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Author: L._Diane_Johnson_PSA_NAPA, Contributing Editor
 | MANY TIMES I've been asked about how I travel with canvas for painting en plein air, particularly when traveling overseas. More recently, artists have inquired about the compact storage of paintings. Since these two topics intersect, I'll demonstrate my process of preparing canvas to take "on the road."
This is nothing new or uniquely orginal. I adapted much the idea from a student I had in Monet's garden a few years ago. She painted in thin oil washes, but I generally paint in acrylic when traveling, so this method works well for both media. |
 | Pictured above is a painting I created on one of the boards I'll be demonstrating...
First, let me preface this article by saying, when painting locally or in my studio I generally purchase pre-stretched, pre-primed linen or canvas "off the shelf." I still prefer stretched canvas to boards although as you'll see, I do use both. But when taking many stretched canvas' traveling space prohibitive, particularly if for longer than a week. |
 | With this in mind, the photo above clearly shows the difference in size between standard stretched canvas and the traveling boards I'm going to create. Here are 6 canvas' and 6 masonite boards of differing sizes with canvas wrapped on each. As you'll see, I can wrap each board with up to 4 canvas' and still only take up the space of two and a half standard canvas! That's right...if you do the math, that's about 2 and a half paintings to 24!
Not!! Don't forget the boards! I prime the boards before wrapping with canvas so they can be paintings too...that gives me a total of 30 paintings in the space that would only hold 2 and a half standard canvas'! Prior to any major trip, I purchase a full roll of preprimed preprimed linen, 52" wide x 6' in length. The following "tall drink of water" is a diagram depicting a computer file I generated based on a full, uncut roll. I like the flexibility of painting in various sizes. So here you can see how all the sizes are arranged for maximum economy from the roll -- before I cut anything! You'll notice each designated canvas size has 2" added around the perimeter to allow for wrapping/tacking to stretcher bars before framing. In this case, I had a large studio painting to do as well, so I built it into the plan. Many artists do this to save time, money and drastically reduces errors. It also confirms the benefit of taking geometry and math in school ;) |
 | Next, I use regular cardboard or Foamcore board to make patterns of all the sizes I need, with the 2" allowance clearly marked. These templates can be used over and over again and take little room in the studio.
Then according to my computer-generated plan, I roll out the canvas, and proceed to trace around the patterns, working my way down the roll. (I have not displayed a picture of this step since it's pretty straight-forward.) I simply cut-up all of my material with nice sharp sissors or an xacto knife. Voila! Dozens of paintings, ready to be packed for their trip. |
 | With "canvasettes" in hand, I do two things. First, decide which sizes/ quantities I need to mount to my boards. Then second, decide how many I wish to take as extras. Remember the 24 canvas' I displayed on the first page? Well, not only do I have those extra boards to paint on, I also take one or two tubes filled with additional material! -- Blank canvas on the way to my destination; completed paintings on the return trip home!
For my traveling "roll" I write the size one corner of each canvas with pencil so I never have to guess what I am grabbing; then stack smallest sizes to the inside. No particular reasoning here, I've tried it both ways and pefer the larger canvas' to the outside. There are pro's and con's to each. |
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