How to Travel with Paints to Europe and Beyond!

My daughter Grace, traveled with me to Europe in 2018. It was the highlight of my time time with her as a young adult. She ate snails and duck and tasted her first champagne in Paris and was really excited to practice her French with real Parisians. In Italy, we ate more gelato than I'd like to admit and she posed for 3 6-hour-long-pose days at my 5-Day workshop at The Florence Studio.

Grace at St. Trinity Bridge at the half way point between The Florence Studio and our favorite Gelato shop! And at the right, Grace, in full makeup and hat during a long lunch. She's quite irritated that I would not let her take off the hat at lunch because I didn't want to have to reset it for when the students painted her in the afternoon. 

I'm honored to consider The Florence Studio my second home studio. Laura and Frank are incredible artists and the community they have built in Florence is so warm and charming. If you're thinking about making this trip with me next September, I want to share with you what I've learned:

Flight Tips:

To get the best price on flights I recommend you look at becoming a member of Pomelo Travel for deals to Europe. They offer crazy deals and the annual membership is less than $40. Also, when you search flights, be sure you are searching in a private browser. This is easy to do: when you open your browser...I use Safari or Google, go to File and then choose "New Private Window" instead of just "New Window". Otherwise, your browser will save your search, know that you are looking for plane tickets and then all of a sudden the prices will go up. If you search in a private browser, you'll get the actual price the tickets are...not the inflated price.

I've also found excellent prices by going strait to Norwegian Airlines' website and when you are asked to choose which nationality you are, choose the British flag. You'll get lower prices, even if you're flying from Newark to Rome...which is what I do.

Wait, Rome? I though we were trying to go to Florence, Italy! I recommend flying into Rome...spend a day or two and then take a train to Florence for the workshop. Who wants to go all the way to Italy and NOT see Rome? Besides, it is generally much less expensive to fly into Rome. The train system is so nice, so clean, so modern and really affordable. A train from Rome is so easy...it takes about an hour and a half, there are tables and outlets to charge your laptop and the cost is about $30. Journal or sketch or play a game of cards with your travel partner and before you know it you'll be in glorious Florence. Whether or not you stop in Rome, use Rick Steves Italy guide book. I've used them for decades and he has really great videos you can watch for free on PBS. 

Train Tips:
—I buy my Italy train tickets online a month or so in advance from www.italiarail.com 
Contact us 24/7 by email at [email protected], or toll-free by phone at (877) 375-7245 

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 

— If you have a reserved ticket and miss your train, and there's another train leaving soon, you can just jump on that train without going to the ticket window. If this happens all you have to do is stamp the ticket you already have in the machine on the wall or post next to the train before boarding. (This usually isn't required with a reserved ticket, but you won't actually have a reservation on the second train since you missed your first one). You'll have to use your credit card to pay an 8 euro fine, plus any difference in the ticket price. (They won't give you money back if the next train is cheaper.) You can only do this on the same day as your original scheduled departure.

— Rome's Termini train station is huge! 150 million passengers go through Termini Station each year. With that said the train station is laid out to help you find your train. There are about 30 tracks so be prepared to walk. (Packing lightly will really help!...see below).  There are yellow signs near the ceiling that indicate where you will find each grouping of tracks — they'll say "Bin" and the train numbers. "Bin" is an abbreviation for the word "binary". To find out which track your train is on, find one of the large yellow schedules posted near the tracks and platforms. The schedule is organized by departure times in military time...so 3pm is 15:00. Click here for a Military Time Chart.  You'll need to find your train and the track it is typically on. When you then find the track on the list, head for the corresponding bin area and look for the small train schedule on the wall or post and check to make sure your train is using the that track or if it has been shifted (due to repairs, etc.) to a nearby track. Signs on each track with lighted letters tell you the stops the next scheduled train will make. For absolute certainty that you have the right train, check your ticket for the number of your specific train and make sure it matches the number displayed on the lighted sign for the next scheduled train. 

