French Box Easel - Full Guided Tour
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- LANDSCAPE OIL PAINTING TOOLS - VIDEO 1
A full guided tour of the French Box Easel - particularly aimed at the En Plein Air landscape oil painter but useful for any artist who wants to know more about the French Box for use with any medium, in the studio, as a table top easel or as an outdoors portable easel. I show you all the features, how to set one up and how I have customised mine which is not a wooden easel, but is instead made of bamboo.
Getting more height
Adding a brush holder
Stopping the legs from slipping
Step by step setting up a French Box with ease
Adapting for indoor use
Construction and materials
Dealing with rubbish
Details shown with lots of close-up shots
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments.
www.michaelhodg...
I just bought this at a thrift store for $13 full of high quality watercolor, oil, acrylic and gouache!!! I paint outside all the time I just couldn’t afford one, I am so excited!
That's terrific! I'm so happy for you!
I bought one over 25 years ago. it was expensive then but has given excellent service, both as a studio easel, or portable for demonstrations. I thought it was made in Italy but seems I am wrong there. Superb quality!
I LOVE my French Box Easel. I was very lucky because my husband bought mine for me when we lived in London & just happen to be passing an art shop just off Trafalgar Square with “A 1995 New Years Sale” with three French boxes being sold for £20 each !!! The same French Box Easel sells for well over £150.00. We had to carry the box all over London that day, but we did not care, what a Bargain! I treat mine with a good wood oil and it still is as good as new. I take that abroad, its been to China, India, Morocco, Africa, Italy.. so many Countries and has served me well. If would be devastated and lost if anything happened to that box easel for it contains everything and more of all my art tools and even a packed lunch & some wine ! Thank you for a lovely film sharing the pleasure of your French Box Easel, Love it ! 🌹
Thanks Bardotte. It's easy to get attached to your easel after sharing lots of adventures with it. Mine's not as good as new, especially after being crushed and rebuilt but it has character!
That was AWESOME! I love innovations from experience. The cotter pins for the legs, the clamps for a garbage bag, the brush holder, so many great ideas! BRILLIANT! Thanks for sharing.
Wow! Thanks a lot :) Glad you liked my ideas.
DAVAD M DAVAD
you prolly dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me during the covid times you can stream pretty much all the latest series on InstaFlixxer. Have been binge watching with my brother for the last weeks :)
@Brycen Titus Definitely, I have been watching on InstaFlixxer for since november myself :D
The best, most succinct explanation of how a box easel works I've found so far. Great modification ideas too.
Thanks macnadoodle! Glad you like it. :)
Thank you for making this so simple. I just bought a french box easel and even with the instructions I couldn't figure out how to set it up. Now I know! Can't wait to start painting now 😍 🤗
Wow, I love your additions to your French box Easel I am especially impressed with your invention of the brush holder. I shall certainly be making some additions to my box. Many thanks for sharing. JB (UK). The only thing different I may need is an attached mini bar.
Just received this for my Christmas present and cannot wait to use it 🥰
Hi Michael. ☺ I just received my very first French Box Easel. It came with no instructions and was frustrating at first to figure out. But I got it. Searched more You Tube videos and I came across yours. Great video. And I love your customizations. Thank you again. 😊
Yep, they are a bit like trying to untangle a drunk Octupus at first. I still have to think about it when I haven't used it for a while! Glad the video helped.
@@MichaelhodgkinsArtist Thank you for your reply, and humor...lol. Think you are quite accurate in saying its like an octopus...lol. 😊 I got it figured out...I think so anyways...lol
Hello from Central ⛵⛵ Lakes Region New Hampshire. I just inherited my aunt's Grumbacher 286. Thank you for this informative and helpful video. I want to paint both indoors and outdoors. Your tips are brilliant! ~ Diane
One of my favorite videos
Thank you for such an informative review of your French Box Easel. I like your customizations and your friendly voice.
