best way to professionally wrap a commissioned portrait to deliver to customer

[dollypop]

Hi! I am about to finish an 11x14 commissioned portrait. What are the best materials to use to professionally wrap it to deliver to my customer? I appreciate all of your ideas and suggestions.

[CarrieLLewis]

Dollypop,

I've probably found this thread too late to be of any help with the portrait in question, but for generaly packaging needs, you cannot beat the line of products available through Impact Images. They have everything from covered boxes for tiny things to the large thing, resealable, see-through envelopes for note cards, reproductions and large items, foam core backing, paper backing, hanging bags .... I could go on and on.

I use them personally for original colored pencil pieces, for el-cheapo reproductions and for the expensive reproductions, as well. They are great.

The web site is http://www.clearbags.com but you'd better go there ready to have your mind boggled because the selection is immense!

[Arlene]

ack..i just saw this thread too. I'm sorry. Ann Kullberg always delivers her portraits matted and framed. Her theory is once they see it in the finished state they're less likely to start picking it apart. I do the same thing. I only sell my works framed whether commissioned or not.

otherwise how is it being delivered? do you need to send it by post or is it just going crosstown in your car?

[CarrieLLewis]

Arlene,

That's a good point. I, too, have come to the conclusion that it's better to ship colored pencil art with a mat at the very least and I do that for two reasons.

First, it makes the piece look more finished.

Second, the backing board and mat provide a little additional support and protection during shipping.

[Nancy]

I'm starting to follow Ann Kullberg's advice as well. My commissions all come matted and framed. However, when transporting them in a car, especially over long distances, would you wrap them up, say in brown wrapping paper, to protect the frame? And if so, where do you get the paper?? I see my framer uses brown wrapping paper when he finishes matting my pictures, maybe I'll have to ask him where he gets his from.