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What's the Best way to Sell Oil Paintings?

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2 Replies
What's the Best way to Sell Oil Paintings?
Created on
Feb 23, 2009 4:14 PM
by unicornsandhorses )
Hello again!

I'm thinking of doing an oil painting that I may eventually sell. I know oils take a REALLY long time to dry and was wondering how long should I wait before selling the painting and how to go about protecting it during shipment? Anyone with oil painting/selling experience? Please help! Thanks! =)
Useful Funny
The below is just from my experience and how I was taught. I am unsure if your question was for ACEO only or Traditional canvas or both, so included both ways of handling them.

Smaller non impasto, thin layered oil paintings can be dry enough to ship with 7 to 14 days time. ACEO's should be sealed with clear varnish and placed in a clear archival acid-free sleeve and a clear rigid card holder for shipping.

For traditional oil on canvas the following apply.

I wouldn't suggest removing it from the frame. The buyer can have a lot of difficulty restretching it. Rolling a canvas works best if it was never on stretchers to begin with.

Be sure that it is dry before you ship it. It can take up to 6 months for a painting to considered dry enough for varnishing/shipping. Even though an oil painting is dry to the touch, it can still be wet in the lower layers and vulnerable to damage. You also do not want to varnish an oil painting for at least 6 months (if you sell if sooner include information to the buyer that they will need to have it varnished to preserve it). If you sell it locally (item isn't being shipped) offer to varnish it for the customer in 6 months time.

Use the bubble wrap method. Remember to NOT let the bubble wrap touch the painted surface. There can be a chemical reaction and destroy the surface of the paint. Wrap your painting loosely in paper (like newsprint) and then wrap stiff cardboard around that to keep it from getting any puncture damage in the shipping. The next layer should be bubble wrapped to keep it all from getting crushed or double box it. Or, places like UPS can package it for you safely.

Hope this helps.
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by bwebb2191 )
Oct 8, 2009 8:34 AM
Great Thanks! I have a small canvas board that i started with oils so I was hoping if I did the painting thin enough, it will dry around the same time as the 7-14 day period like you say the ACEO's do. I wanted to sell it on ebay so I wanted to be sure it is packed well and doesn't get smudged. I've never ordered an original direct from the artist oil so I wasn't sure how long the painter waited to sell it and how they get packaged and arrive. Would wax paper work on protecting the surface before packaging it? Or will that have a bad reaction and damage it in any way?
by unicornsandhorses )
Oct 16, 2009 9:03 AM