How to ship/package a acrylic painting?

Question

I was wondering how do i package an acrylic painting? I didnt know if it would be safe to put bubble wrap on the surface of the painting because if it gets hot in the package would the paint start to melt and stick to it? Thank you for your time!

Answer 1

I received a handpainted item, painted with acrylics, and it was wrapped in bubble wrap and yes, it ended up with marks on the surface from the bubble wrap. I was able to restore the smooth surface by adding a coat of varnish.

I ship acrylic works all the time, just wrapping in a plastic grocery bag(s) first, then if necessary wrapping in bubble wrap. if using grocery bags, make sure the varnish is very dry if used and that the printing on the bag isn't on the painted surface (it can stick and remain on the surface). I've shipped thousands of acrylic paintings (I sell on Ebay) all year long, in cold an heat, and have never had a problem wrapping in plastic.

Answer 2

Experience sending and experience receiving are two different things! How much do you care about your art?

Allowing ANYTHING to touch the surface of an acrylic painting at any time can cause severe damage such as these:
Ferrotyping:
The transfer of texture from the packing materials to the surface of the painting.
Sheen alteration in high spots.
Unwanted texture created on smooth surfaces, or the reverse.

Back and Forth Movement Across the Painting Surface:
Marring
Burnished matte surfaces
Physical loss of paint
Blocking/Materials adhering to the surface
Paper, plastic and other packing items physically attaching to the painting surface.
Attempting removal may pull up paint or harm substrates.
Most likely permanent damage

The cheapest and best defense against these is a good varnish, but read the article below! They go a bit overboard in some cases, but it's worthwhile information to have.

http://www.goldenpaints.com/justpaint/jp11article1.php

Answer 3

How To Ship A Painting

Answer 4

Adding to what Joyful Paints has already mentioned:

What you failed to mention was the size of the painting. This actually could determine how you should ship it.

I've shipped larger canvases and they are usually sent shipped in packing crates. In other words, the canvas is cushioned inside a wooden frame and the frame is covered by a cardboard exterior.

With smaller canvases (say a 12"x16" canvas) you can mail these using the package boxes you can get at any post office. They also supply bubble wrap. Just make sure the bubble wrap is equally distributed on both sides of the canvas, as well as the top, bottom and sides.

Answer 5

I did this over a very old oil painting that I never finished. The oil painting was about two-years-old so it was very dry. I put two coats of gesso over the canvas before I began the acrylic painting. And it turned out fine!

Answer 6

You could wrap it in plastic. The paint itself shouldn't melt. Other wise cheap paint. Then bubble wrap it. Make sure the box you use isn't too big to fit the painting it should be pretty snug.

Answer 7

another thing I do is wrap it first with wax paper.............seems to keep my acrylics from sticking to anything, then I bubblewrap, tissue wrap and coardboard......