New Pochade Box, DIY, Scrap Pieces Wood, and Now a Tripod!

Forgiveness

I made this pochade box myself from scrap pieces of wood, no electric tools were used. The easel part (the top) was inspired by Jim Serret, plein air painter, how to make your own. This is a "standard" size box, measures 12" x 16", 2 1/2" deep (box). The tray on the side (brush holder) measures 11"x 4 1/2". The mixing palette is made of clear plexi glass with the adhesive paper protective still on the back (the largest piece I had) measures 15 1/8" x 10 7/8" x 1/8" thick. The box weighs 2lbs, made from 3/8" Maple plywood for the sides for top and bottom including the dividers. The top and bottom panels are made of Laune. I was also inspired by @Kaustav and his posts. In the very beginning this appeared impossible, out of reach for me, but as I looked around more carefully at what  I had on hand, which is not much at all but I am skilled, everything started to come together ridiculously easy yet very unexpected. The only things I needed to purchase were the brass hinges on the back (not shown), the finish (Spar Urethane, quick dry, indoor/outdoor) for it with brushes for the job, bungee cords, just enough of everything nothing more at all. It is built for outdoor use, to handle Canadian weather, is harsh on things. The handle has enough room to be wearing a pair of gloves/mittens to carry when cold. I have the freedom to paint sketches/paintings measuring from 5" x 7" (horizontal) up to 12" x 16" , on both horizontal/vertical. This will sit on my lap most often, I need a strap to put around my waist and attach to box to better secure while painting and resist weather (winds). Need a stool and new supply of paint and to mess up this box some by using it. Thanks for looking, enjoy!....now back to painting!

PaulB

What, no coffee cup holder?

@Forgiveness, this is incredible work.  You made all that?  Superb.  I'm seeing features that I've been reading about in very expensive commercial boxes.  Not one item there looks like "scrap".  You could sell these.

Now I'm looking forward to your plein air paintings.  And of course, the sushi that you will make.

Forgiveness

                          Thanks @PaulB, but I'm not equipped to take on producing these unfortunately, may make another smaller box later. I most often worked on floor space I could find quite similar to the artisan in these photos. Working with wood and oil painting in same room don't go so well, have quite the clean up now before anything else. This is a fortunate single occasion. Before oil painting I was also making fun little musical instruments now retired.

dencal

Forgiveness 

Beautiful work. Suggest you adjust the lid to vertical to avoid sky glare.

Denis

Forgiveness

I thought that may be a challenge, will make the adjustment. thank you Denis.

Summer

Words are failing me here, but I am so impressed with what you made and the story that goes with it. 

Kaustav

Beautifully built! Will get back to it when free. If you are using mediums then keep it in bottles like these. it is easier. However, once the basic paint layer is in then there is no need for mediums.

 

Forgiveness

These hooks are great, come in all sizes, perfect for any budget. Used for hooking extras on the side of the box.

Forgiveness

The paint I've been planning to use are W&N prepared DMP stored in 35mm film canisters, 2'' tall. The bottles above will be good for medium also prepared DMP and brush dip.

Kaustav

Have you built a wet panel carrier? What if you attach it to your box (above or below)?

Forgiveness

Been thinking this for a while but really undecided, underneath seems easy enough to manage, got just the right stuff come to think of it. I think I just got it! Thanks.

Richard_P

This is amazing work! I'm really impressed..

Forgiveness

Thank you, much appreciated @Richard_P.

Kaustav

Forgiveness said:

Been thinking this for a while but really undecided, underneath seems easy enough to manage, got just the right stuff come to think of it. I think I just got it! Thanks.

Study Sienna's big one and Alla Prima boxes for wet panels. They are suitable to your design for wet panel carrier.

Anyway, here are some of the good designs that you can attach underneath your box.

Sienna Wet Panel Box and Sienna Plein Air All in One box (panel carrier underneath)

dencal

Forgiveness

Use Caribiners on the side of the box.  Find the spring loaded versions. You won't lose stuff.


Clockwise from top left: D-shaped wire gate, D-shaped straight gate, Oval straight gate, Pear-shaped auto-locker, D-shaped screw-locker. Center is a standard carabiner rating.

Denis

Roxy

@Forgiveness, you are a true craftsman. That is a beautiful piece of design and construction

Forgiveness

@Kaustav, I think I can work out a version of Sienna Plein Air All In One model, with the panel carrier underneath for 4 wet panels for 8" x 10" and 10" x 12" as where 12" x 16" would need a much larger box as a separate carrier. At this moment I don't have plans for such a large size except maybe on my property at home.

BOB73

Jerrys artarama has some very simple ones (not enclosed though) but easy to make if you have more know-how than materials. Carry 4 differnt size panels at a time. Again these would be for fair weather.

