Shipping Art Work

Whether you are shipping a fine piece of art you created at school or a framed master piece extra care  needs to be taken when packing.

First, to minimize movement during transit you will need to select a box that fits your artwork properly. Measure the dimensions of your piece (LXWXH). Add 6 inches to each figure; this will give you the ideal size for your shipping box. Be sure to use a double walled corrugated box.

To begin your packing start by assembling your box, apply packing tape to all seems of the box. For extra support apply strips of tape perpendicular to the seams on the bottom of your box. If shipping a glass framed piece of art apply blue painters tape in an “X” pattern over the glass. If shipping an oil based painting, wrap the canvas with a sheet of glassine paper. This will protect your artwork from moisture and dust.

For protection against damage add padding to your art work. Cut a piece of corrugated cardboard the exact size of the front of your art work (you can do this simply by tracing your art work onto a piece of cardboard – then cut it out). Apply a layer of bubble wrap over the glass then top with your piece of card board. Use painters tape to secure the card board padding in place. Then wrap your entire piece of art work in at least 3 inches of bubble wrap. Now you are ready to insert your art work into your box. Once the artwork is in the box, seal the remaining seams of your box with packing tape.

Taking a little extra care when packing your artwork will save you a major headache when your pieces arrive at their destination. 

All of these tips can be found along with a packing videos at http://www.fedex.com/us/service-guide/our-services/package-shipment/