Mastering the art of travel: painting on planes and other unusual places
I love to travel and I’m lucky enough to have seen some spectacular parts of the world and met some extraordinary people along the way.
Travel is immersive and wondrous, intricate and transformative. And when your passion is painting, and holidays are full of unwinding afternoons and transit lulls, it really is the most magical time to pick up a brush and paint. After all, it’s why I started Casual Chronicles in the first place – to paint all the people I saw on my travels.
There is, however, a subtle art to it. I’m not talking about things like packing light, arriving on time and well-planned itineraries because I’m utterly crap at those. I’m only smug about my Mr Bean style approach to whipping out paints on planes, trains and boats and other unusual settings. Sometimes in my corporate clothes because I work full-time, travel a lot and try to paint in every spare moment. It’s a form of transit entertainment for me, and probably those around me too.
Some people give my portable paint process strange looks while others find it quite curious. One Virgin cabin crew on a flight to Sydney said with a surprised grin on her face, “this is the first time I’ve seen this on an airplane!”, while I was squeezed between two business men looking rather nervous about the palette of pink paint 10 cms from their gleaming white shirts.
After an artist from New Zealand messaged me to say that my portable painting adventures have inspired her to get creative on her long-haul flight to Canada, I thought I’d document my process for others to enjoy. So, without further ado, here are my tips from travels with my water-based paints, neatly stuffed in my almost always overweight carry-on luggage:
Tupperware palettes – dive into the Tupperware draw and pull out a lunch box sized lid. Put a small squeeze of each paint colour on the lid and leave to dry for 30-60 min before travel. But what about Customs you may be thinking? No problemo, you’ll breeze through without a hitch. After all it’s lunch box lid with blobs of dried paint. And you don’t have to sacrifice space for liquids…hooray! Note: A china or plastic side plate also works very well and has passed the customs test.
Small sketch pads – The maximum space you will ever have in front of you is, at best, a tray table. Restrictive but workable. Keep it small to avoid making enemies with your neighbours. A6, A5 and A4 size sketch pads are the bomb and don’t take up too much space / weight in your bag. Trust me, Ryan Air are savage these days.
Condiment paint pot – who doesn’t love a condiment. And even better, they make great little travel pots for paint water! Stuff a small glass jar with a lid in your carry on and use this as your water vessel. If you don’t like condiment, paper cups and mugs from hotels work a treat.
Accidental mop ups – sometimes things go wrong and you just to happen to spray or spill paint water on the person next to you. It happens. I’ve done it. Literally sprayed a middle-aged woman while she was deeply engrossed, mid-movie on a flight to New York. Pick up some napkins at the same time as your transit meal / pack some kitchen roll / use your sleeve if it comes to it.
Pride in your paint – I’ve said it before, but some people cast funny looks about this portable painting stuff. Sometimes I think to my myself…is this weird? Sure, it’s a little out of the ordinary, but I’m also filling my travel time with something I love, so who really cares what anyone else thinks. The point is, don’t let any shady side eye from others hide your paints. Think of it as an adult extension to kids playing with colouring-in books.
Maximize mindfulness – painting is the ultimate mindful escape. But sometimes travel can have its own set of distractions (people jabbering down phones, texting loudly, snoring even louder, and other irritating things). Be prepared to plug in pre-downloaded podcasts, playlists, audiobooks and of course, loads of trashy in-flight movies for hours of painting without interruption. Snacks are also super important. Lots and lots of snacks.
If anyone else has any other tips for painting on the go, and perhaps minimizing spills, I’m all ears.
