Travelling with Art Supplies: A Practical Guide

Painting in new locations sparks creativity in ways studio work can't match. A painting trip to the Victorian high country, a week capturing Queensland's tropical coast, or an international adventure following in the footsteps of the Impressionists—these experiences produce some of our most inspired work. But getting your art supplies safely from home to destination requires planning and the right gear.

After decades of travelling to paint, I've refined my packing strategies through plenty of trial and error. This guide shares practical solutions for different travel scenarios, from domestic road trips to international flights.

Air Travel with Art Supplies

Flying with art supplies presents the most challenges due to security regulations, size restrictions, and luggage handling. Understanding the rules and planning accordingly prevents unpleasant surprises at the airport.

Carry-On vs. Checked Luggage

Generally, carry your most valuable and fragile items on board with you. Checked luggage gets roughly handled, and lost luggage—while uncommon—does happen. Your favourite brushes, expensive paints, and small, compact easel belong in your carry-on.

Larger items like full-size tripod easels typically must be checked. Pack them in sturdy cases and pad well. Some artists use PVC pipe containers with end caps for tripod legs, protecting them from crushing and bending.

Paints and Mediums

Oil paints in tubes generally pass through security without issues, as they're not classified as liquids. However, individual screeners may interpret rules differently. Pack tubes in a clear bag for easy inspection and be prepared to explain what they are.

Solvents are the major challenge. Turpentine and mineral spirits are flammable and typically prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage. Options include:

• Using water-mixable oils, which require no solvents
• Purchasing solvents at your destination
• Using odourless mineral spirits (sometimes accepted in checked luggage in small quantities—verify with your airline)
• Cleaning brushes with painting medium only, avoiding solvents entirely

Palette Knives and Sharp Objects

Palette knives are generally acceptable in checked luggage but may be confiscated from carry-ons depending on size and the screener's judgment. Pack them in checked bags to be safe. Craft knives, box cutters, and similar tools definitely belong in checked luggage only.

Road Trips and Train Travel

Ground travel offers much more flexibility than flying. You can bring larger quantities of supplies, including solvents, and don't face strict baggage weight limits.

Packing for Car Travel

The main concern becomes organisation and protecting supplies from heat. In an Australian summer, a closed car can reach temperatures that damage paints and warp wooden panels. Never leave art supplies in a hot car for extended periods.

Use sturdy containers that won't tip or spill. Keep solvents in their original, sealed containers and store upright. French easels serve as their own storage and travel case—one reason they're popular with travelling artists despite their weight.

Wet Canvas Transport

Transporting wet oil paintings requires special consideration. Wet canvas carriers—clam-shell boxes that hold two wet panels facing away from each other—solve this elegantly. For larger works, some artists stretch plastic wrap across temporary supports to keep wet paint from touching surfaces.

Never stack wet canvases face-to-face or face-down. The results are heartbreaking.

Building a Travel Paint Kit

A dedicated travel kit, always packed and ready, makes spontaneous painting trips possible and ensures you don't forget essentials when rushing to pack.

The Compact Palette

Travel palettes are necessarily limited. Select eight to ten colours that give you broad mixing capability without bulk. A typical travel palette might include:

• Titanium white
• Cadmium yellow light
• Yellow ochre
• Cadmium red
• Alizarin crimson
• Ultramarine blue
• Cerulean blue
• Viridian or phthalo green
• Burnt sienna
• Burnt umber

This palette handles most landscape and urban subjects. Add specialty colours as needed for specific trips.

Brushes for Travel

Carry fewer brushes than you'd use at home, but ensure coverage across sizes and types. A typical travel brush kit might include three to four flats in different sizes, a couple of filberts, and one or two rounds for detail work. Travel brush cases with elastic loops protect bristles and keep brushes organised.

Portable Easel Options

Your easel choice significantly impacts travel convenience. Consider these options:

Pochade boxes are the most portable option, fitting in a backpack and supporting panels up to about 30cm. They're ideal for flying or when you'll walk significant distances to painting locations.

Compact French easels provide more workspace and canvas capacity while still being reasonably portable. They typically weigh 5-7kg and work well for car travel or train trips.

Aluminium field tripods offer a middle ground—lighter than French easels but capable of holding larger canvases. They require a separate bag for supplies.

International Travel Considerations

Crossing borders introduces additional considerations.

Customs Declarations

Art supplies are generally not problematic for customs, but large quantities might raise questions. Keep receipts for expensive equipment to prove ownership if questioned. Some countries have restrictions on importing certain pigments or materials—research your destination's rules in advance.

Buying Supplies Abroad

Rather than packing everything, consider purchasing consumables at your destination. Major cities worldwide have art supply stores. This approach reduces luggage weight and avoids security concerns about solvents and other restricted items.

However, specific colours or brands you prefer may not be available everywhere. Bring specialty items; purchase basics locally.

Shipping Work Home

If you create multiple paintings during an extended trip, shipping some home reduces what you must carry. Art shipping services handle this professionally, or you can ship panels yourself via international post (ensure proper packing and insurance).

For wet oil paintings, wait until they're touch-dry before shipping. This typically takes three to seven days depending on paint thickness and climate. Plan your painting schedule to allow drying time before your departure.

With proper planning, travelling to paint becomes a joyful extension of your practice rather than a logistical headache. The memories and artwork you create make every ounce of preparation worthwhile.