Kaustav

Forgiveness said:

@Kaustav, I think I can work out a version of Sienna Plein Air All In One model, with the panel carrier underneath for 4 wet panels for 8" x 10" and 10" x 12" as where 12" x 16" would need a much larger box as a separate carrier. At this moment I don't have plans for such a large size except maybe on my property at home.

I think so too. The moment I saw your box, I thought of Sienna all in one design.

You need to think about how many paintings you can do in a day. If it is not more than two, then there is no need for slots more than two. Three is general. Don't go for too many sizes; maybe one underneath box for 10X12 and inside it can hold an 8X10 also. U need to create an 'L' kinda thing.

Since you are making all the stuff, put a tripod hole inside and 12X16 box for six panels in advance.

Kaustav

@Forgiveness BTW what is it made of? Birch ply?

Forgiveness

This box is made of; 3/8" maple plywood used for the sides for the top and bottom, including the dividers. Laune was used for the top and bottom. I'm thinking 2 slots underneath 1 each for the 2 smaller sizes as above, but no way of enclosing at this moment. I can store one painting leaving it attached the top with bungee cord and close the lid. And yes, a separate new box for the larger size. The tripod hole has been a little more of a challenge, have to go out of my way for another hardware store to get all I need. I have a good set up for this part.

Forgiveness

I replaced plexi-glass palette with a new palette I made of "birch ply" which now fits snug. I didn't include a thumb hole at this time, don't think it's needed for me. Also straightened the angle of easel to avoid sky glare. Now in process of building the "wet panel carrier" for 2 wet paintings (for 8" x 10" & 10" x 12") that will attach to the bottom of this box and then fit it for tripod mounting within 2 weeks. I can't use it until I am finished and Summer here is going, going..... gone before you know it, and I'm almost there! LOL! A separate larger box will be built to carry 12" x 16" panels a little later.

Kaustav

@Forgiveness wood is good.  I love wooden palettes. Although it hardly matters in terms of painting. My small thumb box has a plastic sheet pasted on top of hard cardboard. But it works well and I can flex it a little. Oil this palette well. its nice have a good wood like that!

Forgiveness

It is rare to find birch ply like this, just acquired yesterday, I took advantage and I have 7 panels 15 1/2" x 17" left over at this time. Wood is very difficult to work with now because of heat and high humidity, my new box is holding very well! Harmony in craftsmanship works well in woodworking as well as in oil painting.

Forgiveness

 This oil sketch (incomplete) 9" x 12", gessoed + stained watercolor paper, I painted on Friday morning, my 2nd time out, having a good experience, much support around me. Was at this site for 2 hours, including a little social with wonderful kind folks. This spot was very special, all around extremely hot and humid no relief, but this spot had natural air conditioning for the entire time, hot by the time I was finished. Looking at the 2 top photos, observe how the light in the background has changed!

BOB73

Looks like a nice place. The box turned out real well and the painting reflects the enjoyment you're getting from the outings. Enjoy the heat. Before you know it, it will be too cold to sit out there for two hours.

Forgiveness

I believe that I can complete this sketch anytime soon, I like it myself, and I further believe that I can add the highlights, this would reflect more honestly just how beautiful and sunny that it was. Also probably the easiest for me to remember for the very simple abstract shapes that bring in more contrast and depth, also there will be indication of people in the very far distance, this is public parkland around a small man made lake, I walk 5K to get there and back, 25/30 minutes each way. The paints I use are mixed DMP, for the scene I began with a simple sketch, vine charcoal, painted in the sky. Next I painted in the darkest darks, working my way up from there to the lightest lights. This box is working great on the site and for transporting, just the perfect weight for me. Looking forward next time, much to paint as it is a beautiful looking city

Bancroft414

Thank you for sharing this journey with us!!

Kaustav

Nice start. Good that you have gone out! Its good that you started with center of focus. It is easier to do that way. You can ignore the rest of the sections.

Forgiveness

This is what I have done to this sketch, although quite a terrible photo of it, yet still an attractive scene, and added 3 figures. This may have taken me 45:00 mins. max to complete. If I really wanted to, I could go all out to full oil painting in realism with this. The earlier photo (on the pochade box) is truer in color in comparison, much like in my studio, where this photo is washed out and missing out on the true bright greens. Been raining here for few days, but very beautiful weekend to get outdoors once again now, looking forward. If I can manage a better photo, I will replace this one. Enjoy!

Forgiveness

I like getting outdoors, my only hesitations are the weather and my supply of paint is just about run out, and have a portrait in the works to be completed soon, managing in a tight position. I plan to carry on with painting and enjoy until no more paint and find a way to replace.

