First, you’ll have to stretch you oil painting on a wooden frame, but you probably already knew how to do that from the start. Now, after you take your framed canvas painting, you have to cut four corners of foam to defend the edges against bumps. It’s straightforward to cover the corners. Just take any precision knife and heat it up with a flame. After it is getting hot cut the foam so it makes corner shapes. The heated knife will cut through the foam like butter.
Next, take the foam corners and place them on the four corners of the frame. Take duck tape and start spinning it around to fix the corners in sequence. Do this first to the width and then to the length. Now comes the wrapping part. You will need business wrap nylon. Simply wrap the frame like you would wrap a sandwich until you are feeling you get some good resistance. At that point, you are just about done. Shipping oil paintings is simpler if the painting is framed as the frame acts as a stabilizer and protection. I usually put a thick piece of foam core about half an inch or one eighth of overboard and back it so it overlaps all of it by at least 0.25 inches on all sides. Tape these together soundly so that the painting is tucked between them.
The frame offers a space between the top cover and the painting surface so that nothing touches the top layer – this is what we want. Then put the whole thing into a box and pack paper around it in order that it doesn’t move within the box. This methodology is good for all but the most careless mail handling. Very valuable paintings should be shipped by an expert art moving company, but a lot works don’t need the white-glove treatment. Luckily, there are less expensive options available. If feasible, transport your paintings un-stretched and unframed, to supply the maximum cover against damage. Roll the painting around a strong card tube, paint side in, wrap it in bubble wrap, then encase the entire in a second, bigger tube. If this isn’t possible, for example, in the case of paintings on board, you could be in a position to employ a “mirror box” available from most shipping-supply stores. Pad this box with corrugated card or bubble wrap. When you uncrate or empty a painting, save the crate or packing items in case you want to ship it again.
