How To Pack Your Art Supplies for Air Travel
Image by Tesia Blackburn
Traveling as an artist comes with unique challenges, especially when it comes to packing your art supplies. When you’re flying, you’ll want to ensure that TSA doesn’t flag your materials. And you’ll also want to make sure your materials are safe, organized, and ready to go. With some preparation and the right packing techniques, you can travel with your art supplies stress-free.
Your art supplies always go in checked-in baggage. Never carry on.
Plan on two bags when you travel, one for your clothes and one for your materials.
Double bag all paints.
Place a paper label on all bags that says “Waterbased art supplies”. Never, ever say paint!
When you’re using a large checked bag you can put your surfaces (paper, canvas panels, etc.) on the bottom and put your plastic bags of paint on top. I love these watercolor boards.
Tape any jars or bottles that could leak, even if they are inside plastic bags—for instance, Golden High Flow, gesso, or fluid paints.
You can also place an MSDS sheet on top of your paints. Here is the MSDS sheet for Golden Paints.
Plan on buying paper towels at your destination rather than packing them since they take up so much space.
Be sure to pack an apron!
Put your brushes in a roll to protect them I like to use the foam shelf liner that comes in rolls. Then I can make as many brush rolls as I need and they are disposable and/or reusable.