I had a cheap French Easel break on me. Instead of smashing it, I took off the two parts of easel on top, the sliding parts that hold your painting. I screwed on a piece of wood to the back of the frame of the easel, and I attached a universal tripod mount to the back of that wood block. With a lightweight aluminum tripod, I saved so much on weight by getting creative! And with the money I saved on buying another french easel, I bought a beautiful umbrella for myself to! So get creative artists, it's your job!
This is such a helpful video! I have returned to it again and again every time I need to rethink my plein air setup. How did you learn all those stories about Bierstadt? I’d love to know more about him when he was on the trail!
P.S. ... I totally agree with you about the "Thumb-box" ... I really love it ... and I bought it because I thought it was exceptionally "glamours" as opposed to some of the other model pochades out there ... so I would really love to be using it ... but am having difficulty keeping the lid from falling back open out "flat" when in use ... thanks again ;)
Thank you Stefan, for making this wonderful video -- I was wondering if you could help me out with something about the "thumb-box" (Utrecht) ... what would be the best way to reinforce the lid to not "fall" open or fall back out flat when there is a panel loaded into the lid?? ... I have been looking for the best hinge to reinforce this lid but haven't come up with a solution yet ... how do you keep your thumb-box lid in place while you are painting with it? how are you able to keep the lid upright and in the proper place while you are working with it? .... any tips you could give - I would really love .... thanks so much for all your work in helping us out ... I love all your vids and have been watching them several times for a long time now ... please "keep'em comin'" ...
Hi Stefan ... yup ... I finally replaced the hinges with torsion hinges .. best thing since "sliced bread" ... no more floppy lid .. now it is secure and stable
Stefan, have been enjoying your videos. I love the outdoors, our national parks, painting. I am just recently getting into the plein air aspect of painting. After watching this video yesterday, I was thinking about it on the way home from work. You had mentioned that the first plein air painters traveling with the hunting/scouting parties would paint on paper, then mount them on boards later, to save space and weight. However, I would think painting on paper would create a mess. How would they roll up or pack the paper without smudging the paint until it dried? Curious.
Tammy Stahl they did not do large works and could stack them on top of each other . Im glad you are thinking of me while you are driving that means that you may be inspired to paint for yourself.
I have been doing some research. I had thought I heard you say that the old masters did larger works, but I guess that was after they returned with their smaller sketches/studies. And, I do paint myself. Just getting more time to work at it. Hoping to go out and do more plein air with new friends here now that our youngest is in college.
Awesome as always. I own a Guerrilla box 9x12 and it's really heavy as you mentioned. I like the french easel by Mabef it's very light and portable. The palette folds in half for storage. I'm going to order the Utrecht thumb box, it looks great for small studies in the car or around the garden, house or beach. What brand of panels do you use for plein air studies with those boxes? oil primed Linen on board? oil primed Linen on hardboard? or just oil primed boards? I'm just wondering.
With the thumb boxes, how do you deal with dirty brushes? I've recently switched to oils and I'm not really sure how to deal with transporting solvents in the field especially with a thumb box and staying light.
the Open Box M in this vid looks really ugly ... I've always believed that there is nothing like a beautiful wooden box ... beautiful wood is a work of art in itself .... metal boxes don't come anywhere near comparing to those glamorous wood-grain boxes ... coat them with a nice color stain, varnish or poly and there you have a work-of-art box in itself ... love this vid on boxes ... thanks so much I can really relate to having so many boxes now .... I have developed a "thing" with real cigar boxes .. they are so glamorous ..(and only cost me $2.00) ... . make a few adjustments with hinges, palettes, and clasps etc... oh and of course mounting plates for the tripod ... and you're good to go out into plein air for an afternoon of plein-air painting
This is certainly my most favorite video of this channel. A lot of boxes, stories and inspiration.
Thanks so much
I had a cheap French Easel break on me. Instead of smashing it, I took off the two parts of easel on top, the sliding parts that hold your painting.
I screwed on a piece of wood to the back of the frame of the easel, and I attached a universal tripod mount to the back of that wood block.
With a lightweight aluminum tripod, I saved so much on weight by getting creative! And with the money I saved on buying another french easel, I bought a beautiful umbrella for myself to!
