Packing and shipping pastel or charcoal artwork is the stuff of nightmares - or is it? ​

Find out about practical and effective tips for making packaging unframed and framed pastel artwork simple.
This page covers the following:

Understanding the challenge of transporting pastel artworks
  • what can happen and
  • how to avoid it
How to package pastel or charcoal artwork for shipping or transport
  • options for making life simpler
  • Recommended method for packaging an unframed pastel artwork for shipping - including videos demonstrating how to do this
  • Pastel Pointers: Richard McKinley's methods for transporting pastel painting
  • Videos about packing framed pastel paintings

Understand the challenge

What pastel or charcoal can do when moved
  • become detached from the support and start moving around
  • bloom on plexiglass (which has a static charge) if there is a gap and the artwork is placed with the plexiglass underneath the artwork
  • drop and stain the mount lip
  • stain the mat generally

Pastels artworks are particularly vulnerable if they get a sharp knock - and you have to assume that your package might get dropped in transit at some point.
Ways of addressing and reducing the risk of pastel dust and drop
  • give your artwork a hefty slap on the reverse - I'm a big believer in reducing pastel dust by giving your pastel a good slap on the reverse
  • use fixative to reduce the scope for pastel dust (Use multiple light sprays rather than a heavy spray and do NOT use hairspray. Use a professional resin based artists fixative spray designed for soft pastels. BEWARE fixative can kill the colour so check before you spray or make sure you buy a fixative which doesn't change colours.
  • cure the pastel in air before shipment (it hardens the pastel). In my experience the scope for pastel drop reduces the longer the pastel is left in fresh air. It seems to harden off - plus anything loose drops over time.
  • use reverse bevelled double mats so that the mat stands slightly proud of the surface of the pastel (ie. mat next to pastel painting has bigger aperture than the surface visible mat)
  • cover with glassine and compress the artwork - this is an excellent way of ensuring the pastel is covered but will not be removed from the support (see below for methodology)

How to pack and ship pastel artwork
​

Options for making life simpler

There is no absolute requirement to ship pastel artwork framed. In fact it reduces risks  if they are shipped unframed.

If somebody has bought your artwork, tell them you ship double or triple matted to a custom size of their choice but unframed. Explain why this reduces shipping costs! Make sure you include instructions for framing to the framer (not all are expert at framing pastel paintings) e.g.
  • reverse mount;
  • use fillets to prevent pastel dust falling on the mat;
  • recommend museum glass for no glare viewing and
  • advise as to price

if you need to ship to an exhibition, find out if there are any options for having it framed locally. I've shipped unframed pastel paintings to the USA for an exhibition - and the gallery arranged framing and charged it as an expense when the painting sold
The thing which damages pastel paintings is any shifting within the package - or any bending of the support

Thus the artwork needs to be:
  • compressed
  • unable to move
  • secure if dropped

If shipping unframed you must make make sure the artwork is wrapped in something which won't remove pastel from the painting!

I use glassine over the painting and then foamcore boards front and back and taped together for extra protection and so the pastel painting won't move in transit.

Recommended method for packaging an unframed pastel artwork for shipping

METHOD:
  • Create two halves of a foam core sandwich: Cut a sheet of foam core so you have two pieces that are larger than the artwork but small enough for the dimensions required for your chosen outer support or method of delivery.
  • Place your pastel artwork (face up) on one of the sheets and tape down. To do this you need to have left a margin for handling your pastel artwork when transporting and framing. Hinge taping is preferable if you know how to do this. Hinge taping is essential if you are shipping a matted artwork.
  • Place glassine on top of the artwork and tape to the foam core (which is larger than artwork) - to ensure it cannot move. (If the work has been matted place glassine on top of the artwork but underneath the top mat. This assume a hinged mat)
  • Create the foam core sandwich. Place second sheet of foam core on top to create the foam core sandwich. Then tape all the way round - compressing as you go - so NOTHING MOVES.
  • Alternative foam core sandwich for smaller works: score a large sheet down the middle with a knife or sharp implement so it folds (like a book cover) then hinge tape the pastel painting to one inside. Tape glassine on top; fold foam core along then tape (so the artwork is now covered) and tape/seal along the open edges
  • Print a label with instructions on how to open (and repack) & tape to foamcore
  • Insert into a bag which renders it waterproof
  • Assume it might be dropped and you need to provide cushioning protection eg bubble wrap around the foam core sandwich.
  • Make it rigid: Depending on size you might also want to include something to increase the rigidity and brace the internal package to make it more rigid and stop any attempt at bending.
  • Then it's just normal packaging after that (see How to pack artwork for shipping - plus appropriate labels re treatment with care). However you need to pack assuming these will be ignored! You need to consider what sort of packing is used if there is a need to repack to send back again.
REFERENCE: More artists using a similar approach

Videos about packing unframed pastel paintings

This short video by pastel artist Emma Colbert is very similar to the method I use.
This is a video about how to pack an unframed pastel painting by Bethany Fields
Canson Glassine Art Paper Roll, 36 inches X 20 yards
Very smooth lightweight paper which is anti-static and has a neutral pH
Used for
  • slipping between pastel artworks for archival storage - to avoid smudging
  • wrapping pastel paintings to seal surface prior to transport

BUY FROM AMAZON

Pastel Pointers: Richard McKinley's methods for transporting pastel painting

Pastel artist and tutor Richard McKinley has written extensively about how to transport pastel paintings - from plein air back to the studeio and from the studio to galleries or customers.  Below I have referenced his articles for the artists network - which do NOT pop up easily on a Google search. Some of the information is entirely generic and can be found elsewhere in this section on How to ship art
REFERENCE:

Shipping Pastel Paintings | Pastel Pointers
  • Shipping Pastel Paintings, Part 1 - Pastel artists have to face the inevitable day when they must package their precious pastel paintings for shipment and place them in the hands of a package carrier for delivery. 
  • Shipping Pastel Paintings, Part 2 - It is often said that paintings are analogous to children. Since we artists are the parents, sending our artwork/children out into the world, it is imperative that we bundle them up safely, worry just a little, and then patiently await their safe return.
Pastel Painting Transportation | Artist Network
Thee articles about the pastel painter transporting their own artwork - from plein air back to the studio or when returning home from abroad

Videos about packing framed pastel paintings

The important thing is to pack framed pastel paintings so that they are
  • protected from the impact of being dropped or knocked. They must not be able to move.
  • use reputable shippers

Bethany Fields shows how to use an Airfloat Box to ship framed paintings. The boxes are an investment and they can be returned - so long as you remember to label the inside of your box with your return address.

REFERENCE - Artists Tips for shipping pastel paintings