Thank you for your video. I bought a second hand one online, and had nomidea how to assemble. I like your modifications.
Thanks Lyn
Thank you for showing me how to open it I tried opening it for an hour with other people on UA-cam but your I the most helpful so thank you
I’ve watched 5 videos on setting up the French easel. If I had watched this one first I could have avoided the other four. Great video. Outstanding.
My primary concern was the sliding of the legs!!! Amazing ideas!! Thanks for the tips and tricks!!
I kept waiting for a wallaby to jump in and say howdy.
Thanks for the demo and ideas. Going to implement on my Jullian classic. =)
The areas where this was shot, around Cairns, Charters Towers and Townsville in northern Queensland are home to Pretty Face Wallabies which are everywhere, not just the bush! On the lawns in the outer suburbs, eating peoples' gardens and getting very used to people driving by.
Thank you. My wife just got one of these second hand and this made it easy to set up. Love the extras
She loves to paint and my shoulders are strong. So I will haul it wherever her passion takes her.
Great discussion of add-ons! I think the french half-easel is better for lugging long distances. I also think painters should be aware that many on line venues are not honest about what they are selling. The true Jullian was made in France very carefully. now almost all of them are made in China but they have a brass plaque that says Paris on it which misleads people. I have one of the originals I got a long time ago. It is elegant and light weight. It is just much better than t he clunky chinese ones. sometimes you can mind them being privately sold.
+Brett Summers Good points Brett, especially with regards to quality and expectations. I've actually expanded on this video with an article addressing these issues and more... www.michaelhodgkins.com/fine-art-painting-landscape/facts-of-life-about-the-french-box-easel/
Thank you for sharing! I love how you customized your box easel, an inspiration.
I actually just bought myself a sketchbox easel a few moments ago. Can’t wait to take it to the park later!
It's embarrassing to have to watch a video every time I try to set my easel up but kudos to you for your very intelligent and experienced explanation of how to set it up! I get mine set up and leave it there for a while and forget how to close it again. (In my defense, my memory is not what it should be! Dr said it is because of my health but to be honest, I ain't never been accused of bein' smart! Ha ha) I leave it set up then need to get to my sewing machine so watch a video to close it up but when I decide to use it again I forget how to set it back up! I have MS and my hands don't work very well anymore but once in a while I do like to Tinker around and try to paint a little. I'm almost ashamed to admit it but because I don't have feeling in my hands like I should I have found myself doing paint pours! At least it satisfies my obsession with paint but running across your video today I think I'm going to head back to my sewing room and set my easel up! I am 6' tall so I get irritated about the height. I feel like I do when washing dishes. Slouched over!! They should make a tall size!! I actually forget where they are, typical of my brain to forget something like this, but I have risers I put under the legs to make it a couple inches higher.
I know your pain about being tall. Sometimes you just have to slouch! :)
@@MichaelhodgkinsArtist I have been diagnosed with a condition called Elhers Danlos. Turns out sitting on a tall stool is a better idea. Slipping joints are not a good thing :(
Hi from Boise, Idaho, USA. This was the perfect video. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!
+Courtney Snyders A big thanks for being the first comment on my first ever UA-cam video! Glad you liked it too.
+Michael Hodgkins what, no commemorative medal? the very idea.
and now i want to learn how to build one of these. but, first, i have to think of who among my friends paints and would appreciate one.
ok, carry on. and make sure coutrney gets her medal, or a certificate or something. it's the principle of the thing.
+Chris R I'm afraid +Courtney Snyders is just going to have to bask in the glory of her achievement for now as I didn't plan any awards - my bad! Good luck with the construction project. :)
Can I be your friend Chris? I need a nice easel - with custom modifications like Michael has done! :-)
Those locking pins for the legs - brilliant!!
This is a wonderful video. I've watched it over and over again. Thank-you!
