The Canvas Tote

No, I am not referring to the classic tote bag---this is about toting canvas halfway around the world for painting purposes! I have received so many questions about this topic that I decided to write this post and share some information that I hope will be useful. These tips are particularly designed for plein air painters who are traveling by air with checked and/or carry on luggage.

First point of clarification: I do not travel with my canvas already mounted on panels, or with panels that I have purchased from art suppliers. These are wonderful options (I especially like RayMar linen panels). But for me, it too limiting to have only these relatively small, standard sized panels. Instead, I like to travel with a roll of unstretched canvas. It allows me to paint large or small, vertical or horizontal, odd sized or standard sized. I just mark off my rectangle on the canvas, to whatever dimension I wish...as you can see below:

So here's what I do. First, I decide what suitcase I will take. Then I measure the interior of the suitcase to determine the longest mailing tube it will hold. That measure will be the height of my canvas. (It's usually 20 to 24 inches). I buy a strong cardboard mailing tube, and cut it down to size, if need be.

Next I buy the canvas itself. I typically pack two types: (1) a cotton canvas, and (2) an oil primed Belgian linen. Why both? I prefer to paint on the linen, but it weighs a lot, and it is very easy to dent in the packing and unpacking process. So I lighten my load a bit by packing cotton duck canvas for some of the yardage I take.

The rolls of canvas and linen typically come in widths of 54 inches. I roll the material out and cut it in strips to fit my mailing tube. I usually end up with 5 or 6 strips that measure 22 x 54 inches. I roll these up and slip them into the mailing tube, which then goes into the suitcase. Voila!

I also pack a light piece of plywood, cut to the size of my suitcase. When I get to my destination, I can clip my canvas to this board when I go out into the field to paint. I might choose to paint several small paintings of various dimensions on one piece of canvas, as shown in the photo below.

At the end of the trip, I roll the painted canvas back up (painted side OUT), and slip it back into the mailer. From thence it goes right into the suitcase for the homeward journey. I usually have enough time for the paint to dry, but if I am going to be painting right up until departure time, I take a couple of panels (mentioned above) to use on the last day or two. Those can be packed even when wet, with their wet sides facing each other, using little plastic bubbles at the corners to keep them separated.

When I get home, I usually mount the paintings on wooden panels, which I have cut to size.I use an archival paste glue for mounting. If I have been smart enough to leave a nice margin of canvas around the painting, I will stretch the painting on stretcher bars instead of mounting it on board.

My approach does make for a fair amount of "post-production work"--mounting and stretching the canvas---but I think it's worth it. In return, I am free to chose my subject without regard to a fixed dimension. So you might say that the extra work is the price of freedom!