I get pool noodles from the dollar tree, cut them in quarters and slice them so it wraps around the edges of the painting, costs another quarter or fifty cents, but it's like a bumper pad for the canvas
I shipped a 4' by 4' painting across country earlier this year. I carefully took it out of the stretcher bars folded at once and then rolled it up and put that in and shipping tube and mailed the whole thing $3 shipping tube $17 postage and it arrived fine. There recipient can glue it to a 4' by 4' MDF board and hang it that way or take it to a framer 2 re stretch and frame
Hi Rafi, You mentioned including a letter of authenticity, I have started selling my work and would love to know when you think it is good to start adding them, how to go about creating one or advice on the matter. Thank you so much! Have an amazing day!
I totally understand the issues involved with shipping art. I make and sell cradled hard top art panels for pour artist. To say there is a steep learning curve is an understatement. Thanks for the tutorial, nice to know I am not the only one out there dealing with this.
Great video Rafi, I just did a video on packing paintings in wood crates for shipping internationally. This video was very informative and great for anyone needing to know how to get their work in the mail. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the video. Shipped my first piece from TN to CA and was very anxious. Did a Rafi style packing and it arrived safely even though there was some box damage. Great tips!
This was so valuable! Thank you so much for sharing how to package art/paintings. I feel so much more confident to list and sell my larger paintings now that the mystery of how to package/ship them has been solved! thank you!!!
I'm painting on aluminum, so that's quite heavy for a cardboard box... I think that a wooden box for heavier stuff would suffice. The only con is that the wooden box is really heavy so that increases shipping cost... Great video! this was really helpful
I use the same sizes repeatedly, so i can have shipping materials on hand and I dont have to freak out about worrying how to ship something, when I can be celebrating my success.
For International I think the best prices you'll get are from FedX or DHL. But seeing you made this video last year you might have found out who to use.
I don't make or buy boxes. However my paintings are generally on the small side. For a painting 11X14 and larger I put the painting in a Clear Bag, cut a piece of foamcore the same size as the painting to put on the front and a piece of 1" insulation board to put on the back then wrap them all together with cardboard and tape.
I would love a video on how you inventory your art. The art you have and the art you have sold. Do you track each piece after selling it? Or do you just consider it sold and done?
Rafi, you are so awesome to do these videos! I've learned so much from you and you do a LOT to take the skeered out of it all. Well, maybe there's still a LITTLE skeered, but not too much. I do acrylic and resin pours and have started working with alcohol ink but I haven't gotten to the point where I've shown my paintings, yet. I have a LOT OF THEM (60+) but most of them still have a little something that needs to be finished on them (like the sides painted, maybe a 2nd coat of resin, or signed) but I'm getting really close. As soon as I get something that I deem complete (which I'm within days of doing), I'm taking your advice about putting them on Instagram. I am still trying to decide what e-commerce to use since a lot of my resin work is too heavy for me to do free shipping on Etsy. Thank you SO MUCH for these videos because it helps SO much!
Thanks so much! I am about to send my first painting overseas from Australia to the US and it's pretty scary not knowing how to do it. Your video was very helpful and much appreciated 💖 💕💕
I tried using the Velcro to attach and center the back of my cradled panel to an inner box. Left the top of inner box a couple of inches high because I wanted nothing touching the front of my painting. Taped a piece of cardboard with small flaps to the top. Then I used bubble wrap to wrap the outside of the inner box. Used leftover packing peanuts and additional bubble wrap to fill the outer box. Client said the Velcro kept the painting in place. No damage at all.
Awesome thanks for all the responses, because I’ve had a horrible time trying to figure this issue out . I do use a fixative but it’s still not enough so this has put a halt on me selling my work even though I’ve had inquiries/requests for some of my pieces. I store my drawings in manner everyone has suggested and in portfolios or large plastic container tub that I don’t move lol.
Whenever I sell a piece I take hours preparing the docs, making the box from scratch to custom fit each piece, and all that goes in to presentation.. Ahhhh.. I'm a fool, but I know I'm going to keep doing it..
Thank you! I’ve had major painting shipping anxiety lol I’m even more confused about how much to charge for shipping. I currently have a big cartel but have also considered an Etsy store... maybe that’ll make things easier. But even when I had an Etsy store I was confused on how much to charge. Does Etsy pattern do those calculations for you??
