How Do You Travel With Art Supplies? Here Are Some Tips.
It’s summertime and the open road is calling. Are you planning a weekend at the lake? Maybe an urban outing to NYC? No matter where you go you can take your art supplies and create on the road.
Here are a few ideas and tips to get you started.
First, if you plan to fly with your art supplies here are a couple of things you should do.
TAG IT: It’s far easier to travel with acrylics and watercolors than it is to travel with oil paints. Simply put a note like this one in a plastic bag and put it inside the suitcase that has your art supplies in it. You can also download the MSDS (material safety data sheet) for a variety of products from Golden Artist Colors here. Putting the MSDS sheet or a note like this in your luggage will help you get through airport security without a lot of hassle.
I’ve traveled many times with acrylic paint in my suitcase and never had a problem.
SEND IT: If you want to use oil based materials my advice is to send it to your destination. There’s a good likelihood oil based products won’t make it through airport security.
BAG IT: Tape the lids of all the jars, bottles and tubes of paint and put them into plastic bags. For Golden High Flow I use two plastic bags because it is so fluid-like and tends to leak. Trust me, you’ll be glad you bagged your paint!
DOWNSIZE IT: Grab a small set of watercolors like this cute travel set from Golden Qor Watercolor. The colors are so intense! Add a Pentel Aqua Brush and a pad of Fluid Watercolor Paper and you’re good to go!
GO DIGITAL: I never travel without my iPad. It’s like having a full blown studio in my hand. If you haven’t tried it yet, I’d encourage you to give it a whirl. Get a basic iPad like this one and a couple of apps like Procreate or ArtRage and let the fun begin. Check out this free class in Procreate that I created.
Stuck at your in-laws? In a tiny European hotel room? There’s no excuse not to make art. Tons of travel journals, fun pens and markers, and digital media make it easier than ever to make art on the go. So get out there and see the world and create something beautiful!