Beautiful Wooden Paint Box! Lightwish watercolor plein-air easel review
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Today we are going to unbox and us the Lightwish Wooden Watercolor Palette, Multifunctional Empty Black Walnut Palette Box Travels Outdoors as an Easel, and a Palette with 27 Wells,Brush Slot and Holders, Cleaning Cup
You can find it here: amzn.to/3Tmsc1r
Pros:
Price (half as much as similar easels)
Great quality
Easy to use
Sturdy
The hardware feels durable, especially the hinges that hold the easel open in place well.
Cons:
I would prefer an additional cupholder instead of the brush holes which were a bit large for comment watercolor brushes.
Bottom line, I really like this, it's well made and fairly priced. If you were looking for something like this I would give it a try!
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Update: I heard from lightwish and the brass screws are actually to eliminate shaking when painting, not to hold the paper or block although I suppose they can be used for that. Thanks to everyone who offered that possible solution!
How do they eliminate shaking?
@MeganDeeMarie I have no idea unless it compresses the wood against the torque hinges. Maybe there is a spring embedded in the wood that I can't see. I have a tripod with a screw that didn't appear to hook to anything, but when I took it out, everything froze up, so it was altering something.
Hi I got this box and got a tripod but it keeps falling which tripod do you use it looks stronger than the one I bought 😅
The screws are to hold your paper, support or panel. They screw out to adjust to the width of your surface. Thanks for a fun review. I looked at this but already own several other pressure hinge pochade versions.
Aha! Thanks, still watching the video here, but this was a puzzle. :)
You’re right!
It would be nice if they included an O ring to go over the cup rim. Then cup would be more secure and wood protected from the wet brush. I know i would be knocking that cup out of that dangling position often with my superb spacial awareness. 😁 Thanks Lindsay. 🎉
That's funny! I've definitely knocked a cup out or two myself. 😊
While watching the video , I wondered if plastic baby food type cups would fit. Since they have lids , water could easily be carried in as well as out. Helpful if somewhere the water cannot be discarded.
@@wanderingstar5673Maybe a lidded souffle cup like restaurants use for toppings would set in the cup. It would be an extra thing to carry if it wasn't more shallow than the cup. I've gotten them at the dollar store.
You may be able to find an o-ring at a hardware or auto part store.
@@annettefournier9655 a rubber band might work?
Haha “do people even like watching swatching?” 🤣 I’m pretty sure there are UA-cam artists whose main thing is swatching! 🤣
Also great, helpful review! I love little gadgets that help make plein air painting a little more accessible! 😍
I love watching the paint choosing, pan filling, and colour swatching -- thank you for including that part!
You’re welcome!
Wrist strap screws onto side, the screws are so you can rest a mount board as a resting place
Intersting.
I’m yelling at you to write the names on a new swatch sheet as you are putting the first few paints in. I’ll probably come back and edit this comment to add more as I continue to watch. 😊 I loved this video. Thank you for the awesome review. I have no need for this but you still make me want it😂
It was fun to put it together!
I was thinking the same thing, "Lindsay! Just make a new swatch sheet, it'll take you 1/2 hour to watch the video to refill" 😅
Thank you for showing the painting joy of being outside. Appreciate all the products you try out and give your honest opinion. Blessings
You're very welcome! I love being outdoors and painting.
LOVED this one, Lindsay!! Love the easel, loved the plein air with you!! Fun!!
It's fun to paint outdoors, isn't it?
If you’re like me and spend a lot of time with gouache, you could make a gouache palette or better yet with that many pans you could do half watercolor on one side and half gouache on the other. Then you always have both with you in case you get to your destination and want to change your mind on medium! 😊
I love that idea! I'll have to try that.
Absolute perfect review…you covered all the angles of using it,,,thank you so much,,you are the best..
I'm glad you found it helpful! 😊
Hi Lindsay, I have this box and I love it.
I can’t believe it is $121.00 at Walmart. It is great quality.
Love your video and spending time in your back yard. 😄
$62 on amazon: amzn.to/3AeV99s youtube will auto link products now:( I always add links in the description.