Massive tip from my brother that I learned. Don't buy anything from ULINE. Its marked up of course. If you call around you can find box companies locally. You just call them up, place an order and go pick them up. You get robbed by Uline on the shipping. :)
Oh yea Rafi, have i missed a video on how you give a peice to a customer at a show after puchase. I am sure there aren't bagged. Lol. Would love your input.
Thanks for the video. Have you ever considered getting an Amazon store? When you mention something in a video that you like, you could put a link to it, making it easy for viewers to find it, and you make a little $.
Why don’t you buy your plastic wrap from uline as well? Looks like you use a lot. So buying in bulk wouldn’t be a problem. You also need a weighted tape dispenser so you can get pieces with one hand. Uline sells those too.
Hey Rafi, you mentioned if it gets hot things can get sticky. When you do hot and humid outdoor shows does the varnish on your work get stickyish from it? What about if you decide not to put a piece out and leave it in your vehicle and it gets hot?
As long as Styrofoam is not involved, I'm good! Styrofoam squeaks once and I'm curled up in the fetal position!! Domestic shipping I pay. Any size over 30x30, I add a small handling fee. I've not shipped overseas yet! Thanks for sharing this!! Good day, adios!!
5:32 does the plastic stick to the art I’ve had problems with plastic and wax paper sticking taking paint off luckily not when due to send 😅 I put the cardboard on first then wrap now. Do you still include COA I need to design a new one - what paper do you use for COA (certificate of authenticity ) I’ll need an artist signature so not my signature associated with the bank 😬
Rafi is it ok to place paper artwork in a freezer bag ? I ask because the internet recommends clear plastic display things that look exactly like freezer bags but they reckon their bags are acid free yet food safe...... just like a freezer bag...... just wondering 😊 cos then I’d be shipping it in a rigid envelope Any thoughts ? 😊
soooo much plastic waste ;( Could you maybe exchange some of the plastic for like something reusable? Wollen thread to fasten the cardbord to your canvas or eg. exchange the plastic bubbly thingys for like shredded paper or something? Btw, I love your videos and what you do is so awesome!
Thank you for this video. This might be a dumb question, but do you know what is the best way to collect with credit cards for payment? Like who do I use, are there big fees? What's your experience? I feel like people would buy more of my art if I took credit cards. (I'm just staring out.) Thank you in advance. :)
Not sure what Rafi uses, but I've used "Square" before and they are reasonable and now I'm using the Shopify reader and it's pretty reasonable too. They will take a small percentage to cover the charge and for giving out the little reader deals and all that, but it does make it easier for people to buy.
OMG yes. If you take a painting to the store and say " I need this to be packaged and sent to X place." they are going to charge you what amounts to an absurd amount for the box, the tape, the bubble wrap and for boxing it up and then the shipping cost. Sometimes I ship things like this when I am really behind in orders, and instead of it being $15 to ship or $18 - it's $28, $30 or $40 even ( depending on the size of the painting). It's much cheaper ( at least in the USA?) to buy your boxes and materials and pack it yourself - although I still wouldn't really call it cheap. If you can sell stuff locally in retail locations and they take whatever - 20% or whatever... haha.... it's probably cheaper than shipping stuff.
I´d say varnish them! you can buy varnish in spray cans as well, hairspray will do just fine too Then you can just roll up the drawing or if it's not on paper just ship it like Rafi explained in the video ;)
Spray with a fixative, when dry cover surface with waxed paper. Then sandwich between two pieces of cardboard, taping edges shut, and proceed as Rafi showed. Be careful with pastels, fixatives may adversely affect the colors.
Avoid rolling. I'd put it in a plastic sleeve if possible and sandwich between pieces of cardboard or foamboard. Tape all edges to ensure moisture won't get in, and box it up.
I've heard hairspray can yellow, use an art final fugitive spray. I shop charcoal and pastel, both will smudge if touched, even after spraying. I tape a layer of glassine paper to the front, then sandwich in cardboard taped shut so the painting/drawing can't move/RUB, then follow the rest of radio's steps. I also encourage customers to pay for priority expires on pastel. Fewer hands.