You can also make simple and easy train travel itineraries using Trainline the app. They work with 207 rail and coach companies to offer customers travel to thousands of destinations in and across 45 countries in Europe. Click here to visit Trainline™

If, like me, you still want reassurance that you are getting on the train that stops in Florence, just ask a lady dressed in business clothes. Say: "È questo il treno per Firenze Santa Maria Novella?" Or, like me, you can talk like a caveman and she'll still understand: "Traino Fur Ends Santa Maria No Vell Uh?" Then be sure to say thank you! "Grazie!", which is pronounced Grot See Uh. Do not yell at her. Speaking louder doesn't make you easier to understand it just makes you more annoying. In fact, if you say any of this by first grunting a low uuuuueeeerrrhhh sound, she'll think you are French and you might just make a new friend and you won't get any "Do you actually like Donald Trump" questions. Don't try to sound British, you'll just get Brexit questions. But an Australian accent works well too, roy-it! LOL! Language Tip: Keep google handy so you can use google translate anytime you need to. 

Packing Tips:

Pack light. Pack light. Did I say to pack light? Because you need to pack lightly. You will be miserable if you are hauling extra luggage. Period. And, anything that you need you will find in Italy (or wherever in Europe you are traveling to). Carrying too much luggage is not only stereotypically American, it is burdensome. You'll spend all you time focusing on where your luggage is that you will not look up and you will miss this amazing experience. If I did not have to cary art supplies with me, I would have one single backpack containing neutral colored slacks, a few light weight blouses, one light weight sweater or jacket, under garments and socks, pjs and toiletries. I buy soap, etc. at very easy to find little RX shops. They are everywhere! Sometimes two on the same street. You can get Tylenol, bandages, flip flops, whatever at these little shops that are a lot like a Walgreens, just smaller and all of the staff speak english. I always buy fun things along the way to spruce up my simple outfit like scarves, jewelry and hats. If my shoes hurt, I'll pick up a different pair and wedge the extras into my art suitcase or donate them. I buy a small bottle of laundry soap and wash my incidentals and hang them over a door or chair to dry. Just know at any time if you need to purchase anything, you can. So don't drag all your crap from home. 

Please trust me when I say wear comfortable shoes.  Something dark, soft and sturdy. I have some flat, suede, medium gray slip on shoes with a nice sole. They are so bland they go with everything and they are really comfortable. The cobble stoned streets in Italy are...well...cobble stoned. That means you'll have a 4inch by 4inch stone to stand on with a 3 inch gap all around it until you get to the next 4inch stone. There are teeny tiny side walks sometimes and most of the time they are just wide enough for one person, so everyone walks in the street. Yep, that's what I said. Everyone walks in the streets and taxis and busses have these little sirens that let you know they are coming and to get out of the way. I was hit. Yes. My elbow was hit by a car mirror. It sucked, but I wasn't actually injured. I was lucky. So, watch where you are going. Move steadily and determinedly and don't pause or wait in the road. I never saw a car going more than 25 miles per hour, but still. You don't want to ruin your trip with an accident of any kind. 

One last thing. The little rain puddles on the street in Italy...those are rain. Don't step in them. Pets have absolutely nowhere else to go and though everyone is very good in general about cleaning after their pets, there isn't much they can do about the wet stuff. Just walk around. 

Flying with Art Supplies: 

There are lots of great art stores in Florence, Italy. It is the birth place of art after all. And since you cannot fly with solvent or mediums like linseed oil or walnut oil, don't pack them. Either order them online and have them shipped directly to your hotel or the studio or buy them when you get there. You can also offer to purchase some from another artist in the workshop. You're not going to need a whole bottle of anything anyway in just a 5 day workshop.

I always pack my tubed paint in my checked luggage. I asked TSA how they wanted my paints packed. TSA said to label each tube with my name, phone number and address and then to put each tube in its own individual plastic baggie. 

I used to do that, but it got messy as the lids can come off the paint. Now I use a luggage makeup hanging bag with individual zipper pouches. I still label my paints, and TSA can see right through he clear pouches. All my brushes are Rosemary & Company and I love them, so I keep them with me in my cary on. I do not bring a painting carrier. Instead of individual panels, I bring a roll of my favorite double lead primed cotton portrait duck and clickable retractable razor, a roll of packing tape and 1 16x20 panel. I cut the swatch of canvas that I need each time I paint and tape it to my panel. I lay it in a safe place to dry and usually by the time I'm ready to pack up and head home my painting is dry enough to roll up and store in my luggage. Or, I sell it or give it away. If you can't already tell, I really don't like being burdened with stuff when I travel. I prefer to live in the moment and enjoy the people, places and experiences. 

