I’ve been teaching artists for years, and one of the most common concerns I hear is: “How do I keep creating when I’m away from my studio?” Whether you’re visiting family for the holidays, taking a vacation, or traveling for work, maintaining your artistic practice doesn’t have to be complicated or messy.

After decades of painting and countless trips with art supplies tucked into my luggage, I’ve discovered that travel art is actually some of the most freeing and joyful work you can do.  The key is choosing the right supplies that are compact, easy to clean up, and versatile enough to handle whatever inspiration strikes.

Why Travel Art Supplies Are Game-Changers

Let me tell you why I’m so passionate about travel art kits: they force you to simplify and focus on what really matters. When you can’t bring your entire studio, you learn to work with intention. You become more decisive, more spontaneous, and honestly, more creative.

The Essential Travel Art Supplies That Actually Work

Start with the Perfect Sketchbook

I recommend an A5-sized sketchbook labeled “watercolor” or “mixed media,” ideally with a hard cover, as your foundation. This size is perfect because it’s small enough to slip in any bag yet large enough to build satisfying compositions. The hard cover protects your work and gives you a stable surface to draw on, whether you’re sitting on a train or perched on a park bench.

In my experience, those “watercolor” and “mixed media” labels signal paper designed to stand up to water-based media—watercolors, gouache, and acrylic markers—without warping, bleeding through, or falling apart.

What to look for when you choose:

• Look for the label: “watercolor” or “mixed media” on the cover.
• Paper weight: For watercolor books, 140 lb/300 gsm keeps pages flatter with juicy washes. For mixed media, 90–120 lb (about 160–200 gsm) handles light to moderate washes while keeping the book slim.
• Surface feel: Cold press (slightly textured) grips watercolor; hot press (smoother) is great for ink and marker lines—go with your intuition here because it can be subjective.
• Binding and durability: A hard cover and stitched binding hold up in backpacks and day bags, and the book becomes your built-in lap desk.
• Traveler benefits: durability, versatility, and the freedom to use several portable paints—watercolors, a few gouache colors, and acrylic markers—without worrying about the paper breaking down.

Grab one, toss it in your day bag, and celebrate how easy it is to paint wherever you land!

Watercolors: Your Most Versatile Travel Companion

Watercolors are absolutely perfect for travel because they’re lightweight, compact, and create minimal mess. I always pack a small pan watercolor set – the kind with built-in mixing areas. These are much more travel-friendly than tubes, which can leak or dry out.

What makes watercolors even better for travel is how forgiving they are. If you make a “mistake,” it often turns into something beautiful and unexpected. This matches the spontaneous nature of travel perfectly.

Water Brushes Will Change Your Life

Here’s a supply that I consider revolutionary for travel art: water brushes. These ingenious tools have a water reservoir in the handle, so you just fill them up and squeeze gently as you paint. No cups, no mess, no spills in your hotel room!

I particularly love the Pentel Aquash brush pens because they come in different tip sizes and the water flow is easy to control. With these, you can paint anywhere – on a plane, in a café, even in the backseat of a car.

Gouache for Bold, Opaque Color

If you want more vibrant, opaque colors than traditional watercolors provide, travel-sized gouache tubes are fantastic. Gouache has that creamy, matte finish that photographs beautifully for your travel journal or social media posts. And just like watercolors, you can reconstitute the paint with water.

And the cleanup is just as easy as watercolors – just water! – but you get much more intense color payoff.

Acrylic Markers for Precision and Pop

Acrylic markers are my secret weapon for adding precise details and bright accents to travel art. They’re mess-free, don’t require water for cleanup, and the colors are incredibly vibrant and permanent once dry.

I love using them for outlining and creating bold graphic elements. They work beautifully over dried watercolor washes too, which opens up so many creative possibilities.  Watercolor markers, watercolor pencils and even colored pencils are also good additions to your travel art bag, and allow you to achieve more precision in your sketches.

The Magic of Watercolor and Mixed-Media Sketchbooks

A good watercolor or mixed-media sketchbook is like carrying multiple art surfaces in one portable package, and they are absolute MVPs for travel. Here’s how I think about each on the road:

• Watercolor sketchbooks: Heavier, internally sized paper that handles juicy washes, glazing, and lifting without pilling. Pages dry flatter, edges don’t feather, and color stays luminous.
• Mixed-media sketchbooks: Slightly lighter stock engineered for both wet and dry media. They play beautifully with pencil and ink underdrawings, watercolor washes, opaque gouache accents, and acrylic markers on top—no crumbling fibers.

