Traveling with canvas art requires careful packing to protect the artwork from damage during transit.
Protecting your valuable canvas artwork during travel is crucial. Proper packing materials and techniques ensure your piece arrives safely, free from scratches, dents, or environmental damage. The key is layering protection, starting with the surface and building outwards.
Essential Packing Materials
Using the right materials is the foundation of secure art transport. Based on recommendations like those found on Bookanartist.co, specific items are vital for safeguarding canvas paintings:
- Acid-free packing paper: This paper is placed directly against the surface of the painting. Being acid-free is important as it prevents chemical reactions that could damage the pigments or canvas over time. It provides a clean, protective layer.
- Glassine paper: Often used in conjunction with or instead of acid-free paper, glassine is a smooth, translucent paper that prevents the painting's surface from sticking to any protective layers or surfaces it might come into contact with during packing or transit. This is particularly important for relatively fresh or delicate paint surfaces.
- Cardboard corners: These are essential reinforcements fitted onto the corners of the stretched canvas. The corners and edges are the most vulnerable parts of a painting, easily chipped or dented. Cardboard corners provide rigid protection against impacts.
- Bubble wrap: Provides vital cushioning and shock absorption. Once the surface is protected, wrapping the entire piece in multiple layers of bubble wrap helps absorb bumps and vibrations during transport, preventing punctures or tears to the canvas and frame.
Other helpful items include packing tape (strong, reliable tape), cardboard sheets or foam board (for added rigidity and puncture protection), and a sturdy box or custom crate.
Step-by-Step Packing Process
Follow these steps for secure packing:
- Prepare the Surface: Gently cover the front surface of the painting with acid-free packing paper or glassine paper. Smooth it down carefully and tape it loosely to the back of the canvas or frame. This prevents the art from sticking to other materials and protects against abrasion.
- Protect the Edges: Fit cardboard corners snugly onto all four corners of the canvas. You might also add strips of cardboard along the edges for extra rigidity.
- First Layer of Cushion: Wrap the entire piece, including the corner protectors, in several layers of bubble wrap. Secure the bubble wrap layers with packing tape, ensuring seams are well-sealed but the tape does not touch the art itself. Wrap smoothly to avoid creating pressure points.
- Add Rigidity (Optional but Recommended): Cut two pieces of cardboard or foam board slightly larger than the painting. Place one on the front and one on the back of the bubble-wrapped artwork. Tape these boards together around the edges. This creates a rigid sandwich protecting against bending and punctures.
- Outer Container: Place the protected artwork inside a sturdy box or a custom-built wooden crate. Ensure there is minimal empty space within the box, using additional packing material like packing peanuts or foam padding around the sides to prevent shifting. For multiple pieces in one box, use cardboard dividers.
- Seal and Label: Securely seal the box with ample packing tape. Clearly label the box as "FRAGILE ARTWORK" and indicate the correct orientation ("This Side Up").
Transporting Your Art
Once packed, consider these travel tips:
- Handling: Always carry the artwork upright, not flat, to minimize pressure and flexing.
- Vehicle Placement: Secure the artwork within your vehicle so it cannot shift or fall during transit. Place it in a temperature-controlled area if possible, avoiding direct sunlight or extreme temperatures (hot or cold).
- Climate: Be mindful of humidity and temperature changes, as drastic fluctuations can damage canvas and paint.
By using appropriate materials like acid-free paper, glassine, cardboard corners, and bubble wrap, and following careful packing and handling procedures, you can significantly reduce the risk of damage when traveling with your canvas art.
