Whether you’re an art student, drawing enthusiast or an occasional painter – you’re an artist. And when it comes to artists, there’s a lot of tools involved. Brushes, pencils, rulers, canvas, sketch pads – plenty of them.
Because of this, choosing a backpack for your art equipment is a bit more confusing than choosing a regular one.
You’ll need different compartments, plenty of pockets and a lot of space to hold your portfolio or a large canvas. You’ll probably be carrying an easel, too.
We put together a list of 14 backpacks that are great for artists and that will meet each one of your requirements.
Best Backpack For Artists
Martin Just Stow-it Backpack for the Arts
The Just Stow-it Backpack from Martin is the perfect choice for artists who are always on the move. Although it’s quite small in size and might not be a good fit for carrying a large canvas or a portfolio, this backpack has plenty of space for your art supplies.
The back pocket is large enough to hold a laptop and feels nicely padded so you don’t have to worry about things breaking. It has a lot of mini pockets and compartments where you can organize your brushes, sketch pads, paints and other accessories.
The backpack comes with a removable brush case which comes in handy for those days when you don’t need to carry absolutely everything around.
Fanchuang Canvas Art Portfolio Carry Backpack
The Fanchuang Canvas Art Portfolio Backpack is the perfect choice for those who need to carry their portfolio or canvas around. The backpack has a large compartment where you can hold your sketch drawing board, sketch pads or other large size projects.
It has plenty of zippered front pockets so you can organize all your art supplies, drawing pad, paint, color box, sketch paper, pigment palette, etc.
Transon Waterproof Art Portfolio Case and Artist Backpack
If you’re looking for a bag that can fit all your art supplies and hold your large portfolio as well, then this backpack from Transon is perfect for you.
It has one large zippered pocket that can hold your canvas boards, panels, sketching and drawing pads or other large projects. It has one long front zippered pocket which is perfect for a folding easel, posters or rulers.
The main compartment also has plenty of smaller pockets where you can organize all your brushes, pencils and other accessories.
Tanchen 4K Canvas Artist Portfolio Carry Shoulder Bag
This backpack from Tanchen comes with five different size pockets that will meet all your needs.
The main pocket is perfect for carrying your drawing board or portfolio, and the other ones are specially designed for organizing your supplies. It has a paintbrush bag, a pocket for your palette knife and a place for your easel.
It comes in a variety of colors and it’s really comfortable to carry around.
Walfront Artist Canvas Painting Bag
This backpack from Walfront is made of heavy canvas, is lightweight and very comfortable to carry around. It comes in four colors: blue, red, black and grey. It has a large capacity and can easily hold a portfolio or large canvas.
It also has special pockets for your other accessories, a special one for carrying your easels, drawing pads or other larger items.In the smaller front pockets you can organize the smaller supplies, brushes, pencils and pallets.
Walfront 4k Canvas Drawing Board Bag
Another great backpack from Walfront, made of heavy canvas and very comfortable to carry around as well. This one comes with a more fancy look and with some extra pockets.
Just like the previous one, the backpack has dedicated pockets for every accessory and is large enough to carry a 68 x 50cm canvas.
Sleeri Drawing Board Backpack
The Drawing Board Backpack from Sleeri is the perfect choice for artists who want to work outside. It has plenty of space for a large canvas, easels, paints, brushes and even a pocket for carrying an umbrella, if necessary.
It’s made from Oxford cloth, it’s waterproof and easy to clean.
Fanchuang Canvas Art Supply Portfolio Backpack
This backpack from Fanchuang comes in a classy and elegant design. Although it has the same purpose as all the other portfolio backpacks, this one doesn’t have any front pockets that give away its main role. Because of this, you can use it for other purposes as well.
It has a large main compartment that can hold your portfolio or painting board and has two side pockets that are perfect for easels or rulers.
Fitlyiee Waterproof Art Portfolio Carry Case Backpack
The Fitlyiee Waterproof Backpack comes in two vivid colors, bright yellow and orange. Lightweight and easy to carry, you’ll be using this backpack for a long time.
It has dedicated pockets for every accessory you might need: bucket, pencils, brushes, water pipe, easels, rulers and a large main compartment for your portfolio.
Artoop Water-resistant Artist Portfolio Tote and Backpack
This backpack from Artoop might be the best value for money on our list. It comes at a cheap price but with a great quality. It has all the advantages of the others – lots of different pockets, plenty of space for a portfolio and great material.
Very comfortable to carry around and perfect for traveling, this backpack comes in blue, pink or green.
LONGT Water-Resistant Art Portfolio Carry
This travel portfolio is made of high quality oxford fabrics, it’s water resistant and easy to carry. The backpack features one large zippered compartment for canvas boards, panels, sketch pads, drawing pads or other large items.
The two zippered front pockets are perfect for organizing your paint, bucket, pencils / brushes, acrylic paint set, pigment palette or other supplies.
It also has one posture stand pocket for folding easels, posters or other long items.
Betwoo Art Portfolio Case Bag Carry Backpack
Put a little color in your life and in your backpack. This backpack comes in a brave and playful design and it might be your new favorite bag.
All zippers are pretty sturdy so you don’t have to worry about them coming unzipped when you’re on the move. The inside of the backpack has waterproof lining which is really important when you’re carrying a portfolio.
US Art Supply Black Nylon Art Portfolio Carry Backpack
This backpack from US Art Supply is a perfect choice for students and field painters who are on the move and need to transport canvas, paper pads or drawing boards.
Besides the main compartment where you can put your portfolio, the bag has two front zippered pockets for your brushes, one mesh elastic pocket and one poster tube pocket.
Yofa Artists Portfolio Case Artist Backpack
Another great backpack that’s perfect for all your art supplies and projects is the Yofa Artists Portfolio Case.
Just like the other bags, it has a large main compartment that can hold canvas boards and front pockets for the other supplies. Brushes, pencils, pallets, easels – there’s space for everything.
Just because your art does not make it into Disney, does not mean that you can’t call yourself an artist and pursue your passion. We hope that this article gets you one step closer to your dream.
I have a “special purpose” need for a “portfolio-type” backpack. I need dimensions of at least 17-inches by 29-inches; however, 18-inches by 30-inches would be perfect. I cannot seem to find anything that goes beyond 26-inches in the longer dimension and is still a multi-pocket backpack…
Are you aware of any such product?
IMWTK!
— LP —