Traveling with paints

The new airline security rules - which are great - require every checked bag to be x rayed. This means that there is at least a 50-50 chance for one of the TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) workers to ask you about them. It's important for you to know that artists paints are nonflammable, noncombustible and have a “flash point” way beyond what the airlines state as the standard. That's not the problem. The problem is that many of the TSA employees simply don't know what to do about paints when they find them. You could easily run into an over zealous security person just wanting to do a good job protecting us. (Before continuing with this page I did want to stress that in the 14 years of organizing workshops overseas there has been only two occasions of artists having their paints confiscated. One of those occurred when the artist decided to yell and scream at the security people for questioning her about her colors - definitely not a good thing to do!)For this reason there are several things to consider doing:

1) It must be remembered that if asked what these tubes are, we say: “these are artist colors made with vegetable oil and no solvents“- rehearse saying this in front of the mirror. This statement comes from the president of one of America's premier paint manufacturers (excuse me... one of the manufactures of artist colors with vegetable oil and no solvents!). Several months ago, on a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico security guards had me open my valise, looked at my paints and asked me what they were. I used the above description and they seemed ok with that. They let me through with them.

.All of the color manufacturers have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for each color they make, and you might want to deal with carrying them with you and showing them to the TSA people. They are written including all the information about flash points, etc.

2) I recommend putting your paints in your valise with the rest of your possessions - NOT in a separate valise. Putting them in a separate valise just attracts more focused attention. I don't clump them in one spot in the valise either. I spread them around so as not to draw any undue attention.

3) You could consider repackaging your colors in unmarked tubes. Dana Oils (also called Classic Oils) sell these but I'm sure you can find them elsewhere.

4) It goes without saying - but I'll say it anyway - don't bring your colors onto the plane with you. You can bring your easel on board, but not your colors and perhaps not even your brushes as they could be seen as possible weapons. Sometimes the way I use my brushes I think they're weapons!

5) You could ship your supplies to your destination to avoid all this. That's much easier if you're flying in the US, but if you're going to another country you will find it too costly. You will pay customs just to pick up what you shipped. I shipped my colors to a friend in Paris in advance of a trip several years ago and had to go to a location in Provence, to the customs office, to claim them. I paid about $100 to get them.

6) Don’t forget that in the worst case you might have to buy some paints overseas- not the end of the world. There are a number of decent art supply stores (and some less decent) throughout France, Mexico and Canada so that you could have what you need without dealing with taking the colors with you.

Bob Gamblin of Gamblin paints wrote the following in the FAQ of his web site about the subject:

Q. Can I fly now with my oil colors?

A: Artists' oil colors contain no solvents so they are not hazardous. When security asks, "What kind of paints are these?" Never say oil paints; say that "these artists paints are made from vegetable oil and contain no solvent." For air travel, flammable liquids are those that have a flash point 140 degrees F. or below. If you do not know the flash point of your mediums or solvent, do not take any on board. Check to see if you can purchase mediums and solvents at your destination. If not, ship art materials ahead by ground transportation. Using the US Postal Service, artists can ship materials anywhere in the world. Specify "ground transportation".

Important points:

1. Artists grade oil colors are based on vegetable oil with a flash point above 550. THEY ARE NOT HAZARDOUS.
2. Travel with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to prove the flash point if required. Download MSDS for all Gamblin artists materials from our web site (product descriptions and MSDS are located in the Artists Materials section of this web site, click on the MSDS link below the product description).
3. Do not travel with solvents and mediums. Gamsol has a flash point of 146 degrees F therefore it is flyable. Remember to have an MSDS with you.
4. Do not carry your palette knives on board.
5. Keep your cool, don't hassle security. Show them the MSDS and explain that you are going on a painting holiday.

Phil Levine Workshops, Inc.
242 East 38th Street suite 3E. NY, NY 10016
phone: 212-949-8852 fax: 866-501-6873
e-mail: philiplevine@earthlink.net