Q: Given the current restrictions on items and liquids that
may be carried on board commercial airplanes, how does the
Transportation Security Administration treat metal tubes of watercolor
or oil paint?
A: There are two issues here: Regulations on the amount of
non-solid items carried on a plane, and the ban on flammable items. Any
paste, gel, or liquid colloidal mixture, including liquid paints, are
subject to TSA regulations governing the transport of liquids on
commercial airlines. That means you can’t have more than 3 ounces of
paint in your carry-on luggage. Linseed oil is not considered
flammable, so oil paints are allowed in your checked luggage. To avoid
misunderstandings, it may be good to tell a TSA agent asking about your
paint that it is “pigment suspended in a vegetable oil.” Water-based
paints should not pose a problem. Most solvents and mediums are
prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage, as they are flammable.