BOB73

I'm of the belief that painting is good for the soul and also that figures, even a single figure, is a beneficial addition to almost any scene especially landscapes. Good work on the latest scene, @Forgiveness. I hope your outings bring you enough happiness to make up for the other unhappy times life brings your way.

Kaustav

@Forgiveness if you have less time, then I would suggest you reduce the size of your painting. You are painting on paper, so it shouldn't be a problem. It needs some eye and thought process adjustments when you are outdoors. Size shouldn't be a time killing factor at least initially. worrying about time hampers the viewing process (I learnt it the hard way). When you are more comfortable, your seeing and executing quickly then move to larger sheets or larger canvases.

Kaustav

Now I got your name. Robillard is it?

Forgiveness

@Kaustav, yes that's my name. I will try smaller size sketch. I went out on Saturday didn't complete anything, pleasant experience. The light changing so quickly here now and losing fast already, I see changes within and every 10:00 mins., this is in early evening. I noticed that local landscape here, everywhere there are common basic colors to be found and I am not a "formula making" kind of artist per say, and I am inclined to prepare in my studio some of these basic colors. Same variety of; greens, 3 or 4 on average, blue sky, water, tree trunks, and rocks are pretty much the same. If I had 3 or 4 values of these only, to begin with, this would save me a lot time. From here I would spend a little less time mixing on the spot for a little more time to observe, while recognizing what mixing is important/necessary and getting right down to capturing a sketch. I remain quite encouraged to continue on, I hope to purchase myself a proper stool this week, these park benches and hard surfaces, a little much, LOL!

Barbara

Wow! I'm so envious of people who have the skill to do this kind of work on their own! What a beautiful finished product! 

Forgiveness

This is a much better photo, enjoy!

KRYS

hi Forgiveness, this is so inspiring! Thank you for posting!

Forgiveness

New stool, highly recommended for plein air painting.

Forgiveness

These are panels in prep for plein air painting, 5" x 7" and 8" x 10". Method; masonite panels 4 coats of acrylic gesso on all exposed areas, each coat sanded smooth. Next comes 2 coats of oil gesso on 1 top surface and 4 sides, again each coat sanded smooth, allowing for adequate drying time (1 week each coat before sanding). A lot of hard work and real adequate ventillation. Now still waiting for first coat to dry before moving on to the next.

Kaustav

Forgiveness said:

New stool, highly recommended for plein air painting.

Yeah I am planning to buy a similar one with four legs. are these comfortable?

Forgiveness

I find the three legged ones most comfortable (you really wouldn't believe it until you try it), this it the type that has been in existence and in use by plein air artists and native peoples and other folks for most years (about 100 years), I would not trust any deviant models to perform as well. The older ones, the first made ones had a leather seat and has taken a long time to develop into the synthetic fabrics used today. I recommend the 3 legged one, 'cause nothing can go wrong here with this model. I never have to fiddle/adjust with the positioning of this stool while outdoors, I believe 3 legs adapt better on uneven ground outdoors than 4 legs.

BOB73

Less is More!

Kaustav

@forgiveness   ok...will find a three legged one.

Kschaben

WOW! that is so well done. 

Forgiveness

                       I am building a 2nd pochade box, smaller, 9 1/2" D X 13 3/4" W X 4 5/8" H. It will have a built-in wet panel carrier for 2 size panels, 5" X 7" and 8" X 10", also may be able to carry one wet canvas same sizes as panels. It will also be lighter to carry around. Shown above, I have solid red wood for 4 sides for the top and bottom, I have a choice of 1/8" birch panel or the 1/8" stained maple panel for covers, top and bottom. It will be fitted for use on a tripod. The final design in the end will look quite similar to what @Kaustav is working with, unlike my first one.  This is the ideal season to build such things where I live at this time. Just an aside, I also installed the hardwood floor throughout my live in studio just before coming to this site, in my beginning here. Thank you.

Forgiveness

Thank you!

Richard_P

Sorry! I clicked that by accident, I meant to click like..

Sharycat

Looking forward to seeing this come together. Great work.

Forgiveness

I recently acquired this beautiful cigar box. 7 5/8" x 9 5/8" x 1 5/8", made with 3/16" and 1/4" plywood, the hinge is made of paper. It weighs but only a few ounces!

 Can easily be made into a new pochade box with tripod adapter added, or used as subject matter in still life set up for painting.
 
I found it inspiring, hope you do too.









This is the view underneath the box.

HondoRW

@Forgiveness - Wow!! That first pochade box is awesome! I see real craftsmanship in that. And all from scrap. Fantastic. Paul Sellers would be impressed!