Flying With Your Paints
One drawback of acrylic paints is the size and weight of the materials you need. Because watercolor paints can be transported dry, in a pan, you can carry a large set of colors for a fraction of the weight of paint that's in tubes. In addition, a block of paper takes up far less space than a stack of canvases, so watercolor has the clear advantage when space is an issue. My husband and I sometimes go on ultralight backpacking trips in the mountains, and on these trips I usually bring watercolors and leave my acrylics at home to save weight in my pack. However, most of the time I travel I prefer to bring my preferred medium, acrylic on canvas. This is my list of essentials for fitting everything in a carry-on suitcase.
Paint
I often fly carry-on only, in the US and across the US/Canada border, so last year's TSA restrictions on liquids presented a problem. Paint is classified as a liquid, and the new TSA regulations state that carry-on liquids must be limited to 2oz or smaller containers (with exceptions for some medically necessary items), and all liquids must be confined to one quart size, zipper loc plastic bag. Standard acrylic paint tubes are 2oz, but you won't be able to fit very many in a quart size bag and still leave room for a few toiletries.
If you're trying to save space but still bring the colors you need, you have a few options for reducing your tube sizes. A technique I recommend is replacing your tubes of paint when they get down to 1/3 full, and saving the nearly empty tubes for travel. With a tube wringer, you can get them down pretty small. However, you can only do this after you have an established collection of paint, since it requires some planning.
Another option for flying carry-on with your paints is to transfer your colors to small jars or other travel containers. However, as a general rule you will save yourself a hassle at the airport if you keep things in their original containers so they don't look suspicious. A third option is to purchase mini tubes of paint, if you can get them in a starter set or sample. I was able to find my favorite brand, Golden, in 0.75 oz tubes in an introductory set. In general, the mini tubes are not very cost effective compared to the standard or bulk sizes, but if you plan to travel a lot with your paints it may be worth it:
Out of the 23 colors I use, this is my pared-down list of 11 that I always bring with me:
Zinc White
Titanium White
Titan Buff
Carbon Black
Ultramarine Blue
Pthalo Blue
Pthalo Green
Burnt Umber
Yellow Ochre
Nickel Azo Yellow
Quinacridone Magenta
Canvas
I usually prefer to work on stretched canvas, but traveling is one time when canvas board can be quite useful since it's extremely durable. Canvas board is simply canvas stretched and glued around a piece of stiff paperboard. It has a surface feel very much like wood-frame stretched canvas, costs much less, and packs flat very efficiently.
If you do bring stretched canvas, bring them in pairs and stack them canvas side in/wood side out to protect the surface from dents. For either type, the 12" x 16" fits nicely in a standard carry-on size wheeled suitcase, and you can pack folded clothes around the canvases to protect them.
Other Materials
In addition to the canvases and paint, I bring a flat 9" x 12" plastic document envelope with the following supplies:
-A 9" x 12" size pad of palette paper
-Several brushes, rolled up in a rag to protect the bristle ends
-A pencil and eraser
-A mini spray bottle for misting the palette (empty)
-A roll of masking tape
These supplies will all fit easily in your carry-on luggage with lots of room for your other essentials.
If You Have Room
If you have room in your checked luggage and are going to do some serious painting on your trip, you might want to consider:
-A travel easel
-A travel chair for outdoor painting
-An apron, if you're accustomed to working with one