This is a really good review Lindsay. I have never even considered one, so appreciate you going over all the features and considerations for usage, as well as providing a demo. The product seems reasonably priced for the quality.
I'm glad you found it helpful!
I agree on the cobalt turquoise in rocks.... that + cad red light or medium make the most beautiful separating grays!!
Ohhh, yes!
i love having boxes of wood for my paints.very fun looking.thank you
They’re so nice, aren’t they?
So I know some people who have this pochade box. The inner brass colored screws are for holding down the bottom part of the loose leaf paper you're painting on so you basically loosen it and sandwich the sheet between the board and the screw and then have the top part clipped with the clip they provided. I've even seen people prop up their own larger acrylic boards on the screws to have a larger backing surface and then you can tape your paintings to the board, or you can use the board they provided vertically resting on the screws for a different orientation. The wrist strap is indeed for carrying the pochade through the little black nut thing. Because there are two holes on the sides of the pochade you can technically attach your own shoulder strap and carry it around like a satchel so I'm surprised they didn't include the shoulder strap or extra nuts. You can even attach a phone tripod holder to the side for references
Thanks for sharing! I’m going to have to try that!
Great video thank you for all you do Lindsay I’m back I had a headache last couple days feeling better now…your amazing
So glad!
Looks like a fun travel pallet. Thanks again for the review.
You're welcome!
@@thefrugalcrafter PS: Those cherry earrings rock!
Lindsay, I got one of these in the mail today and wanted to share with you that, if you file down the corners of your regular 1/2 pans, they will fit perfectly in the holes provided. You don't need any heavy metal files, I just used an old, somewhat rough fingernail file (the cardboard kind) and rounded the corner edges off. They slipped right in. I did it with some empty ones I owned, and some Daniel Smith prefilled ones. It worked great... Just letting you know. Thanks also for the review of this, it is why I decided to purchase it.
That is such a great tip! I am going to try that!
@@thefrugalcrafter Happy to be of help.
I enjoyed your review Lindsay. Thanks so much! 🙂
Thanks so much, I'm glad you liked it!
Hullo Lindsay, I know that you love having a good collection of palettes! I feel like this “box” started from the James Gurney watercolor/Plein Air traveling easel! I am fonder of the magnet versions. Those screws at the bottom of the lid are for keeping a board or block in place using the bulldog clip to hold the top. I have used pans for quite a few years now and I simply must put the color name and brand on a side. If I have to many to keep track of, how do you? I believe that you must have more choices than me! I am sure everyone knows by now that I will be putting DaVinci Watercolors in my empty pans! You are truly inspirational and just so gosh darn talented! Yes, I do believe in talent. NOT that you must have talent for art. I believe everyone has the capacity to create artworks, it just seems to be so much easier for some than others! I am a believer in the artistic temperament or artistic desire to create for many Artists. If I am not creating or working with something art related I will start feeling poorly. I have heard that some call it “The itch” and God help the Artist who ignores it! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience with this easel and showing us some practical working methods for everyday use.
It is very similar to the Gurney easel, and I like using magnets too!
I love the little box that Leslie Stroz uses for her tiny paintings but I wanted a bigger version. I was looking at the Ugo for a while but that for me is more than 3x the price that this was to buy. As soon as I saw this on your channel I popped into Lightwish for a look and ended up buying one. I had a good look/play with it and then wrapped it up for Christmas. It's summer here in New Zealand at Christmas so it made sense at the time.
That makes sense! It's a great box for painting and carrying your paints around.
wow that's such a pretty set 🥰🥰
It really is!
I enjoyed the review of the easel and paints. Nice painting. The birds in the background sound ferocious! I can't help but think of the movie "The Birds!". Lol. 😅😊❤
I’m glad you enjoyed the review!
Looks nice, probably a little bit difficult to use. I would like the cup to have something to secure it to the hole. I like the swatches 👍 a payne's gray could be a good option for the last empty pan 😅 thanks for the video
I really enjoyed seeing you out in the “wild”!
Thanks so much! I really enjoy painting outside too.
The thought came to mind regarding the screw and the wristband if nothing else, the wristband being attached to the screw will be helpful if you drop the screw. It would make the screw visible.