So get creative artists, it's your job!
I Want to start plein air painting. Need some supplies though. Your video inspires me to paint like the old masters did.
This is such a helpful video! I have returned to it again and again every time I need to rethink my plein air setup. How did you learn all those stories about Bierstadt? I’d love to know more about him when he was on the trail!
P.S. ... I totally agree with you about the "Thumb-box" ... I really love it ... and I bought it because I thought it was exceptionally "glamours" as opposed to some of the other model pochades out there ... so I would really love to be using it ... but am having difficulty keeping the lid from falling back open out "flat" when in use ... thanks again ;)
EXCELLENT info! Thank you, you rock!
DONNA SMITH LOL thanks so do you Donna
Its working i have my shadow in warm and my highlight cool base on your suggestion and is fantastic
Thank you Stefan, for making this wonderful video -- I was wondering if you could help me out with something about the "thumb-box" (Utrecht) ... what would be the best way to reinforce the lid to not "fall" open or fall back out flat when there is a panel loaded into the lid?? ... I have been looking for the best hinge to reinforce this lid but haven't come up with a solution yet ... how do you keep your thumb-box lid in place while you are painting with it? how are you able to keep the lid upright and in the proper place while you are working with it? .... any tips you could give - I would really love .... thanks so much for all your work in helping us out ... I love all your vids and have been watching them several times for a long time now ... please "keep'em comin'" ...
jmd558 Let me know if you find a fix for that. I never had a problem but i will look onto it
Hi Stefan ... yup ... I finally replaced the hinges with torsion hinges .. best thing since "sliced bread" ... no more floppy lid .. now it is secure and stable
Stefan, have been enjoying your videos. I love the outdoors, our national parks, painting. I am just recently getting into the plein air aspect of painting. After watching this video yesterday, I was thinking about it on the way home from work. You had mentioned that the first plein air painters traveling with the hunting/scouting parties would paint on paper, then mount them on boards later, to save space and weight. However, I would think painting on paper would create a mess. How would they roll up or pack the paper without smudging the paint until it dried? Curious.
Tammy Stahl they did not do large works and could stack them on top of each other .
Im glad you are thinking of me while you are driving that means that you may be inspired to paint for yourself.
I have been doing some research. I had thought I heard you say that the old masters did larger works, but I guess that was after they returned with their smaller sketches/studies. And, I do paint myself. Just getting more time to work at it. Hoping to go out and do more plein air with new friends here now that our youngest is in college.
Great info. Thank you for this.
Awesome as always. I own a Guerrilla box 9x12 and it's really heavy as you mentioned. I like the french easel by Mabef it's very light and portable. The palette folds in half for storage.
I'm going to order the Utrecht thumb box, it looks great for small studies in the car or around the garden, house or beach.
What brand of panels do you use for plein air studies with those boxes? oil primed Linen on board? oil primed Linen on hardboard? or just oil primed boards? I'm just wondering.
RedSoxKal I have some videos on panels and I will also have a video on panels up this week again
el contenido de sus videos es muy interesante
Where can you find the Utrecht thumb box?
Awesome overview.
macvickle Thanks for taking time to watch
What is this sirene sound in the distance? Starts around minute 20.
With the thumb boxes, how do you deal with dirty brushes? I've recently switched to oils and I'm not really sure how to deal with transporting solvents in the field especially with a thumb box and staying light.
+JugendBlitz YOu can travel with white gas container that hikers use
Have you ever tried Alla Prima pochade boxes?
Like those also
Thanks
the Open Box M in this vid looks really ugly ... I've always believed that there is nothing like a beautiful wooden box ... beautiful wood is a work of art in itself .... metal boxes don't come anywhere near comparing to those glamorous wood-grain boxes ... coat them with a nice color stain, varnish or poly and there you have a work-of-art box in itself ... love this vid on boxes ... thanks so much
I can really relate to having so many boxes now .... I have developed a "thing" with real cigar boxes .. they are so glamorous ..(and only cost me $2.00) ... . make a few adjustments with hinges, palettes, and clasps etc... oh and of course mounting plates for the tripod ... and you're good to go out into plein air for an afternoon of plein-air painting