Transporting wet painting and material

[Leon Holmes]

I am soon to be travelling overseas with my art box (Hopefully attending 'Art in the open')

1st Point - I have noticed that Oil paint is a banned item on the No Fly list at airports.Does anybody know the ruling on this? is it just hand lugguage? Can I put it in my checked in luguage or will I have to bye paint at my destination?

2nd point  - Any ideas for transporting wet oil painting in your luguage. I currently put them face to face with a small stone in each corner and wrape packing tape around them to hold them together. (Problems someimes with the stones moving or falling out)

[Tony Robinson]

 There are some useful guidelines HERE. The gist of it is that oils are generally permissable in checked-in luggage, but not in a cabin bag. After all, oil paint is only minerals ground in vegetable oil. It is solvents like turpentine and white spirit and some mediums which can have a flashpoint below the airline safety limit. You can pick up a bottle of those at most destinations and certainly, in Ireland  there is no shortage of places to buy them.

As for the wet paintings, the answer depends on whether you work on stretched canvas or thin panel. On long trips, some artists carry a loose canvas cut to preferred sizes and just stretch them temporarily with masking tape over stiff card before painting. The paintings can then be carried home rolled in a mailing tube with greaseproof paper between each. Some artists glue matchsticks to the edge of panels and then tape them tightly together. Or you can buy a cardboard panel carrier or quite easily make your own using fluted plastic board used by signmakers with dividers made from thin strips of wood glued in place along the two inside edges. If using stretched canvas, canvas pins are tried and tested, if a little bulky.

Whatever method you choose it will be much easier to solve the problem if you restrict your panel sizes to one or perhaps two options.

Hope these suggestions are of help and look forward to seeing you at Art in the Open 2012.

[Leon Holmes]

Matchsticks ;) Perfect :) Ive been useing pebbles, how stoneage of me haha.

CArdboard panel holder, never seen one of them, I will have to look out for one.

Thanks again Tony. Your a legend :)

[Tony Robinson]

Have a look at Raymar's website for panel carriers, or perhaps for some inspiration to design your own.

[Georgina Rey]

Hi, I frequently travel with oils in the Suite (checked luggage) and have no problem, You are not allowed to have them in your hand luggage. No turps allowed in either checked luggage or hand. I cut up corks (like I would a cucumber) and put them between panels in each corner. Then clip together. I do this too when out painting. Put the paintings face to face. If you paint with liquin they will dry very quickly.

kind regards

Georgina Rey

[Leon Holmes]

THanks Georgina, very helpful :)

[Jim Toth]

When I paint with oils and need to travel, I always use canvas baords and transport wt ones in a RayMarr (Arizona) carrier. THey hold six wet boards and work very well. There are two sizes available now.

Jim

[Leon Holmes]

Thanks Jim :)

I have since built a few boxes that hold ten boards back to back. I can now take 2 of these in my suitcase and it has been perfect :)

Happy painting to you :)

LEon

[Carol Hartman]

I like to pick up those "free" shipping boxes at the Post Office, adhere self-sticking rubber door insulation strips (1/2" wide) on each inner side to separate wet panels, and then just ship home when filled. I've had no problems so far, as long as it fits paintings snugly.

[Steven A. Simpson]

I believe the TSA ban on oil paint was targeting liquid oil pain, like cans of paint. You'll notice that no tube of oil paint states "oil paint" on its label anymore. They label the product as oil color, or "oil colour." So, if you are traveling and trying to get your oils through security, you should train yourself to NEVER SAY "OIL PAINT ." Always say "OIL COLORS." Once you say "oil paint" the TSA agents (who are trained to key in on specific words) will confiscate your supplies. It's a stupid thing, but there it is. If you read the TSA guidelines you will see what they are concerned with is what is called the "flash point" of anything you are bringing on a plane — the temperature at which a substance will ignite. You can usually find the flash point of your OIL COLORS in the technical specs on the particular manufacturer's website. You will see that the flash point of OIL COLORS is well above the limit specified by the TSA. I always put my oil colors in my checked baggage with a manufacturer's print-out (right on top of the tubes) in which I have hi-lited in bright yellow the flash point of the OIL COLORS. It's worked fine for me so far.

[Leon Holmes]

Thanks Steven, That's very helpful :)

Happy painting :)

LEon

[Terri Miller]

You'll be happy to know that the most flammable part of a tube of oil colors is the paper wrapper.  :D