Thank you so much for this great video! I'm getting back to painting after years of a hiatus and have been researching these easels. This is a wonderful explanation, demonstration and innovations on this product. Thoughtfully explained, easily understood and after watching yours, I went to see a few other videos. As the artists' horrible grappling of setting up their boxes, I'm surprised by their clumsy and almost humorous struggle! I've shared this on my FB page and hopefully save other artists a lot of time! Happy painting!
Thank you very much Annette. I'm glad I was able to help and good luck with your new paintings :)
Thank you for this. I love the little tips and tricks - especially the rubbish bag. I’m going to ask woodworker hubby to put in the pins.
I have been researching plein air/ travel easels all morning and this has been the most useful video I have seen yet. Thank you for making it and sharing all your tips and tricks. Super useful!!
Thanks! Had no idea how to set the easel up properly, this video definitely helped.
One of the best tutorials I've come across. I'm looking to build one so thanks for the tips
Thank you for responding. I figured it out before your answer came by viewing 3 videos and 2 written sets of directions with still pictures and/or diagrams. I got it used so I have to get a replacement bolt and nut before I can actually set it up.
Great demonstration on the French Easel.
Excellent video. Very informative. Thank you for sharing this.
This video made me feel like I was going on a safari
Thanks a lot. Your nice demonstration inspired me to get one. Knowing my interest, my wife presented it to me. It arrived yesterday. I set it up as per your demonstration. It is easy and smooth. I'm extremely happy that she inspired my so much.
ive been trying to decide what easel is best for me for a loooong time, ive been looking more and more towards the french box easels and this has pretty much made my mind up.
thanks so much for the in depth overview
Thanks spud crisp (great name). Glad my video was of use to you.
@@MichaelhodgkinsArtist lol its the most boring user name out there, my irl surname and my highschool nickname i mean srsly...
im a bland potato mate (Y)
Wow, excellent video and appreciate all the tips, links, and time you invested to teach us:)
Thanks Leah!
Fantastic video. I love your modifications. Very inspiring.
That was very helpful. Nicely done.
Thank you so much for your informative video! I would have been lost without it👍😁
Thanks Jane. Glad it helped. :)
Great video. I'm gonna eventually get one then probably reverse engineer it to make one out of aluminum because i can see me eventually breaking the wooden kind just setting it up. Greetings from USA
Super informative video! Thank you!!
Thank you so much for this. My daughter bought this for me and I have not used it yet. ❤❤😊
love this video. Lots of ideas and plenty of help. Thank you.
this was great. just got my easel and the tips were great.
Thanks Tom. I have another video coming out in the next day or so with more info about the mods so keep an eye out for that. :)
Great video and content. Your customization elevated it to another level. Thanks.
+Leon Wilken Thanks very much Leon. I'm thinking about posting an article on my website with more photos, details, plans etc about the customisations so look out for that.
I'll be lookin for it , too !
really good advice thanks for sharing Michael. You are a natural presenter!
This video was GREAT!! Thanks so much....This is so going on my WISH LIST!!! Also, I am going to take all the great ideas for holders and etc...that you invented. Hope you don't mind!! Thanks again!! ; )
I love the little additions mate
Hope you don’t mind I cut an paste the good ideas
Cheers!
Great stuff Michael! Thanks for the tips!
This was above and beyond useful! Thanks!
Bless this video, it helped me figure out how to set mine up!
Great video for a beginner like myself!
Michael, wonderful excellent quality video - instructive and entertaining. It's harder than most people think to do both. Editing and sound were also very good. Loved the customization pieces - sure keeps me from having to go through the trial and error. Fantastic!! Thank you, subscribed.
Thanks very much Melanie :)
Thanks for answering a question that the manufacturers seem to skirt around -- I am also quite tall, and didn't want to go home with an aching back after a day of plein air while crouching.
Thanks so much for doing this! I was finally able to do it
+vkbluerose Hi. I presume you mean erect the easel?
Love your video. It was very helpful. Thanks for the extra hints! : )
Thank you, that was very useful.
this was highly entertaining and informative. thanks dude
thank you so much - really informative on every aspect I needed to understand to get one - cheers!
