Artists on the road?

[yellowroses]

I am an artist working in oils, pastels and metal working copper into jewelry. I do portraits of people and pets as a specialty. I want to travel full time in a few months doing art all along the way. The challenge is to get art and display materials into a 27 foot Class A Winnebago along with two dogs and a cat. I have an aluminum collapsible easel and a table easel. The pastels have to be stored inside but a lot of stuff can go in the tiny basement space. I say tiny because most of the space is taken up with the workings of the rv ( hoses etc). Metal working tools also have to be inside also or they will rust. Interior cabinet space is limited and needed for food, kitchen and clothes storage. On top of it all, I keep hearing that most people overload their vehicles and that this is very dangerous.

The first few months will be spent at an rv park in Pensacola where I can learn how to operate the rig. We can take short trips to nearby state parks and beaches. This will allow for opportunities to practice loading art supplies needed. I should have worked out most of the storage bugs within a few months.

Are any of you out there artists? Have you solved your work problems to your satisfaction? Any tips on adding storage inside the rig would be helpful.
Kate

[BarbaraRose]

There are trailer hitch cargo carriers that you can attach to the back of your rig to store stuff in. That might give you a little more storage space.

Here is a link to some on Amazon...
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... Caps%2C319

[yellowroses]

Thanks for the reply, BarbaraRose, and for taking the time to look up the Amazon product for me. I bought a toad to pull behind the Rv. I can load some stuff in there while traveling, but it can't stay in the car once we are camped/parked. I guess there aren't a lot of artists on this site or else they are all busy- out painting.
Thanks,
Kate

[Redetotry]

I'm not an artist but worked at a University with artist for years and my DH is a retired art professor who paints daily in a very small room in our home using watercolors and acrylics. My thoughts are since you will be working in a small space, reduce your exposure to toxic products, like turpentine etc, maybe work in acrylics and watercolors. If you will be in one spot for a few months find a local college where you can pay a small fee to audit a class. This would allow you work space the same as a regular student. Or, could you work with the metals doing your jewelry work for a time period then switch back to painting.
The reason I suggest working with less toxic materials is the risk of cancer or becoming chemically sensitive which is high risk especially for artists, or for anyone who works long term with exposure to toxins.

[BirdbyBird]

Good points, BJ......

My art supplies on the road are very limited but my dog supplies, grooming equipment, x-pens, etc., make up for it. And then there are the inflatable kayaks. The short answer is we find room for what matters to us. Whether is is packed away neatly out of sight or takes up space inside the RV on the sides of beds, under tables, on tables or with tables removed. Your rig may not look like everyone else's and you might not have the extra space that others would use for a guests but you will have what you need/want with you. House and Garden beautiful need not come by and take pictures.

And you are right. Toads make for great expanded storage. They are especially useful for the camp chairs and x-pens. Items that may not come out while traveling cross country but usually come out if I am setting up for a few day. The extra kayak can ride around in the back of the Honda where ever I am going, makes it handy if I am not parked right on the water and have to drive to the lake to put in.

And I find that when I am living in the RV, I don't need nearly as much clothing. The dogs never count how many days I wear those blue jeans.....

You'll figure it out.....