The Art of Moving Art: 7 Tips for Moving Your Art Studio

How to Move Your Studio Like a Pro (or at Least Like a Very Determined Artist)

Lately, life’s been all about boxes, tape, and making piles. What stays, what goes, what comes with me? It’s not the most glamorous part of my life as an artist, but it’s where I am right now: packing up, getting ready to leave my studio, and preparing for some pretty big changes.

Removing canvas from stretcher bars for safe shipping

Preparing for the Move

Lately, my life has been a mix of cardboard boxes, “where did I put that?” moments, and deep philosophical debates about whether I really need to keep that one weird brush I haven’t used in three years.

I’m in the middle of packing up my studio, my creative home, my little corner of the world where I’ve painted, stared at blank canvases, and eaten far too many snacks. It’s strange taking things off the walls, peeling back the layers of a space that’s held so much these past 6 months. It's the end of a chapter in many ways.

And while I’d love to tell you that I’ve been wildly productive and churning out masterpiece after masterpiece, the truth is, this month has mostly been about logistics.

But there are exciting things coming. Big moves (literally) and new chapters I’ll be stepping into soon. I’ll be sharing more in the next couple of months, so stay tuned. For now, I’m leaving a little mystery in the air because life’s just more fun that way. In the meantime, if you've ever needed to pack up a studio, or are shipping anything art-related, or are doing some general 'spring cleaning', here are some things that I've been doing this month to keep things as organized (and as safe) as possible:

Wrapping painted canvas in cotton cloth

Brushes and palette knives in a sturdy box

Framed artwork, carefully wrapped

Art Packing Tips

1. For Large Canvases: Take Them Off the Stretcher Bars and Roll Them If you’re moving long-distance or trying to save space, carefully remove the canvas from the stretcher bars and roll it (paint side out) with a protective layer of acid-free paper or a clean sheet. Never fold. Rolling helps prevent creases and makes transportation way easier (and cheaper). Pro tip: label the roll with the title and size, and keep the stretcher bars so you can reassemble them later. I'm actually rolling several together and writing out the information on the box I'll be putting them in.

2. Layer It: Paper → Bubble Wrap → Cardboard For framed pieces or canvases that stay stretched, the safest sequence is:

• Clean paper or soft wrap (so nothing sticks to the surface)

• Bubble wrap (bubbles facing out to avoid pressure marks)

• Cardboard or foam board to give structure. This sandwich method protects your work from pressure and dents.

3. Use Cardboard Corners or Foam Edge Protectors Protect the edges and corners of your frames and canvases as they’re the most likely to get bumped. You can buy these or make them from scrap cardboard. Bonus: it makes your stack look impressively professional.

4. Wrap and Separate.Never let two wrapped pieces lean directly on each other. Always put a layer of cardboard, foam, or thick bubble wrap in between. (Paintings, like people, need healthy boundaries.)

5. Label Clearly and Create an Inventory Be specific when you label boxes. “Framed oil painting: ‘Eat That Frog’ 80x100cm” is much more helpful than “Art Stuff.” Keep a quick inventory with condition notes.

6. Pack Brushes and Small Tools in Hard Containers Hard plastic boxes or toolboxes are your friends here. Soft bags will only make for bent bristles. I use a shallow cardboard box to pack all of my brushes, palette knives, etc...

7. Climate Control Matters Try to avoid storing or shipping your art/supplies in places with extreme heat, humidity, or direct sunlight. Paintings can warp, crack, or grow mold in the wrong conditions.

Of course, snack breaks and tarot guidance are still essential. Packing is a full-body experience, and it's mentally exhausting.

I’ll be sharing more soon. Big life changes are coming, but I’m keeping the details under wraps (for now).

P.S. In the middle of all this, I’ve been quietly working on a piece about dreams for a collective exhibition later this year (more on that soon, too).