Why this matters when you travel:

• Durability: Your pages won’t buckle, tear, or turn wavy when you’re painting on your lap or a café table.
• No bleeding or show-through: You can confidently use both sides of a page.
• Versatility: You can use several different types of portable paints—watercolors, gouache, acrylic markers—without worrying about the paper breaking down.

Quick, actionable setup:

1. Do a 1-inch test swatch on the back page with watercolor, a swipe of gouache, and an acrylic marker to see how your book behaves.
2. Work light to bold: start with watercolor, let it dry, then add gouache and finish with acrylic markers for crisp details.
3. Keep a small binder clip in your kit to hold pages flat in breezy outdoor spots.
4. Choose the surface that suits you—cold press for texture, hot press for smooth line work—and trust your intuition.

In my experience, this simple choice of the right sketchbook label—”watercolor” or “mixed media”—sets you up for spontaneous wins. Open a fresh page, take a breath, and paint the moment in front of you!

Packing Smart: Organization That Actually Works

After years of fumbling through disorganized art bags, I’ve developed a system that keeps everything accessible and protected. I use a sturdy pencil case or small toiletry bag as my dedicated art kit. Everything fits inside, and I can grab it quickly whenever inspiration strikes.

I always pack one small roll of paper towels – they’re essential for watercolor work and general cleanup. A small spray bottle helps reactivate dried watercolors and keeps your brushes moist while working.

Keep it simple with drawing tools: one good mechanical pencil, a quality ink pen, and a small eraser cover most sketching needs. I’ve learned that bringing too many “just in case” supplies usually means carrying unused weight.

Staying Creative During Holiday Family Visits

Holiday family gatherings are actually perfect opportunities for art-making. While everyone’s watching football or preparing dinner, you can be quietly sketching the beautiful chaos around you.

The compact nature of these supplies means you can work anywhere: at the kitchen table while coffee brews, on the porch during quiet morning moments, or even in the living room while everyone’s relaxing. Your family will probably be fascinated watching you work, and it often becomes a wonderful conversation starter.

Making Art Connection Your Travel Priority

I find that making art while traveling helps me stay more present and observant. In addition, making art together is a great way to connect with my nieces and nephews

Your travel art also becomes a unique record of your journey that photos can’t replicate. Years later, looking through travel sketchbooks brings back memories and emotions in a way that even the best photographs don’t match.

Pro Tips from Years of Travel Art

Start small and simple. Don’t feel pressure to create masterpieces – focus on capturing colors, impressions, and moments.

Work in layers when possible. Start with light watercolor washes, let them dry, then add details with gouache or markers. This approach prevents muddy colors and gives you more control over the final result.

Embrace the imperfections! Travel art is about spontaneity and joy, not perfection.

Always pack your art supplies in your carry-on if you’re flying. You don’t want your creative tools stuck in lost luggage when inspiration strikes at your destination.

The Joy of Compact Creativity

What I love most about travel art is how it proves that creativity doesn’t require a perfect studio setup.

These compact supplies – watercolors, gouache, acrylic markers, and a good mixed media sketchbook – give you everything you need to stay connected to your artistic practice no matter where life takes you. The easy cleanup and portability mean you’ll actually use them, which is the most important thing.

So as you’re packing for your next adventure or preparing to visit family this holiday season, make room in your bag for creativity. Your future self will thank you for those spontaneous sketching sessions and colorful travel memories. Trust me, some of your best artistic discoveries happen when you’re miles away from your comfort zone!

ABOUT ANDREA CERMANSKI

I am an artist out of Santa Fe, New Mexico who has been painting for almost 30 years. I love to teach first-timers as well as experienced painters who need a creative reboot. My work has been displayed in several galleries around the country, and I have a Bachelor’s in Art History, a Master’s in Art Education, and had my work in a show juried by Judy Chicago. The idea of getting more people painting makes me light up as I want to inspire more people to express their creative selves and tap into a place of joy and calm.

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