best plein aire equipment

[clark bending]

so what is best easel set up?
french easels are bulky, thumboxes/cigar boxes are small. some rigs are expensive any ideas?

[Rene PleinAir]

That's sooooo personal that you can't ask that in general.

[ALAN MACIAG]

I HAPPEN TO OWN A SOLTEK EASEL---MY SECOND ONE-----YES, ITS EXPENSIVE BUT EASY TO SET UP AND LIGHTWEIGHT---THE MANUFACTURERS ARE QUICK TO REPAIR IF A PROBLEM EXISTS----THE BOX WEIGHS 9 POUNDS AND CAN CARRY THE BRUSHES ,PAINTS,AND PALETTE---I WENT THROUGH 3 FRENCH EASELS----TOO MANY PARTS AND VERY HEAVY--IT WAS LIKE I TOOK AN UNRULELY PRAYING MANTIS WITH ME EVERY TIME I WAS PAINTING--ALL THOSE WING NUTS AND MOVING PARTS-----THAT WAS UNTIL THE SOLTEK CAME ALONG---SETUP IS 15 SECONDS-----THE ONLY PROBLEM IS IF YOU PAINT AT THE BEACH---SAND CAN BE A PROBLEM-----I FOUND IF YOU PUT A PLASTIC BAG ON ALL THREE LEGS ,..THIS IS THE FIX----HOPE I WAS SOME HELP----REGARDS,,ALAN MACIAG

[Hank Buffington]

I have a half box that I actually really like a lot. I don't get to paint plein air enough to upgrade to a Soltek... at least not yet :) They do look pretty awesome though. I also have a couple of homemade pochades that work well. I haven't found one setup that works for me for all situations. I do find that I like to go as minimal as possible so the frenchie usually gets the call since it holds all my stuff and I don't need an extra backpack or cart or anything. I've only worked within walking distance of my car but the Soltek looks like it would be superior for air travel.

As far as other equipment though, winter is approaching here and I'm wondering what kind of gloves people use while painting in the winter. I've been looking at those fingerless ones but wonder if thin mittens would be better.

[Jeanne Demotses]

I use a 9 x 12" Guerilla box and tripod, though I often use it on my lap without tripod and sit on a stool. It carries all the paints and brushes I need, has a palette, and is very easy to set up.

[ALAN MACIAG]

HANK--I ALWAYS WEAR SURGICAL GLOVES FOR EASY CLEAN UP--IN THE WINTER I USE THE FINGERLESS GLOVES BUT PUT ON THE SURGICAL GLOVES FIRST---KEEPS MY FINGERS WARM---WHEN WE PAINT AND ARE IN THE ZONE,THE COLD DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER---ALAN MACIAG

Hank Buffington said:

I have a half box that I actually really like a lot. I don't get to paint plein air enough to upgrade to a Soltek... at least not yet :) They do look pretty awesome though. I also have a couple of homemade pochades that work well. I haven't found one setup that works for me for all situations. I do find that I like to go as minimal as possible so the frenchie usually gets the call since it holds all my stuff and I don't need an extra backpack or cart or anything. I've only worked within walking distance of my car but the Soltek looks like it would be superior for air travel.

As far as other equipment though, winter is approaching here and I'm wondering what kind of gloves people use while painting in the winter. I've been looking at those fingerless ones but wonder if thin mittens would be better.

[clark bending]

Hi, I ahve used batting or golf gloves seemed to be good as low as -7.

[Armand Cabrera]

Clark,

Artwork Essentials make some great rigs for painting; they're well made, reasonably priced when you consider that they come with a brush holder and tripod. I have tried every rig out there and built a few of my own.
If you like painting large, the Take it easel is the best solution for painting big (up to 40x50) outside.

[Anne McCormick]

I read somewhere that the Russian painters simply put a woolen sock over their hands and pulled the brush handle through. We have very cold winters, Alberta, Canada, so I buy cheap fine gloves then wear a mitt over them. The mitt has a flap that opens up so the fingers are exposed. Mind you if I have to resort to this it's probably too cold for the paint to stay workable. Anne

[Stephanie Cook]

I'm also looking for the "perfect" set-up. For pastels I've been comparing the Heilman box & tripod, the Edgmon Box, the open box m, and the easyL. Does anyone have experience with any of them?

[Keith Thirgood]

Here in Ontario, it gets quite cold in the winter and I find gloves inadequate to the task. I found out how members of the Group of Seven (early twentieth century Canadian painters) kept warm in winter. I use a reasonably think woolen sock over my hands. I poke two holes in it. One in the toe the other further up the sock. I insert my brush through the toe hole and out the other hole. I get to handle the brush with my bare hand, just like summer painting, and yet the sock is warmer than all but the thickest mittens. (Your fingers are free to move, unlike in gloves, and so the circulation keeps them toasty.

I've used this set up in my last 10 winter paint-outs. I've painted in up to minus 20 Celsius and my hands have kept warm. (My toes not so warm.) I winter paint in oils, and they've stayed workable all the way to minus 20.

 

[Susan F. Greaves]

I, too, have a Soltek easel, and it has stood up to a lot of punishment. It's heavy for me, but for stability and ease of setup, it wins out. I carry my paint in a tote bag with paper towels, etc., so the easel isn't so heavy. Be aware that it attracts attention when flying. I've had security run my suitcase through three times and use it for training for the latest scanning equipment. One time, my suitcase arrived with an unexpected bulge. Some security guy had extended the legs and couldn't get them to collapse completely. Poor guy must have panicked. Since then, I've had a note on it explaining how to close them. If I MUST reduce weight, I use a half French easel.

[Donna Biggee]

 I purchased this set up for my oils and love it. Very easy to transport and sturdy.  Everything can fit in a good size backpack.  The only thing I added was a piece of glass.   

http://artboxandpanel.com/

 

Happy painting!