How I make art pouches to transport my art

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Some of my artist friends have asked about my silver art pouches. This is the method I use to transport art to shows and fairs, and for temporary storage after I drop off work at galleries.  Note:  if using this material to ship or store art long term,  I recommend you wrap the art in paper first.

I use reflective insulation which can be found in different sizes at big box hardware stores (I got mine at Home Depot).  The size I get is 4 feet by 25 feet for about 50 bucks. Choose a size to fit your largest art and cut down as needed.  Why don’t I use plain old bubble wrap?  Well, sometimes I do for smaller works, but this stuff is MUCH stronger for larger canvases that need to be carried vertically.  It also offers better protection for my art that is in floater frames.  This material won’t rip or tear so these bags can be used over and over again.  

First I roll it out on a flat clean surface (my kitchen counter works great as I don’t have to lean over as much!) Lay down the art, fold over the insulation and cut to size.  I like to leave a few inches at the top grab when I carry it.  You may need to cut the sides down too, but leave plenty of extra room as you’ll be folding the edges.

Why fold the sides?  If you simply just seal the edges with tape, you run the risk of your art coming in contact with the sticky side of the tape.  I rip small pieces of duct tape to secure along the edges first, then seal it with a long piece lengthwise.

I can then stack these flat in my trunk to transport to a show or art fair.  These can also then be used to pack up the art for a customer so they can safely transport the art home. When dropping off at a gallery, I put my name on the pouch and ask that they save it. 

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