Plein Air Equipment

by Becky Joy on April 21, 2012

Lately, I’ve been thinking about a new easel. On the one hand, I’m trying to hold back that urge to spend money on something that I seem to be getting along with just fine now. Or….on the other hand, just maybe life could be easier with a new one that maybe will be easier to work with. As with any purchase, it’s weighing the pros and cons of things. I doubt that I will find the perfect outdoor easel for every occasion.

There are certain things that I want in my pochade box. Light in weight is probably the most important right now. I want to be able to hike into a place carrying a minimum of supplies. I already keep most of my paint in my car and take in loaded palette’s of paint. So, storage for paint tubes isn’t important to me. I’ve noticed lately when I go out to paint, I seem to have my supplies scattered. I do have a backpack, but I don’t load it up. I throw everything in the trunk of my car and try to grab all I need in one trip, juggling the supplies as I walk down a path to paint. Maybe I’m just being lazy about putting my supplies into my backpack or maybe I could have a better setup. Or, I might just be trying to justify an art purchase. After all, art supplies are like Christmas gifts to me.

I started my plein air adventures about 20 years ago with a french easel. I found that it was cumbersome, heavy and took too long to set up and take down. I think the next one that I bought was a soltek. I liked it for a long time. It was quick and easy to set up, but it was heavy. I still find it great to use for larger paintings, but most of my work outdoors in small. I then purchased a Guerilla Box. I felt that it was reasonably priced for a small wooden pochade box to use with a tripod. The size and weight were good and I could carry a few supplies in it. But, I felt like I was painting inside a box. I just didn’t find it comfortable to use. I’ve left this box at my son’s to use whenever I visit him in Texas. So, it still has some use. Lately, I converted my french mistress into a painting easel with my tripod. It has been working well for me. And so far, I probably like it the best. But, I don’t carry my supplies with the box. Everything is separate. Each of my other easels had some or all of my supplies stored in the easel.

I’ve been looking at different easels which I’ve looked at before, Open Box M and Easy L. A couple of days ago I came across one that I had not seen, Allaprima Pochade. I really like the Bittterroot Lite. It’s lightweight, carries a couple of panels, has enough palette space and carries my brushes. I would make a couple of modifications to it to still use my paint trays like I do now and the paper towel holder. That would leave carrying my solvent and tripod. That sounds pretty good to me.

Hmmm…. Does it sound like I’m getting myself a Christmas present?