How to Ship your Drawings

Keep your work safe during transit!

As a precaution, you’ve asked your postman, and bitterly noticed that he is unable to answer to this question! I know, I know the feeling of uncertainty and frustration … but don’t worry, I’ve got the solution for your artwork to be shipped safely.

1. Cardboard tube

For easier and economical shipping, I’d rather send my artwork on paper carefully rolled in a Cardboard Transportation Tube (especially for larger sizes than A4).

2. Why send a drawing rolled? 

Because in an envelope (even with bubbles or thin cardboard), the paper is not necessarily well protected. Travelling flat, it remains fragile and flexible, and may wrinkle or fold easily. The use of a Cardboard Transportation Tube can hold the roll of paper without bending and protect it during shipping.

3. Materials for packing 

• My artwork on 2 brown kraft paper (Graphite pencils, Pastels, Markers, Charcoal)
• crystal paper sheets or “glassine paper” (acid-free archival paper )
• 1 cardboard transportation tube (64cm long, 8cm diameter)
• 1 adhesive packing tape

4. Step by step

Here are my 2 drawings to ship. “2 Baigneuses”, pencil and gouache on kraft paper, size 50 × 65 cm.
Before inserting them into the tube, I put a crystal paper sheet on each drawing. Semi-transparent and slightly glossy, this acid-free paper protects your artwork (pencil, pastel, watercolor) from possible friction during storage or shipping.
Carefully protected by Crystal paper, I now put the designs on top of each other and I roll them all tight.

Tip: You will notice, Crystal paper is slightly larger than the sheets of my drawings. Do not forget that inside the tube rolls paper can slide, shift and possibly damage the edges. With this trick, the crystal paper who will take the impact and not the drawing.

And now, I fit everything into the tube before closing carefully with plastic caps. Ready to travel!
Personally, I always add adhesive to hold the ends securely  to prevent the tube from opening during transport.

5. Quality of the tube 

• Cardboard Transportation Tube
• Economical and practical
• Huge selection of lengths and diameters of the tubes
• Quick release through interlocking plastic caps.
• Shock absorbing
• Transports, protects and preserves the creations on paper (available in plastic)
• Suitable for carrying drawings, prints, photos, maps, posters and other documents (A0, A1, A2, A3)

6. Did you know? 

A + B/ Cardboard Transportation Tube + Cover > to avoid some postal fees because the tube can roll.

C/ Shipping Tall Cardboard Box > The high stability allows it to be easily stored, without any postal fee because it does not roll.

D/ Triangle Shipping Box > The shape allows a large document protection or artwork on paper, since it can’t roll.

E/ For shipping small drawings (A4 size or less) > the cardboard envelopes are usually sufficient. If you do not have a cardboard envelope, then use the method called “sandwich” of placing your drawing, between 2 sheets of thick cardboard, inside a paper envelope.

Information for this article was provided by professional fine artist, Amylee Paris. You can visit her colourful portfolio or follow her on Facebook and Instagram. 

Find all Amylee’s posts published in GreatArt online Magazine by clicking here!

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