How To Travel With Art Supplies

Traveling with art supplies doesn't have to mean that you are packing your entire studio. Here is how I travel with all my essentials when I'm on the road!

When I travel I want to travel lightly. That's why when I travel with my art supplies I want to make sure I'm not over packing. When I travel I always want to take my art supplies with me because it's the perfect way for me to unwind after a day of sightseeing or travel. I recently purchased the art moleskin which I took with me on this trip. I also took my winsor and newton watercolor set.




backpack with Winsor and newton cotman watercolor, and moleskin notebook 

A few years ago I bought this toiletries hanging bag. I soon realized that it would make a much better art supply bag than toiletry bag. It has 3 compartments, I will be sharing with you what I keep in each container.  
bag of shower toiletries used to keep pencils, pens, and watercolor brushes


Before I share with you what is in each compartment I did want to share that normally I use the canson mixed media journal, but I found that it was a little too big when I traveled which is the reason I switched to my moleskin notebook. I will be doing a review on how I like the moleskin and what is going to happen to my canson xl notebook.
Moleskin notebook, bag with art supplies, and xl media by canson notebook





If you aren't familiar with the winsor and netwon watercolor sets here is a quick inside look. 

Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color Half Pan Studio Set

Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color Half Pan Studio Set


I keep a long wax paper on the paint. The reason I do that is because I noticed that with the travel some of the paints were coming out or getting loose inside the palette. Keeping the wax paper over it keeps the paints secure.
inside Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color Half Pan Studio Set


The main reason why I love this palate is because it has a great selection of colors and it has plenty of mixing space!
inside Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color Half Pan Studio Set

In one of the compartments I have let some Dr. Ph Martins concentrated watercolor. I let the blues dry and I can revive them with a little water and use them. No need to carry the entire bottle with me. Although I wouldn't recommend you do this with all the colors. I'll do a review on these at a later time.

Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color Half Pan Studio Set palette

Okay, so inside the first compartment I keep all of my micron pens. I also keep my pencil in case I want to sketch. I keep an eraser as well. I also keep two waterbrush pens

black micron pens

In the second compartment I took some of my favorite brushes. First I took my Raphaël Soft Aqua Brush 845. I also took my Princeton Art & Brush Real Value Natural Camel Brush Set, Round Size 1, 3 and 5. I Have a few brushes from Artist loft that are meant for acrylic. I also have a waterbrush that I have filled with black india ink. Lastly I keep a ruler and some napkins. These napkins are not like the regular hand napkins. They are linen free napkins so I don't end up with fuzz on my brushes. They are long lasting so I can use (as you can see) one for months if I need to. The packet I have has lasted me 4 yrs, I only use a few of these napkins in a year. 

watercolor brushes, black micron pens


My last compartment contained some acrylic student grade paints by Artist loft (Michaels brand). I also had a few winsor and newton cotman (tubes). I also have copic white, pastel dreams palette, and brush cleaner.

artist loft acrylic paint copic white pastel dreams palette

All of these items are extremely portable. If I choose I can leave things in the hotel or not travel with them at all. If I wanted to I could reduce even more by not taking anything in the third compartment. I will say that I will be looking for a smaller palette to take instead of my half pan set. I do find that out of all of these it's the bulkiest.

I hope this gives you a better idea of how YOU CAN travel with your art supplies!!

Let me know how you travel with your art supplies down below!