Thanks I was struggling
Just got mine today :) Such a helpful video. Thanks a lot!
Wow, that was an awesome video, well done and thanks for sharing!
Got my easel set up quick thanks to you!
I just picked one of these up from Micheals. 179 dollars down to 47 dollars with a 70% off coupon plus a 20 percent off coupon. I waited a year for this sale and had a good feeling they would run it again. Cant wait to go to the park.
Ill prolly binder clip a pad of pallet paper onto the palette.
Great video
Extremely helpful! Many Thanks : )
Thank you for Helpful video
awesome ... thanks for sharing
Thank you! I just bought one and wasn't sure how to arrange my things!
Thank you Sir, its helpful
I replaced the round screws with 5mm butterfly screws , makes it easier to screw everything together , I also recommend buying 2 of these French box easels , you never know when one is going to fall and break
the legs clipping in had confused me. THANK YOU!!!!!
This was great
Thank you very helpful
I have a Julian Black Spirit French easel and you can get a very high rise with that one.
Love it
I have one it's really cool
Nicely done....Thanks for the tips / ideas.
Great!
Great customization!
Thanks very useful. I would like to buy the things you fabed.
Brilliant idea the extra ledge any idea how to do that please ?,
I keep a small sheet of ply permanently on my half Julian and simply clip boards to it. You could easily enough make some adjustable ledge that would slide up and down but i am content with my clips! instagram.com/p/Brxd1blATTv/?igshid=zg6uossk4tjt. Jamesjhally on instagram.
Great video I got a french easel for Christmas so I am excited to start plein air once weather breaks. Question is how do you transport wet canvas if working with oils?
You can leave it clamped onto the easel and lay it on the back seat of your car or make a little box the same size as the painting with slots in it to stop the wet paint from touching the inside.
I ended up selling mine a few months after buying it. The legs were just too flemsy.. I need something very sturdy. Ill keep looking on the internet or try to build one myself... Other than that it is a nice easel in a lot of ways, just the legs are where it fails miserably.
They are built to a compromise between strength and weight so can seem a little "under-done". I've never had a problem personally but also I have never loaded a really big or heavy canvas on it. The whole easel was crushed once in a storm by stuff falling on it and the legs ended up in bits. I them back together with epoxy glue and reinforced with cable ties as can be seen in the video. Even after this trauma, they haven't let me although they do seem a bit wobbly sometimes but I make sure they are all well place and taking the load evenly. :) The strength of bamboo may help too. I don't know how a light-wood box would handle the same damage.
For others reading this, I would suggest replacing the legs by building some more suited to the load you to support. Use the existing legs as a template and just use stronger hardwood or beef up the size a bit. Alternatively, glue some stronger wood splints to the sides of the existing legs or secure some aluminium strips to them. Reinforcement like this would probably do the trick.
Anyway Vincent, I hope you find the solution you are looking for.
Thanks Michael. Very helpful video. I bought my French Box Easel secondhand with no instructions. Managed to get legs up But could not work out how to get past that point. Haha.
Grateful for your tips about add ons. Bin bag is great idea as are the others but maybe beyond my joinery skills at this stage. Do you just have one hole for locking pin..or a series in case of uneven ground? Thank you.
High Leigh-Ann. I only have one hole in each leg but I have thought about putting several. I can't see any reason why not if you work regularly on slopes or really rough terrain. It's never really been a problem for me. I can usually wriggle it about a bit until both legs are even or put a rock under one. Another solution which I use all the time for the rear leg (the idea I came up with after making the video) is to get a squeeze clamp with some teeth in the jaws and clamp it to the leg just under the sliding joint. That way the leg can't slip at all. I keep the clamp on the handle when the box is folded.
They are called Nylon Spring Clamps. www.walmart.com/search/?&query=nylon+spring+clamp#searchProductResult
Thank you Michael I will try the clamp on the rear leg and a pin on the front.
