I'm just finishing up a visit here in Paris and, while I've been here, I was able to take some classes in oil painting at one of the ateliers in Montparnasse. I'm now left with about a dozen 40ml tubes of Cobra brand, water-mixable oil paints. I've read a couple of websites and it's a little confusing as to whether or not I can transport these back to the USA in my checked baggage. Could anyone cite their personal experiences, good or bad, about doing this?
Thanks for your response.
John
John,
That's a difficult question, and the answer may depend on how flammable the paints are. I'm not familiar with "water-mixable oil paints" so don't know the answer to that. A water-based paint isn't usually too flammable. These are the official TSA rules for checked baggage.....
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/prohibited-items
You could always mail them to yourself, as that would solve the problem. However you might get nicked with duties and taxes at the receiving end.
Good luck!
Having transported these same paints to Mexico in checked bags, my understanding is that they are called "artist's pigments" rather than paint. I have never had any problems transporting them. That is my personal experience. And I know many who transport art supplies. It seems that the problem is with the medium such as Gamsol which can't be transported. But with water mixable pigments, Gamsol is not needed.
