Moving your art studio – California edition
Moving can be stressful, and in many cases reason for moving can cause frustration. But moving your art studio, together with all the art supplies and artwork is a completely different experience. Obviously, the most important part of this kind of move is the proper packaging of expensive supplies and artwork. We don’t want them to be damaged during the move. Even if the moving company pays for damages, artwork is almost always priceless. Moving your art studio – California edition is in front of you. Even if you are not a California resident you might find these tips useful.
Preparation
At the point you decide that it is time to move, you have to start downsizing immediately in order to get rid of the stuff that you don’t need. Or if you are moving far enough, consider selling off things that you may buy at your new studio. That is also an opportunity to upgrade some of your furniture and artwork and also perfect timing for eventual decluttering. Artistic and creative people generally tend not to have minimalistic tendencies in their studios.
Nice idea is to use some of the supplies and create something for your family and friends. You will bond with them, which is always good both for you and them. You can even decorate local buildings, playgrounds, neighbors’ yards, donate to schools or charities and whatnot.
Follow the moving tips for the common type of relocations. Things like dealing with utilities on both locations, canceling mail and similar. Then there are more specific things like informing your clients and customers about the move.
Hire qualified movers to do the lifting
Packaging, loading, unloading, lifting, and unpacking is a time-consuming process. And if you are about to do it for the second or third time you figured it out that it is much more convenient to hire someone to do it for you. California professionals can handle your art, that is their profession at the end. Having professionals to do the lifting and moving may seem expensive, but they know what they are doing. Yes, it costs money but the time you will save is well worth it. Carrying by yourself, or with a couple of your friends, heavy art tools and furniture is in a way dangerous. Especially, if you are not in peak physical shape. You might pull a muscle or injure yourself even worse. That being said…
Pack your breakable artwork and important supplies yourself
While professionals are going to everything very fast because of their efficiency, that might not be the best solution for all your stuff. Some tools like pastel stick or some other like unfinished artwork need your special attention. You are the only person that knows how valuable they are. Maybe only to you, but that makes them still very important. And, if you are that unlucky, and they get damaged you will know it was because of you. The stress that the damage done by the professional movers you have chosen can cause is not comparable by a mile.
We also suggest that you pack all the chemicals by yourself, or at least to do it together with movers. Or as a last measure, stress to movers what chemicals are dangerous. Seal all chemicals into plastic bags and put them in one secure box and if you have a car, move them yourself. Not the best option but much better than having spilled chemicals over your other stuff.
Securing Flat Files
If you own flat files and/or other similar artwork that is usually loose, the best way to transport those is to roll them and secure them in cardboard tubes. They are not that easy to come by, so consider maybe ordering from one of the California manufacturers. Ordering has even more sense because you can customize your order for your needs.
Little advice, when rolling more than one piece into a single tube, use a non-stick barrier paper between each item.
Canvas packing
If you are a painter or artist that has a lot of drawing, prints, and paintings you will want to pay special attention to them. Ideal protection from bumpy ride and moisture is a stretch wrap. Bounding artwork tightly will protect them from bending or breaking during transit, loading, and unloading. Framed pieces that are put behind glass need X across the glass. This first signals movers that this item is breakable and in the unfortunate event of glass breaking it keeps shards in one place. Don’t use newspaper as a wrapping material because in combination with humidity its ink will transfer onto the artwork. But we can be positive and say that your art will then get a “new dimension”.
You have to finish up packing with bubble wrap. A couple of layers of bubble wrap. You can then, which is strongly suggested, put canvas into the box and fill in the void with packing peanuts.
Ceramics and Sculptures
Wooden crates are the best solution because they are safe and provide the best protection to breakable stuff. This type of packing will eat of the most of your moving budget but it is simply inevitable. You will need to order crates as every sculpture is unique. Crates come in standard sizes, but compartments inside and framing inside it are customizable. If you are handy enough you can try to make them yourself, in “do it yourself” style.
Consider renting a storage unit
You can find moving companies like mod-movers.com that specialize in transporting artwork and that will even suggest renting a storage unit. Especially, if the moving process is going to take a while because the new location is being renovated or renovations are taking longer then what was expected. This way, you will have access to your stuff 24/7. There are alternatives like portable storage units that are moved directly to your new studio.
Moving your studio
As an artist, your studio is one of the most valuable things you own, it represents all the sweat and tears that you spilled over time. So, when it comes time to move, you want to be sure that your investments are protected the best they can be. Doing it all yourself seems daunting, and it surely is. Either find some serious help or hire professionals.