How to Move Art Work

Before you start we recommend that you contact your mover to understand their packing standards and any size limitations they may have. If you are moving locally, consider moving all of your art work yourself to reduce the chance of damage.

FOR UNFRAMED ARTWORK

1) When lifting an unframed print or drawing, just slide a sheet of cardboard beneath it as a support and hold the cardboard, not the art. Remember to support the long sides of the cardboard with both hands.
2)Place art between several layers of sturdy cardboard to prevent any sort of bending and tape around the outside of the cardboard pieces so they stay together.
3) If you are concerned about the art moving around within the cardboard, try this trick: fold a sheet of paper into a triangle that has one open end. Place each triangle on a corner edge of the artwork, then tape ONLY the triangle to the cardboard.
4) Place the taped up cardboard between two pieces of corrugated cardboard and tape all sides securely. You may also consider placing this into a mirror pack for even more secure shipping or between two sheets of hardboard (masonite).
5) Please note that we do not recommend rolling fine art as corners can get bent or the art work could be creased. This is especially important for serigraph prints since they are prone to crack. Please note: Unframed work should be covered with tissue or plain newsprint to protect the surface and should not be stored in cardboard for very long. The acid in the cardboard is not good for the art work.

FOR FRAMED ARTWORK

1) Invest in strong quality boxes for your move. Most movers offer a wide range of boxes for shipping. Mirror pack boxes are usually reasonably priced and work well for art. If your artwork is too large for available boxes, just purchase more than one and tape them together to create a box that allows for 3 - 4 inches on all four sides of the frame.
2) What is most important is how well you pack the actual artwork within the box.
3) Use sheets of bubble wrap to completely wrap the art making sure to cover all corners. Make sure you are covering each of frame corners since the corners tend to be the points of impact. You may wish to add corner protectors to the frame.
4) Create a cushion for the art by placing packing peanuts or additional bubble wrap inside the bottom, top and sides of the box. Place the bubble wrapped piece on to a layer of packing material inside the mirror box and stuff the sides and top with additional packing material. A tight fit will ensure the artwork does not slide around in the box.
5) Tape the entire box securely by taping completely around the edges.
6)For added protection, you may want to put the bubble wrapped work between two sheets of hardboard instead of a cardboard box.

SHIPPING GUIDELINES

1) Use a shipper that will allow you to insure the art for its full value.
2) Never use ground service for shipping as it allows too much time in transit and places the art at higher risk for damage.
3) If you have a framer or shipper pack the artwork, make sure they follow proper guidelines as not everyone knows how to ship art.
4) There are several companies who specialize in shipping art work. Contact us if you would like more information.

Artwork is valuable - protect your investment. Ifyou have any questions regarding how to pack your art for shipping, please call one of our associates at Abbozzo Gallery. As we ship internationally, we are experienced and happy to help you however we can!