Lindsay I bought this about a month or so ago and love it. I haven’t used it on a tripod though. ❤
Good to know:)
My husband got this for me for Christmas. I’m loving it so far, though I’m concerned about hurting the wood with water. That said he would rather me use it than worry about ruining it lol. Deciding what paints to put in. He also bought me some Di Vinci paints which are a step up from a lot of what I have.
It sounds like you have a great husband! Enjoy!
I think the strap is for the bottom thingy to put around your wrist when you are just holding it not using tripod. Nice box for those who use those types of things. Nice review!
Great catch!
I love the loose sketch you made of the bush in your yard! Don't apologize for that!!
Fantastic as always, thanks!
I'm glad you like it!
Oh yes, I love that ❤
Regarding your Wooden Watercolor Palette. I managed to get one also and was afraid the water would damage the wood by that little water cup, so I purchased a can of Restor-A-Finish, 16 oz, in Dark Walnut color and used that and I hope that it will help repel the water and it also helped the fact that the wood seemed awfully dry to me and now it is truly beautiful. It also seemed to take off some waterolor paint that I managed to splash over the side of those white paint holders. Just something to consider. I plan to use this while I recover from a shoulder dislocation, its not too heavy and I can paint from my chair in the living room.
I love that you found a way to make the palette even more beautiful!
Someone mentioned an O-ring for under the water cup. I think I will stop at the local hardware with the palette and cup and see what they might have that could work for an o-ring or something. I will let you know if they have any ideas.
Little dots of poster putty works really well to stick down paint pans.
I love that idea!
Hey Lindsay The 2 screws are to hold the paper in place! I would not feel comfortable carrying that around by a thin little wrist strap. But it’s a sweet little set-up. I looked that up thoroughly when you showed it on SatChat! The holidays are coming up. What a great gift.
SARA
You’re right, those screws are for the paper! 😊 I don't love that solution honestly. I think I will try and make some extention parts like another water cup and maybe something to hold a rag on the other side.
Great video Lindsay!
I'm glad you liked it!
Thanks Lindsay. Great review.
I'm glad you liked it!
Hey Lindsay, I simply am not able to stop myself. A triad of colors is ALWAYS composed of 3 colors. Perhaps you wanted to say you like a primary triad? Maybe a base or alternative primary triad? I have to apologize as I do know how difficult working, talking, keeping thoughts and what comes out of the mouth intelligible. You are one of the best and that is why I enjoy watching your videos so much! Ok back to the show!
I have no idea what I said, I filmed this months ago lol!
@@thefrugalcrafter No worries Lindsay, I suppose you have way to much to worry about verbiage and silly comments by obsessive viewers!
To cut the spaces for pans with rounded corners one could use a small router or drill holes at each corner and use a jigsaw to cut between them for the straight parts. Time consuming, but it would work. That walnut is beautiful and since it's a hardwood it will be very durable. I may put it on my Christmas list. Thanks for the great review. And Penny's comments, too!
That is a great idea for those rounded corners!
I made a James Gurney style “pochade” box. I designed it so it has detachable wings that can hold those collapsible silicone wash cups and any extra items. Unfortunately I used bad birch veneered plywood and it chipped out horribly when I was cutting the mortises for the hinges. I’m planning on building a better one eventually and correcting a few issues I encountered building my current one. I put multiple large neodymium magnets in the base because I like using metal travel palettes. I might have to buy some oak or black walnut to make my next one.
Good idea, it doesn't take much wood so it shouldn't be too costly. I saw bamboo cutting boards at a discount store that will probably work and be about the right size.
Great review! I think I want one…
They're lovely!
sticky dots in your box? I saw them for a split second - they would hold the pallette in place
I used them for the pans, maybe they are for the palette too!
