Alex,
Oh yes, a backpack is the way to carry things if it is a painting trip farther away than just outside the door. ;)

Allan,

I also admire your ingenuity. That is a handsome, practical little box!

I still don't understand how you elevate the panel on the lid, but that is a nice feature. Another question: can you close the box with paint daubs remaining on your palette, or must it be perfectly cleaned?

Kudos!

Garth

Is there some reason you don't investigate some of those look-alike French esels? The ones that start out about the size of a small suitcase, and unfold to perfectly useable size. Some, I believe, come with backpack straps. I've seen some of these for around $60, which would compete in price with the little aluminum easel. Just a thought.

Garth, thanks,
I can not elevate the panel more than the 3" above the palette, but I can tilt the lid to get a straight angle to view it.

When I sit down and have the box on my leg's I will tilt it to the low position about 45 degrees. When I stand, or sit by a table, I can make a more vertical position.
The painted area is 8,5" x 11" on the small panel. I also brought a panel 15" x 15" but I did not use it this time, because it would take more time to finish. I only had time to make sketches, but it made my vacation bearable ;)

When I had finished a painting I could close the lid and leave the remaining paint on the palette, if I carried the painting by hand. If I want to put the panel into the lid I would have to put a sheet of plastic over the palette, or clean it.

I washed the brushes in turpentine and dipped them into walnut oil that would not dry for days.

When I started out I would have everything in a shoulder bag: box, panel, roll of tissue, plastic bag for used tissue, water, cap, fruit and peanuts.

Richard,
I like to do things my self, and I have tried to adapt this box to the specific situation of going on vacation with it. I designed the rooms in it to fit the size of the paint tubes that I use.

I don't necessarily need to stand with an easel and I wanted to minimize the weight, it's all about compromising.

My mother used to plain air paint with her paint box sitting on a little folding TV dinner table in the way you have your box set up in the posts above. In winter her paint box would be in the passenger seat and she would park and paint in the car. She was an awesome painter with just her paint box and something to set it on.

Speaking of which, Allen,that painting of the boats looks very good.

Peace,

Thanks, David,
I used to bring my watercolors when traveling. Using this small paintbox reminds me of the intimacy of painting watercolors and maybe I will try it in the car sometimes, it was a good idea you told me, thanks again.

Mom in Maine. Pretty low tech.

Peace,

David,
what a lovely photo of your mother, one can really feel her engagement and that she is loving to paint.

You are lucky to have her as a role model. My parents did not practice anything in the direction of art so I had to make it up for my self.

Have you tried to paint her painting?

Allen,
The only thing she loved more than painting was her children and grandchildren. Sadly she passed away in 1992 before I started painting. I was a sculptor at The Franklin Mint at that time and worked 3D exclusively. I should say that my father was a sculptor who met my mother in art school before WWII, he passed 7 years before Mom. I have always wanted to do a figurine of her painting outdoors but I have yet to get there...Some day. A painting may be a better idea though. I picture her in the tall grass and wild flowers she loved to paint along the countryside.

Thank You, for reminding me of her.

Peace,