Dat music though
Just got my box easel today - Your video was much needed and appreciated ! Uh , where did you get the medium and turp vessels that fit so well in the box ? Great tutorial ! Thx for posting . Subscribing now . . .
Hope you're enjoying your easel. The containers are old plastic medium bottles that the Art Spectrum brand used to use. Thankfully I kept all the ones I ever had because they use round glass bottles now and I haven't seen any that shape and size elsewhere. They really are just perfect for art boxes and french easels etc.
What link you kept for buying easel box
@@sahasranshanrama9251 I bought my french easel box a Hobby Lobby .
No one ever questions that these easels are made out of wood as they were a long time ago. So heavy. Plus they fall apart or fall open when you pick them up. A lighter material would be great but not aluminum.
One question that wasn’t answered for me was if I want to paint FLAT. How do you do that, can you turn the ease flat ways? Or is it always only up right?
Yes the lid section which holds the painting can be fixed at any angle right down to closed which is flat, horizontal to the ground. Fold the legs up and you can put it on a table If you're just wanting a desktop easel for watercolour washes etc.
How is it for wobbling when applying paint with a bit of force or drawing ?
Hi Logan. It's as steady as any three leg easel. I've never had an issue with undue movement but I don't use a lot of force. Fine for drawing, especially when laid right back at a shallow angle like a desk. Hope this helps. Maybe someone else could comment if they work with a heavy hand.
I have a french easel.
You show that you can carry your easel (and paint, brushes, etc.) on your shoulder but... what about your canvas(es) ? In your other hand? in a backpack? What's a good method to and from (wet paint?) your painting location?
Wonderful video. I'm just getting into painting - normally I'm a sculptor - and am looking for a good easel. You think you can just get one! Nooo. Love your tour Michael. Very informative. But do you show somewhere how you made the extention to hold a larger canvas? I'd like to do that but am not that great with DIY. Looking forward to viewing your other videos also. Thank you.
Hi. Thanks for the compliments. I haven't done any more detail with regard to the extension (which is to hold small canvasses up higher, not larger canvasses) but I think your suggestion is a good idea so I will put something together to do just that, probably a blog post with some closeup pics.
Sounds good. Thanks for the reply.
@@MichaelhodgkinsArtist Fantastic video. I'm just about to order one and I would love some instructions on how to create the ledge and add pins too. Did you ever do this? Thanks
Don't worry - I found it!
@@tessacornercube Hi Tessa. Not sure if you found the article as well so here that is: www.michaelhodgkins.com/fine-art-painting-landscape/customising-the-french-box-easel-for-small-boards/ 😀
Thank you! I enjoy your videos. I just bought a French easel from Julian. I do work in oils and acrylics, but I also work with watercolor. Is there a way I can turn it into a flat desktop surface to suit my needs?
Hi Albert. If you leave the legs folded, it will sit on a table. The easel/lid section tilts to any angle so you can have it tilted right back to flat or just a slight angle which is perfect for watercolor washes.
I can't tell from your instructions how to release the front legs from the side of the box. Is there some kind of catch? or do you just pull them? I am afraid if I pull too hard I will break something.
motley just There should be spring clips that hold them in. Grab the feet and pull them straight out from the side of the box. That's how mine works.
I can't find a French box easel with the adjustable metal compartments. Did you insert those yourself?
The metal parts were all included as part of the easel.
Great video!
I'm looking for a Jullian Half French Easel, and I have searched a lot and read many articles and reviews. I still not quite sure where to buy Original Jullian Easel, Do you have any suggestions?
BTW I live out of USA!
me too
What is the black stripy thingy wrapped around one leg's middle part? I managed to hit my foot and crack the leg in the same place and worried that the crack will spread. Can you offer a solution sir? Thank you. (I see people soaking the french easel in water and paint which chills my heart...How can you do that to a wooden marvel :)