Plein Air Set Up
Painting en plein air has its challenges. I tried several different outdoor easels and boxes before I learned what works best for me and my style of painting. It was truly trial and error, so I hope this helps you cut to the chase and not end up spending money you shouldn’t have to spend. Plein air set-ups are completely personal. When I see artists out and about painting, they each have their own preference for this. So to get started, consider your style of painting and what your goal is when you paint outdoors.
I learned early on that my only goal is to rough out a painting by setting the composition and true colors of the moment determined by the light. My work is realistic and detailed, so I work slowly. Occasionally we travel on foot to the site so I need to pack lightly.
First I tried a metal packable easel for larger canvases. Everything else rested on a small table or my lap. This system doesn’t stand up to a breeze. A French wooden easel which I was fortunate to buy second hand. I found setting it up too complicated. Dealing with the box weight, folding legs and wing nuts was awkward and just took too much time. It also didn’t fit into a reasonably sized backpack for shorter hikes in the White Mountains. I did like the spikes on the legs except for when I was painting on rocky shores. Supplies tended to get jumbled as well. I had so much extra paraphernalia to deal with I needed something simpler, organized and easy to set up.
Judsons Art Outfitters was the site I kept returning to while dreaming of a pochade box set up. They are more expensive, but then I discovered their economical “seconds” line. I first purchased the 9 x 12 pochade box as it was slimmer but it was a little too large for an easy fit into a backpack. A Guerrilla Painter 8 x 10 pochade was the answer. Most of my smaller works are 8 x 10 so this is perfect. Masonite panels are my preferred painting surface, thus it holds several and keeps the top one out of trouble to carry home neatly. It also carries 2 wet boards for a painting weekend. The same goes for the 9 x 12 box. I prefer the 9 x 12 size for scenes like the White Mountains. Notice on the end photo for a larger surface I use the metal easel which has a zip bag, and a paint box.
My box didn't come with dividers, which could easily be added, so I store the brushes in a paintbrush roll which fits in the box. I trimmed a lightweight bamboo one. Along the left side of the palette I drilled holes from small to large to hold the brushes. This is my favorite part of this box. I never lose a brush!
For pigments I prefer small tubes of alkyd because they cure faster. Palette cups that never leak are the bane of painting life. Even the Guerrilla ones which fit so neatly, leaked after a year. I still use small cups, but carry a small bottle of stand oil and that fits into a backpack pocket. The small stainless steel brush cleaner jar with a clipped lid, hangs from the right knob of the box hinge. I use safflower oil for “rinsing” brushes just like I do in the studio. Glad Press & Seal or wax paper covers the palette. It helps keep the paints away from the boards.The cups and used brushes go into small plastic bags to be cleaned later with brush soap.
The other thing you need for the box is a tripod. Go for the lightest weight one you can find if you plan to walk far with your painting gear. The Sienna they offer is like the one I bought from them at the time. The quick release mechanism is slick. I can set it all up and break it down without turning the box upside down. The best thing about this set up is the adjustable legs with clips-excellent for uneven ground-you can paint anywhere seated or standing. As you can see from the last photograph, you can also use a separate travel easel for larger canvases and use the box for everything else. If a picnic table is handy, simply unclip the quick-release tripod connector on the bottom of the box to make it more stable on a table top.
If you want to try painting outdoors and aren’t sure yet what set up suits you best, see if you have an artist friend to lend you theirs to try. Please contact me with questions about this post. I’m happy to answer them.