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Handling & Transporting Artwork

Most Plein Air painters use wet panel carriers because they are literally transporting artwork wet from the field. I recommend transporting artwork to my studio in a wet panel carrier. It protects them from damage in your car (sudden stop) and keeps them clean. Also, be sure to clean out your cases from time to time with compressed air or simply washing them with water and placing them upside down to dry.

If you don’t have a wet panel carrier, placing artwork in a box with cloth or wax paper between pieces also works, but be careful if your artwork has thick impasto. Consider even an inexpensive cardboard carrier.

For transporting and handling large artwork, consider making a DIY Custom Artwork Carrier, here are the instructions.

Protect your Artwork from Dust

Dust on a painting, especially a freshly-varnished one, flares up when I photograph it. Frequently I carefully remove dust from dry paintings before I shoot them with a very low pressure air cleaner (the same kind photographers use to clean lenses). I strive to make the images of your art as perfect as possible. I know that you as an artist see the paint, but please be mindful of what happens to your art after you complete it. Varnish it in a clean setting. Keep your art carriers clean to help me to accurately reproduce your artwork.

How Rossow Photography Handles Artwork

I frequently handle wet or freshly-varnished paintings, many of my clients bring them to me to shoot them before a show or shipping them to galleries. Please let me know if your painting is still wet, recently varnished or has thick impasto. I keep my studio clean and carefully handle your art while photographing it. If I know in advance, I will handle them from the sides and return them to their cases after shooting. If a painting is wet and by rare chance I get paint on my hands from even the side of the canvas I will let you know so you can touch it up if need be.

Recent Painting Photos

Victoria Helen painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Vesta

Vesta

by Victoria Helen
Mary Pettis painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Dancing Dawn 16x20

Dancing Dawn

by Mary Pettis
Edward Bock painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Badlands 14302024b

Badlands

by Edward Bock
Kevin Komadina painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Road Trip

Road Trip

by Kevin Komadina
Andrew Sjodin painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Flowers on Flowers

Flowers on Flowers

by Andrew Sjodin
Victoria Helen painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Ready to Soar

Ready to Soar

by Victoria Helen
Steve Levin painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Johannes Vermeer study of Girl with a Pearl Earring

Johannes Vermeer study of Girl with a Pearl Earring

by Steven J. Levin
Paul Oxborough painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Cafe Window 24x32

Cafe Window

by Paul Oxborough
Jon Burns painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Oak Savanna

Oak Savanna

by Jon Burns
Nanci Fulmek painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Bean

Bean

by Nanci Fulmek
Megan Johnson painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Laione the Lionfish

Laione the Lionfish

by Reflections by Megan
Mary Pettis painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Be Still and Know 18x32

Be Still and Know

by Mary Pettis
Johanna Lerwick painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Watching

Watching

by Johanna Lerwick
Louise Gillis painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Play Love

Play Love

by Louise Gillis
Leanne Hanson painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Aspen Grove 20x30

Aspen Grove

by Leanne Hanson
Joe Paquet painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Community Garden 40x50

Community Garden

by Joe Paquet

Neon Dancing Girl

by Kevin Komadina
Jon Burns painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Thompson Chocolate

Thompson Chocolate

by Jon Burns
Jane Grant-Abban painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Up Up and Away

Up Up and Away

by Jane Grant-Abban
Johanna Lerwick painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Camouflaged Siblings

Camouflaged Siblings

by Johanna Lerwick
James Vose painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Nine

Nine

by James Vose
Hannah Heyer painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Summer Kitchen 20x16

Summer Kitchen

by Hannah Heyer
Edward Bock painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Spice 14042023c

Spice

by Edward Bock
Dyan Padgett painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Arabesque-a

Arabesque

by Dyan Padgett
Cheryl LeClair-Sommer painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Sunset Marshes

Sunset Marshes

by Cheryl LeClair Sommer
Joe Paquet painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Profile of Padula - 12x8

Profile of Padula

by Joe Paquet
Nanci Fulmek painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Kola

Kola

by Nanci Fulmek
Carl Cedegren painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Superstition Mountain

Superstition Mountain

by Carl Cedegren
Carl Bretzke painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Hillside Glow

Hillside Glow

by Carl Bretzke
Steve Levin painting photographed by Mitch Rossow - Reflection

Reflection

by Steven J. Levin

DIY Custom Transporting Artwork Carrier

Here is how to make a simple, inexpensive carrying case for transporting and handling artwork.

Materials you will need.

  • Reflectix Double Reflective Insulation Roll. Available at most home stores like Home Depot and on Amazon. It’s very affordable ranging from $10-$50 depending on size.
  • Wide Gorilla tape or a strong duct tape
  • Straight edge
  • Sharp knife
  • Tape measure
Reflectix Double Reflective Insulation Rolls

Step 1 – Measure & cut Reflectix

The width of the Reflectix should be the long edge of the artwork plus 6 inches.

The height should be twice the height of the short edge plus 12 inches.

DIY Custom Transporting Artwork Carrier 01

Step 2 – Fold the Reflectix

Fold the Reflectix in half so with back end 6-inches longer than the front.

DIY Custom Transporting Artwork Carrier 02a

Step 3 – Tape together

Use the Gorilla or duct tape to tape the pocket together. The tape should be the length of the seam. Put tape on both the inside and outside of the pocket. No sticky-side of the tape should be exposed. You could reenforce the bottom with a layer of tape too.

DIY Custom Transporting Artwork Carrier

Step 4 – Fold the top flap down

The top end of the back side folds forward to seal the artwork inside.

DIY Custom Transporting Artwork Carrier

Step 5 – Sealing the artwork inside

Use a less-sticky tape to seal the carrier. When you tape the carrier closed, fold half an inch of the tape edge over so the tape can be easily pulled up. This makes opening the carrier much easier.

DIY Custom Transporting Artwork Carrier 05a