Painting is Possible Everywhere

I love to travel! I love creating art! So putting them together is the best of both worlds.

Packing an efficient art travel bag is challenging but the art and memories you will make while on your adventure is going to make the effort well worth it!

The image below was one of my very first travel watercolor paintings. While visiting my daughter, we spent one morning at a quaint farmers market where there were stalls of gorgeous blooms. I couldn't resist getting them on paper with these vivid pigments from the Schmincke Horadam Aquarell Watercolor Metal Travel Box (featured in image below).

This is the perfect bijou set for the on the go artist with its 8 half pans, two wells, and convenient water flask all hosted in a timeless metal tin that fits in the palm of your hand. But there are so many ways to put together your art travel bag whether compact or extensive and below we will go through some tips of the "must haves" and the "extras" that can make all the difference.

How to Pack Art Supplies When Traveling On A Plane

TSA regulations can make packing your art supples challenging. With the regulations around liquid amounts and chemical limitations, considering what to bring and how to carry it can be a process broaching on pure frustration. The first thought is why not check your luggage bringing all of your liquid paints and large fancy brushes and your favorite 300lb watercolor paper. NO! DON'T DO IT!! You may ask why not.. but you don't want to lose your best art supplies in your luggage! Nor do you want end up with paint all over your clothing in your suitcase.

Instead, make your art kit a part of your carry on. Even though you face some limitations you know that kit will make it with you to your final destination where creative inspiration awaits! The kit set ups below are TSA friendly and ensure your art tools will travel safely and efficiently. Lets take a look at all the options, starting with the traveling artists best friend... the Ziplock Bag!

Pro Tip: Stick with packing your art tools in your carry on, it's your best bet!

Watercolor Artist Kit Checklist

1. Ziplock Bag or any other sort of waterproof clear carry bag

I find that having a few various sizes of ziplocks will be one of the most valuable items in your travel kit. Not only do they provide you with a waterproof solution when you are on the go but still have wet brushes or pans, but they can also be a specimen collection pouch if a unique flower or botanical needs to come home with you for further artistic study.

2. Watercolor paper :

We know that quality paper can make all the difference in pigmentation and technique. While we all have our preferred option I find the convenience of a notebook or precut cards to be both convenient and carry on friendly. If you are looking to work on larger formats I recommend a lightweight plastic tube for carrying a few roll ups of your favorite paper.

Moleskin watercolor notebook or Strathmore watercolor cards

3. Watercolor Field Kit

There are a number of options for a watercolor kit and a few features that I find to be the most crucial when choosing for your travel artist bag.

First is color selection. Its important to consider your pallet for not only your style but your destination. Depending on your preference to either mix your own colors out of a few primaries or to have them a preset pans will determine what size kit you may need.

Pro Tip: Consider a kit that allows for interchangeable pans which give you the freedom to pack the colors you need for your travel destination.

Secondly, the number of wells can make all the difference when you are out in the field. Having the space and freedom to adjust pigmentation or mixes without crowding provides the traveling artist the freedom to create at will.

Thirdly, the actual construction of the kit is a key feature. Ask yourself if you prefer the timeless feel of a metal tin or the lightweight convenience of plastic. It's important to consider the hand feel and usability for a plein-air setting. Some kits come with rings or elastic loops on the bottom allowing an easy hold on the palette while you paint. Another unique feature you may want to look out for is a water flask, which can be a major convenience when you are on the go.

3. Small white acrylic paint

Bringing along a small tube of white acrylic is a great aid for finalizing a painting and creating those bright highlights where needed.

4. Ultra fine black pen

Quick emphasis on your line work in a painting can bring city scapes or portraits to life. Packing a an ultra fine black pen is a must have.

5. Mechanical pencil

As you are marking out or pre-sketching your subject, a great mechanical pencil will make all the difference once you are putting water to paper. My favorite is the Otring 600 0.5mm Black Barrel Mechanical Pencil (image linked below).

6.Extra pencil refills

[3 set!!!] Pentel Mechanical pencil core replacement Ain Stein 0.5mm 4B 40leads×3 C275-4B

7. Small watercolor brush or brush set

One of the key features of your travel bag is keeping it compact and finding the right brushes to fit you, your style, and your travel bag is a challenge. That being said there are some great options out there in all price ranges. If you are a minimalist you can go with a singular brush that fits right inside your watercolor pallet. If you want the freedom of options there are small sets like the Raphael and the DaVinci below that offer a good sample of shapes and absorptions.

8. Small water container

If you kit does not come with a built in flask/cup it's always a good idea to include a collapsible cup or spare container for water. Whether your are mixing, cleaning, or painting with it, the extra vessel will be appreciated when you are out in the field.

Choosing Your Subject Matter

There are a few spots, like a beach at sunset or a sunny field of flowers that make choosing your subject a breeze. But sometimes you find yourself on a city corner or settled in mountain valley with almost too much to choose from as you look to capture that perfect moment and memory on your travels. There are a few tips I recommend that make picking you subject an easier endeavor.

What captures your eye first?

If you are finding it a struggle to pick your subject, narrow in on what grasped your attention the moment you arrived there. Picture a frame around that subject and adjust until you feel the composition form in your mind.

It's not a photograph, details can come and go

With any art you are not beholden to the reality of your setting. I think this is especially true to watercolors. The very medium is less about precision and more about expression. You do not have to capture every little detail about what you see while traveling. Maybe what grabbed your eye is just the steepled shadow of the clocktower or it could be the color of a poppy against a green field of grass. It is more important to hone in on what conveys the feeling and emotion of your experience in that scene than in the detail of the subject. Something I like to do is squint my eyes and unfocus my subject for a moment and feel the movement in the light and shadows before putting pigment to paper.

Don't get stressed if anyone nearby stops to admire your work in progress

Whether you are new to watercolor or an experienced hand, you are an artist! If someone comes by to admire your skill while you paint, bask in it. They are seeing the world through your eyes and enjoying the mystery behind the process. They may like what you paint or not but it doesn't matter, the art and the moment are for you

If you’ve been thinking about painting on vacation or even at your local park but haven’t tried it yet, I hope this post has encouraged you and guided you on what to pack in you art to-go bag!