Traveling with Paints

As the final month of summer is closing in upon us, many of you are taking those ever vital days of vacation. On your vacation, you can’t wait to take your new set of Grumbacher paints to that beautiful destination where your one goal will be to finally finish a plein air painting to perfection. I am proud of you, and can’t wait to see the results. 

However, I also want to make sure you make it to your destination with all your paints intact. It has been my experience and maybe yours as well that air travel with art supplies can be a difficult task. I have had my oil, acrylics, and even my pastels taken from my checked luggage and replaced with a notice saying “hazardous materials removed from bag”. After the considerable time and investment I spend on my art supplies, it was detrimental and a heartfelt loss before my trip had really even started.

The only guarantee for holding onto your paints is shipping them to your destination ahead of you. However, in a previous career, I used to travel over 100 days a year so I have gained a little knowledge on how to keep my paints in my bag and avoid making an unwilling donation to my local airport. Granted, every airport is different, and these general tips are no guarantee, but hopefully they will help you get to your destination happily with art supplies in tow!

The Importance of the Ziplock Bag
When traveling with paints in your carry-on luggage, be sure they all fit in a quart size zip lock bag. They are usually viewed as liquids and must be treated as such: each tube must be under 3oz. Be proactive and pre-bag them before you leave the house. Pull them out separately from your luggage so the TSA personnel can see exactly what they are dealing with before you go through security screening.

In regards to sets of paints, don't assume your paints will be taken out of the packaging and neatly put back. It is still a good rule to remove your paints from the set packaging and place them in a clear plastic bag.

Your New Best Friend: The MSDS
Whether you are checking in your art supplies in your check-in luggage or carrying it on a plane, always bring the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for each of the products. When bringing paints on board, print the MSDS sheets out and include them in your quart size bag. Make sure the sheets are folded with the information facing out, and highlight the “MSDS” title on the sheet for security to see. You can find Grumbacher’s MSDS sheets on our website - here's how! 

When placing your paint in your checked luggage, it’s still a good idea to pack your paints in a clear bag or box where they can be easily seen. Make sure the bag or box is not sealed, locked, or closed to a point where security cannot easily inspect the products individually if needed. Print out the MSDS sheets, and rubber band them, information side out, around the products.Rule of thumb? Make it easy for them to view the contents, and view the safety information.

Know Your Flashpoints!
The US Dept. of Transportation defines "flammable liquids" as those having flash points of 140 degrees F/61 degrees C or below. Artists’ oil paints, for example, are based on vegetable oils and have a flash point usually around 440 degrees F - hence they are not hazardous for air travel. However, turpentine, mineral spirits and some other mediums do have a flash point below 144 degrees F and are not allowed on board. Make sure you check the MSDS of all the products you plan to carry on board to ensure they meet this requirement.

The best defense for not losing your paints is preparation and knowledge. We have gone over several points for preparation above, but keep yourself informed by visiting the TSA’s website and viewing their rules for travel BEFORE you get in line at the airport. Here is the link to their website.

Good luck, and happy travels!

Don’t forget to check out Grumbacher's Class Schedule for the next month! Visit our classes page and get the details! Here are some highlights:

• Wilson Bickford at Stonebridge Farm Bed and Breakfast, Bucks County, PA

• Marlene Wood at Positive Strokes Art School and Gallery, Palatine, IL

• John Stuart Pryce at Bridge Water Retreat, Tweed, ON

• Joyce Ortner at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH and at Whispering Willow Art Studio, Pendleton, IN

• Pauline Lorfano at the Vienna Art Center, Vienna VA

• Richard McDaniel at Dillmans in Lac du Flambeau, WI

Contest! Win a FREE set of our new Palette Knives by being the first to answer our Trivia Question! Click Here

The first twelve qualifying answers by August 31st 2009 will receive a free six-piece set of our brand new Grumbacher Palette knives!

New Product Alert - Grumbacher Charcoals!

Back by popular demand, we are manufacturing the highly praised Grumbacher Vine Charcoals in America!

Grumbacher Vine Charcoals are made by burning hand-selected vines at high temperatures to produce a beautiful range of velvety grays from dark, soft charcoal to light, hard charcoal. Those of you who have used our charcoals in the past know that these charcoals provide excellent coverage and are easily blendable. They will be available in hard, medium, soft, and extra soft in 3-piece and 12-piece boxes.

Grumbacher Vine Charcoals will be available in your local art store during the Back-To-School season. If you don’t see them, be sure to request them!

Audience Participation

Send us a photo of your studio and we will post it on our website. It’s always inspiring and sometimes comforting to see how and where other people paint! Simply email your photo to me at education@chartpak.com!

Thank you again for all your support, and please let me know if you need any help with your new projects.

Best wishes,
Sasha DeMarino, 

Director of Education,
Chartpak Inc