It's really pretty, but it's designed for right-handers. The configurations you've tried would be klunky for a leftie....although leaving the water dish out helps... But we lefties are accustomed to dealing with the right handed world, with my biggest pet peeve being that the color names on colored pencils is "upside-down" if we're holding them on left. If you like this easel but are concerned about the wood getting wet, I'll bet Jason has some wood wax. If you have to go buy some, I'd get food grade wax intended for cutting boards simply because it has no odor. "But yeah, it is pretty," I said, while hugging my ambidextrously designed portable painter. I will give all my money to those who support multi-dexterity. Thanks for the review, though, and I love your sketches, even the pots that you're trying to do on the awkward setup. Oh and on further thought, it may be more of a gouache easel, given the slant of the paper. Acrylics wouldn't work because they'd dry out in the pans.
It’s a great easel and I love using it but agree it’s designed for right-handers!
I think the screws help hold paper down.
Intersting
I have this on my Christmas wish list, and for that price that is great! These are very expensive normally.
It’s a great gift and a good deal!
I was just looking at this one this weekend!
It's well made!
I was just looking at the Superlite plein air box the other day. Do you have that one to compare this one to? I want to put one on my Christmas list. The Superlite is a lot more expensive than this one.
Maybe those two nuts are there to help you hold up your paper/block? The image on amazon show the black nut stuck in the side with the safety wrist strap attached to it for carrying I suppose.
Yes I thought so also, that those two screws were to rest your book or support your paper. It is now $120+, so how much was the other one??
Its $62 here amzn.to/3AeV99s
I don't have the other easel to compare it to, sorry:(
@@thefrugalcrafter No worries!
I was thinking getting ahold of big rubber band similar to the one on the portable painter might work to hold the clip on easel.
Thanks for the review and reply!
@@gwensimmons_gigi1629 The other one comes with more stuff and is quite pricey at $270😭
The brass nuts are for holding single pieces of paper or boards Slot the paper or board behind the nuts, then tighten the up.
My Watercolor block and sketchbook were too thick but that would be ideal for single sheets!
I think the little brass thumb screws would prop up paper or a canvas
I got this box right after you sent the link. My pans are wedged in and don’t come out. Very nice book though!
Hope you love it!
Loved the video. I love your style and the consideration you have for your followers wallets and experience. Nicely done. I do have a question about your tripod!! Please can you tell me the brand? I have need for a new one and like what I saw of the one you're using. Thanks so much. :D
Meeden, it's very rugged. It's available here in a set:
amzn.to/3NJsOLy
FYI, Googled empty half pans with rounded edges and there they were on Amazon. 😎
It's nifty. Thanks Lindsay.that pan I'm not crazy about. I would be knocking it off or spill it...
It is a bit precarious!
I have a sleeve for my iPad with those kind of screws. I have to use the screws to lock the iPad into place. Maybe these screws are to lock the bottom of the paper so the paper stays flat?
Yes, I think so, but I don't think it's a great solution
This is a James Gurney easel, just with a few holes. The brushes look like they will get in the way of your hand, they should be at the top and the water at the bottom, for right handed painters.
Lindsay didn't know how to reach you but I teaching watercolor class to seniors at an assisted living center. What tube set would you recommend to purchase? Want some flow to the watercolors
When I thought seniors, I bought the 21ml tubes of cotman for class, but then I found the 37ml tubes of DaVinci watercolor: shrsl.com/4qcql which are a way better paint for about the same price. This way, you will get only the colors you want. Sets can have some you won't use up. But if you really want a set I have a few recommendations:
This Paul rubens set of 24 (12 ml tubes): amzn.to/3AeGkUl
Maries Masters (8ml tubes) sold by lightwish: amzn.to/3NIIrCK
Or meiliang set if 36 (5ml tubes) amzn.to/4fmhgtt
@@thefrugalcrafter thank you.
This looks interesting for pelín-aire artists. Great review, but now $120 and not $75….hmmm! I think you missed the light spring green color. Also can you please post the picture used as a reference for your art piece? Thank you!!🎉❤💜🥰👍🏾 This should rock: oil, acrylic or gouache outdoor painting sessions?!??? ❤
I just saw it amzn.to/3AeV99s for $72 with a $10 off coupon making it $62
It’s $73 on Amazon. Currently has a $10 off coupon bringing it to $63. I think I prefer the Fight Club Magnetic version. It’s like the plein air setup James Gurney built. It’s $45 and includes a tripod mount. Hope this helps.
