double layers of bubble wrap. Choose the right size box. Now gently slide your wrapped artwork into the box, and fill all spaces between the artwork and the box with more dunnage. Add more dunnage at the top. Now seal the box with the tape.