I use a light weight tripod and a Prolific Painter easel. It is large and light weight. If I'm only painting indoors, I'll bring my UGo by New Wave. I ditched the junky metal panel holder claws and just use large clamps to hold my panel to the palette. This set up allows me to have my palette vertical so that I can easily demonstrate my color mixing strategies to students.

This is the beautiful Prolific Painter

Palette propped onto an H frame easel

to make a vertical palette. There's

always a way to get it done!

Lodging Tips:

Nowadays it is easy to search for lodging online. You can put the address of the hotel or airbb that you are thinking about renting into google maps and see if it is close to the art studio you will be at or close to a few of the special places you want to be sure not to miss or close to the train station or airport. Whatever you want. I like to stay within walking distance of the Florence Studio when I teach in Florence. There are so many fabulous restaurants and museums within walking distance from the studio. The train station is a short taxi ride and so is all the shopping you could ever want from high end shops like Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Tiffany & Co., to street vendors, the daily leather market and local artists, all just steps or a light stroll from the painting studio. I always take the card from the hotel I'm staying at...or, write in print the address of my airbb. I cary that with me all the time. If I need to take a taxi, I just show the card or paper to the taxi driver and he will take me to my hotel. As a money saving tip, I always have my phone on with the sound up and Google Maps telling me how to get to my hotel. This way, the taxi driver knows that I know which rout Google Maps suggests and that I'm aware if we are going too far off that rout. I also use the fabulous public transportation that all European countries have seemed to master so well. Trains and subways, buses and taxis are clean, cheap, fast and easy. Use them if you can't walk — and most of the time you can walk! 

Transportation Safety Tip: Always have your hotel or the restaurant your at, etc., order a taxi for you when you leave or go to corner where several taxis are waiting. I don't use Uber abroad and I once learned from an air marshal in London the terrible fate that could wait for you if you use a 'private driver'. In many European countries, there are taxi stands and you will wait a while before it is your turn to catch a taxi. You may see nearby a handsome tall man and a limo and he'll try to wave you over and ask if you are tired of waiting on a taxi and would you like him to take you directly to your destination at a reasonable rate. This is a lie. You'll be lucky if you arrive at your destination without having to pay every penny you have. And that is the best scenario. 

Not all lodging is equal, so spend a few minutes reading some of the reviews. Go to the places with lots of reviews, so you know they've been in business for years. Pay attention to reviews that remark on the repair and cleanliness of the lodging as well as the helpfulness of the staff. These things are way more important than whether or not you’ll have a tv or a pool or any like that. Also understand that you won't be in your room other than to bathe, dress and sleep, so you won’t need tv or anything like that. You're in Italy! You will be out at the café, the market, the museum, the piazza, the bridges, the canal, etc. If you are overwhelmed and want some screen time, go to a movie or read a book or enjoy an outdoor performance or just sit in a park and people watch or sketch. My favorite pastime is sitting at a cafe and ordering two deserts. One to eat and one to sketch...then eat. LOL! And this brings me to my next tip!

Dining in Europe:

No matter the time of day, when you sit down at a table in a European restaurant the table is yours until you leave regardless of how long you stay there. You will not get your check until you ask your waiter for it...just draw an imaginary scribble into the air while making eye contact with your waiter and he’ll bring your check. You do not need to tip and prices and food is clearly marked and usually in both Italian and English. So sit and enjoy yourself. Bring your sketchbook a book or a deck of cards and enjoy an incredible meal.

