Whether you are a collector, artist, or just art enthusiast, packing and shipping artworks are some of the essential life routines that you will definitely encounter now and then. Art transportation is a responsible and daunting task, a challenge that many people stay away from. The primary reasons are the complexity of the process and the high cost of failure that one needs to pay. But as they say, one who would catch fish must not mind getting wet. And this is especially true when it comes to shipping art.
There is no wonder that people are afraid to damage their valuable belongings. However, it is within your power to prevent common accidents and protect your items from harm. Below, you will find five essential tips for packing and shipping art. With their help, you will not only preserve what is precious for you but also save a lot of resources and effort doing so.
5 essential tips for packing and shipping art on a budget
1. Investigate your options
Depending on what type of fine art you are going to move, your options will differ. First and foremost, you need to take into consideration the number of items to be delivered, as there is a huge difference between shipping a single painting and a whole art collection. Speaking of paintings and sculptures, make sure you gather as much information as possible. This includes materials, age, dimensions, condition, distance, and other factors influencing the price of fine art services.
2. Analyze the risks
When you know what you’re going to work with, you need to analyze risks and difficulties awaiting you in the process. To start with, do your homework and learn more about how direct sunlight, humidity, temperature, and poor handling techniques can damage your freight. With that in mind, you can adequately calculate how much packing materials and supplies you need.
3. Do not cut corners on shipping supplies, but be smart
Shipping art on a budget does not necessarily mean that you should buy cheap art packing supplies. The thing is that you can get along without many materials, as you can easily find alternatives at home. While cardboard pads and filling materials are easy to get without spending much on them, there are things such as packing tape, high-quality boxes, and instruments that should always be of high quality. For more refined and advanced safety measures, consider shipping your art in wooden crates – they rock the industry!
4. Hire only experienced art logistics experts
To ship artworks safely and securely to a desirable destination, you need a trustworthy shipping company specializing in handling objects of high quality. Art specialists will consult you regarding any questions and ensure the integrity of your items in transit. On the other hand, if you turn to amateurs or incompetent firms, you will put your valuables at risk of getting damaged.
5. Do insure your art
According to art shipping experts at Fine Art Shippers, art insurance is a must-have for contemporary collectors and artists, but few people actually ascertain its fundamental importance. When you are getting your artworks protected by third-party insurance, you are basically guarding yourself against potential losses in the future. Shipping art will be much safer if you do not ignore insurance policies.
To sum up
Even though these five essential tips won’t guarantee you 100% success, they will help you find the right direction whenever you pack and ship your art. The process of shipping art will be much more enjoyable and smoother if you do your homework thoroughly and follow the above-mentioned instructions. Now it’s time to put theory into practice!