Not available in Canada 😕
I wonder if you could use a different style of cup. Maybe one that is taller and tapered that fit down into the spot more snuggle and kept the water away from the wood while in use.
Sure!
Yogurt cup!
I feel like the 2 brass screws with a flat head (in between the hinges) are for resting your paper or sketchbook book on, maybe? Can't think of a purpose for them otherwise
You missed those sticky dots in the box 😭 Im willing you to find them!!
Phew! You found them 😂
Am I the only one who wishes they made a version of this without the carved out palette space. I would much rather just have a few magnets in that space to attach a standard metal watercolor palette, and perhapps a slightly larger mixing area next to it. The wood work looks lovely though.
A palette will stick on top of the closure magnets.
There is an option with magnets . Fight Club offers their version for$45. Some reviews state the magnets are on the weak side. That is another benefit of the adhesive backed phone mount metal plates. The metal they are made of creates a stronger hold . I even add one to the bottom of my metal palettes for this reason. Hope this is helpful.
But the closure magnets are so far to the edge. If there were a few magnets in the center of that palette space that is really where you want your palette to be. I am being picky, I know. 😁
Etsy has some with magnets. They're just a little more expensive 😊
I agree 100%. Carving all those little holes was a waste of time - and we are being charged for it. S
I think the little screw nobs are probably for supporting if you use blockor a panel or canvas instead of paper ?
I think you are right!
@@thefrugalcrafter I have gone and ordered one of these because it looks so good especially for the price :) also I love your videos thank you for making them.
It’s a good alternative to the James Gurney easel…..
Would the two screws by used to hold a sketchbook in place?
I think a sheet of paper but a sketchbook is too thick.
It looks lovely but I think it would drive me nuts.
It definitely does take some adjusting!
"I think this whole thing is ill-advised..." 😂
😆 🤣 😂
I looked on Amazon and the nuts are used to help with the shaking.
They don't seem to effect anything to me.
They’re to help put your mount/paper on to keep it secured at the bottom, clip to keep it secured at the top.
half pans sold at hobby lobby are smaller half pans, 6 to a pkg about 1.99 on sale
The screws are to loosen and place your paper behind.
The nuts at the bottom are to hold your sketchbook or drawing board
Also, it’s not closing because you left the nuts unscrewed
Could the strap be their version of a loop at the bottom of a palette?
Also, are the stickers for the white board rather than the pans, perhaps?
But to be honest, I find $70 a lot of money for a item where the manufacturer doesn’t even bother to send a manual 😳
That's fair
That's awefully noisy outside, especially for living in the countryside...sounds like some-one using a pressure washer???? yikes...thanks for the review...
The neighbors were having some work done.
If you take the time to read the Amazon description, all of your questions are answered. When you're given an item that is this expensive, it might be worth reading-- or at least the scanning--the listing to give yourself an idea of the features. It seems really unfair for a company to gift you something only to have you fumble around with it when they've invested the time to take photos and explain the features.
I did read it when they offered to send it. I am responding to what people like to see. An unboxing and first impressions andcrhen then end a demo and final thoughts after using the product for a while. You may prefer to skip to the last segment of my reviews for the final thoughts if the fumbling around is annoying to you.
I would’ve thought that they would send a brochure with the item if there was anything in particular they wanted the recipient to know or with info that they thought was relevant, rather than people having to go searching …
Hmmm! (Looking at you painting with it in your lap) I feel like if you are right handed and wanted to use the brush holes, they would be better placed on the other side of the palette. Of course, they would be perfect for if you are left handed and therefore had it up the other way (with the colours on the left and the paper on the right). It makes me wonder whether you could drill some holes along the other edge … but then I wouldn’t want to somehow mar the beautiful box by making permanent alterations …
It’s $120 ! 😢🥲 thanks for sharing , I’ll probably buy it anyway 😂❤ 🎨
$62 with coupon on mazon
Haha “do people even like watching swatching?” 🤣 I’m pretty sure there are UA-cam artists whose main thing is swatching! 🤣
Also great, helpful review! I love little gadgets that help make plein air painting a little more accessible! 😍
Exactly!!