For your own sake and to actually experience one of the best parts of Italy (FOOD!), don’t come to Italy and expect to eat American food. Eat like a local and you will have the most amazing time. After my first trip to Italy I actually grieved the loss of Italian food for about 3 weeks. Nothing at home tasted so fresh and so decadent. If you really like bacon and eggs for breakfast, most of the hotels offer this for breakfast and you don’t have to be a guest in the hotel. The restaurant is open to whomever wants to eat there. Don’t expect super fast service. Expect meal time to be an event. Plan your next steps in your day or journal or log onto social media if you’re done eating and you can’t find your waiter, lol! If you are in a hurry grab a quick pastry or panini or crepe, etc. from the little adorable food bars that are EVERYWHERE. You’ll get your food in a paper wrapper and you can eat while you stroll! Tip: Always say Hello! And Thank you! This is the way in Italy. For example: Hello! One ham panini, one coke. Thanks! Ciao! Un panino al prosciutto, una coca cola. Grazie! When I say it, it is more like this: Chow. Uhhn Pan Eeee No Pro Joo Toe (short pause) Coca Cola. Grot Z Uh. (LOL!) Paying is easy. The Euro is very simple and each bill and coin is easily marked. You’ll be a pro in no time.

Oh, I almost forgot. Print this out and put it with your paints. It is a note to the TSA against that tells them your paints are safe to fly with: 

Airport Security:

The following products are not classified in accordance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations; therefore they fall outside the scope of the regulations and are considered safe for transport by air. 

Sécurité aéroportuaire:

Les matériel d'art suivants ne sont pas classés conformément à la réglementation de l'IATA sur les marchandises dangereuses; par conséquent, ils ne sont pas couverts par la réglementation et sont considérés comme sûrs pour le transport aérien.

Sicurezza dell'aeroporto:

I seguenti materiali artistici non sono classificati in conformità alle Norme sulle merci pericolose IATA; quindi non rientrano nel campo di applicazione dei regolamenti e sono considerati sicuri per il trasporto aereo.

A few last things: 

Make sure you have your passport up to date. You must have at least 6 months or more left on your passport before its expiration date. Make a copy of it, or take a photo of it and keep it in your phone or email it to yourself. You will need to have the information with you if for some reason you lose your passport. Don't lose your passport. Keep it in a pouch around your waist or around your neck. Rick Steves offers the passport carriers in all designs. They are totally worth it.

I like to travel with my phone. I do a lot of business when I'm traveling and I can email and check my website, etc. from my phone. I pay a fee through AT&T that allows me to take my phone with me. I pay an additional $10 per day to have all the data I need to use maps, buy tickets, call a taxi, etc. Just call your phone carrier and they'll explain it all to you.

It is important to tell you that I have traveled to 7 countries in my lifetime. I've had only one unfortunate experience. In the south of France I found myself getting off of a long train from Paris late in the evening and on the platform when exiting the train, I was crowded by several people, kind of bumping into me slightly. It was over before it started and when I looked down my fanny pack was wide open and all my cash was gone. Luckily, I didn't have anything of any real value in my fanny pack. I had my passport, large cash bills and credit card in the pouch around my neck and under my shirt. I tell you this story because, A: I want you to understand that there are pick pockets in every corner of the world. If you make it easy for them by being over laden with luggage, openly counting your cash in public, wearing your purse loosely on your shoulder or laid in your chair, you may have your trip scarred with an unfortunate incident. So don't make it easy for them. Pack lightly and keep your personal and valuable belongings out of site. If you have your hands free and your eyes up and are enjoying a pleasant conversation with your friend using an inside voice, pick pockets will think you are a local taking a day off. If you have your loudest Hawaiian shirt on and your socks pulled up to your knees with your white tennis shoes on, 4 roller luggage bags and you are screeching to your travel partner about how mad you are that you had to pay 5 Euros to get 300 Euros from that ATM on the corner...well, you can image how much attention you will bring to yourself. 

Lastly, once, when I was headed abroad, a neighbor told me, "Be careful! It is a dangerous world out there!" I felt so sad. I wanted to whisk her off to Italy with me so she could see for herself how magical the world is. I have found the world to be quite safe and filled with beautiful people who live lives very similar to ours. The love their families, they work at a job and they take vacations too. They shop, garden, paint and raise kids...they just get to do it while living in a 1000 year old villa surrounded by the best food and wine on the planet. That's all. It isn't that different, right?