Transporting canvas (Art boffin question)

[Carreauchompeur]

Goodafternoon!

I am currently in Thailand on Koh Samui, where there is a gallery. I have seen a large-ish canvas I really like, which is an original oil painting. I am fairly confident of getting it for a very low price.

The artist has said that it can be transported by simply removing the canvas from the frame and then rolling the canvas.

Assuming I could find a strong cardboard tube or similar to do this, is the painting likely to survive the trip? I don't know much about oils but shirley if it's rolled up it will make the painting crack?

And then I presume it's just a question of having it framed upon my return?

Thanks in advance, anyone done this before?

Sam

[NDA]

I've never done it - but rolling it should be fine.

However you need to ensure it's not rolled tightly, so it'll need a large diameter tube.

[skilly1]

I have done it a couple of times. No problems, they put it in a plastic drainpipe tube. Just make sure the frame you make in the UK is exactly the same size so it fits in the ridges on the painting.

[Carreauchompeur]

Excellent. Let's hope my three-day plan of bargaining works then. It was 110 quid yesterday, has come down to 100 today... Will try for 90 tomorrow A really lovely piece. Ta for the answers!

[Cotty]

You say large-ish canvas, too large to bring back as hand luggage?

[jeff m]

Oils take a long time to dry.
Check with him when it was painted and is it already varnished.
Rolling no problem, let them roll it, they will put tissue paper to prevent adhesion. (or some sort of paper)

Ask them for the old stringers. (the wood bit it is nailed to)

Edit T A
I had four paintings I bought in Hong Kong rolled many years ago and sent to UK where I had then mounted on stringers and framed.
On settling in the States I asked my Brother if he could send them over.
He had them packed and airmailed them over and sent me the bill
He sent them framed. The bill was moch more than I paid for the things.
Over four feet long side.

So roll 'em

Edited by jeff m on Wednesday 25th February 14:00

[Olivero]

This is what I do when I buy art when traveling. Make sure you keep a piece of paper over the canvas when you roll. A strongish cardboard tube should be fine, a drainpipe is a bit over the top. When you get back buy the correct frame, they are mostly set dimensions, then stretch your canvas as described in the link below. Very easy to do.


http://www.artsuppliesonline.com/catalog.cfm?cata_...

http://painting.about.com/od/oilpainting/a/stretch...

[Brown and Boris]

I have ahd a few acyllic oil pieces shipped from the far east.

They roll the canvas with a sheet of thin plastic so any moisture in the paint doesn't come off on the back of the canvas and the painting face isn't rouged up or smudged at all. They then put it in a rigid cardboard tube. They drill the tube about an inch from the end and thread nylon string through. This stops the canvas falling against the end of the tube and leaving a 'ruffled' edge due to crushing as happened to one I shipped more cheaply.

They then seal the ends 2 or 3 times over. Does the job.

The mail then lose it.

[drivin_me_nuts]

Take it in a tube. Don't buy tube that is dark green Khaki colour and wear over right shoulder like RPG. Not a good idea. definately not a good idea in the current climate as I found out a while back

[Carreauchompeur]

Thanks all.. My 3-day plan evaporated very quickly, so I've paid 100 quid...

Am waiting with bated breath to see how big the tube is when I pick it up later today... Will not be posting it!

[mas99]

There is a standard rule with buying expensive carpets and paintings - see them get wrapped then you hold them.

Very easy to get home to find that you've got the 'wrong' one.

[Carreauchompeur]

mas99 said:

There is a standard rule with buying expensive carpets and paintings - see them get wrapped then you hold them.

Very easy to get home to find that you've got the 'wrong' one.

Thanks... It is very well wrapped however so I am loath to unravel the whole lot. It's a well-established gallery on Samui rather than one of the crappy street-stall knock off type places so I am fairly confident it's alright.