Oil paintings are some of the most high-maintenance pieces of art to transport. They need to be protected from excessive humidity, high temperatures, and accidental scratches and tears. Paintings with expensive frames are even more difficult to handle, as they require extra packaging care with appropriate cushioning and padding. In this blog post, you will find several tips for shipping your painting from point A to point B with minimal risks. If you lack skills and knowledge on how to transport oil paintings, this is the right page for you.
How to Transport Oil Paintings Safely?
Use High-Quality Packaging
The packaging can make it or break it when it comes to transporting art pieces. If you don’t use proper packing materials or don’t use enough of them, the painting may be easily damaged. Fine Art Shippers recommends using archival paper, glassine paper, or art plastic for optimal canvas protection. Placing a sturdy board to shield the painting from accidental punctures is another best practice you can try. Corner protectors are a must as well, especially if you have a delicate and expensive frame.
Adding multiple layers of cushioning to the transportation box or crate will help make sure that the painting does not move during transportation. Non-acid bubble wrap is probably the cheapest and most accessible material for this task. You should also use it to wrap the painting before placing it in the box.
Fix the Painting Inside the Vehicle
If you transport your oil painting on your own, make sure it is fixed securely in your vehicle. Avoid placing heavy objects on it and keep it away from liquids and chemicals that may accidentally spill.
Use a Luggage Tracker
If you cannot transport the painting yourself and decide to use someone else’s help, be it a friend or a shipping company, put a luggage tracker into the box. These were originally designed to keep track of luggage in airports and facilitate retrieval in case of losses. However, they can be extremely useful if you are worried about delays or don’t completely trust your carrier.
Purchase Insurance
Expensive and valuable oil paintings should always be insured, especially if you ship them abroad. Insurance will help you minimize potential losses in case of damage.
Hire Professional Art Handlers
For the transportation of expensive oil paintings and international/ cross-country shipping, consider using the services of professional art handlers. Here, at Fine Art Shippers, we know how to transport oil paintings quickly, safely, and with minimum stress on your side.