Easel box
 

I'm going on vacation and want to bring my oils, so I have tried to compress the stuff to the minimum.

The box is 23 x 40 x 6,5 cm. It was a tool box for some other purpose that I converted to be a paintbox and easel.

It has no legs so it will have to stand on something or the lap, it has three positions of the canvas support so It can stand on the ground or higher.

The oil and terp containers are plastic so it will not break and with a screw lid.

I can carry the finished painting by turning it. Spacers will secure that it don't contact.

Any improvement suggestions are much appreciated.

That looks great, Allan!

You may not like to work that way, but I'd want a thumb-hole for the palette. Any additions would be complications. I've seen some rather nifty "pochade boxes" that entailed using a heavy-duty photographic tripod for an easel base . . . that's only workable if the box can sustain having a flange fixed to the bottom-side to receive the tripod.

Richard,
I considered the thumb hole at first but found that it would take up to much area. I also like to have both hands free and usually have the palette on a table beside me, even if it is a hand held one.

The palette have some stop's underneath so it will not slide when I mix colors. It's pretty small as you can see.

The tripod would work fine but it would also increase the weight of it all. If I had a car for the trip I would bring my french easel.

The oil containers are small plastic boxes, 29 ml Golden Acrylic paint, strong and easy to clean.

Allan,

I admire your ingenuity! This looks very clever indeed. I have one idea to add. I don't know if you can order it from Denmark.

It is an aluminum (very lightweight) folding easel made by Stanright. It folds up and can be attached to your box when traveling. When it opens out (similar to a tripod), a central flat platform is created between the three legs where you could rest your box. The bottoms of the legs have prongs that can be folded down to stick into the ground if it is windy. It would only be useful if you wanted to stand up while painting.

Alex,
yes, it would be nice to have leg's on it. If I used my sturdy tripod the weight would double to a total around 6 kilo.

I could not find the Stanright easel that you told about, it would be interesting to view if you have an address.

Anyway I will bring only the box this time and try it out.

Actually, Allan, I spelled it wrong. It is Stanrite. The model I am talking about looks like their "backpack easel" seen here:

http://www.cheapjoes.com/artsupply/S...pack-easel.asp

The nice things about it is it is both practical and very lightweight. I bought a plastic office organizer tray that I lay on the flattened leg supports in the middle. But you could just lay your case out instead of the organizer tray. (I carry all my supplies in my backpack including the tray, my palette, paints, brushes, solvent, medium, etc. Credit for this goes to a highly organized artist friend of mine, btw.)

Enjoy your trip--it sure looks like you have all you need.

p.s. This link doesn't fully work. You will be directed to Cheap Joe's but then you have to type "Stanrite backpack easel" into the search box.

Thanks Alex,

This lightweight aluminun easel would be perfect, it seems to be almost weightless and small when folded. I think that I will give it a thought.

Hi Allen, If this link works go to the bottom of the page for a couple simple ideas. The strap around the back seems like a good simple idea.

http://www.openboxm.com/Merchant2/me...ory_Code=PalmB

Peace,

Hi David,
thanks for the link, I enjoyed studying the various ideas in the shop.

I don't think that I could paint with the handheld system, I would want both hands free to clean brushes, mix colors and so on.

My homemade box is counter weighted by the tube colors so that it will not tip over when I paint, it will stand steady by itself, I don't need to hold it.

The only other thing that I will have to bring is a roll of tissue and a plastic bag.

Why not get a backpack and put everything, including the box, paper towels and plastic bag, in it.

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,

David,
give it a try.!!!

You could have another person model for you in the landscape. A sister or someone who looks like her, for the figure, and use some photos for the head.

If you choose to do it as a "Work In Progress" you will get a lot of support from here.

You could start out with a small portrait of her to warm up, how about that?

Thanks Allen,
All good suggestions, We'll see what happens.

Peace,