Plein Air Pochade Boxes and Supplies for Alla Prima Painting 

This guy is inspirational! I take these words to heart "The worst sketch is still better than the best photo you ever took."

Your so right about:'leave your camera at home'. I regularly look into my sketchbooks and at my paintings (WC and oils) and i can always remember every detail of that location, even my feelings towards the subject or the materials used.

Thanks for the vid!! Here's another solution. It should be easy to make one of these out of two cradled wood panels from Blick or other art supply store, with torsion hinges you can buy at Amazon. The back of one cradle would be your palette, the front of the other your panel/canvas support (using simple clamps). A tripod plate could be added to the bottom (might need an extra board there for strength). This simple "hack" of cradled panels would also allow you to carry a wet panel/canvas; just match the inside cradle dimensions to your favorite size canvas/panel so it fits within the four corners of the cradle, with pegs or wood spacers so the wet side doesn't touch the board). Torsion hinges should be strong enough for any position, but you could also/alternatively attach a long eyelet screw latch from the bottom side of the clam shell to the top side, for whatever position suits you. Total cost should be about $50-$60 (the torsion hinges are the most expensive part) whereas professional boxes cost $150 or more, and most don't have wet canvas storage.

Great tips Stefan, love the ‘leave your cameras at home’ comment.

Tobacco shops sell wooden cigar boxes once the stock has been sold. I bought another one just today. The shop in my town sells them for $3 regardless of the size. Perfect for making pochade and thumb boxes (as well as cigar box guitars).

Very informative. Totally agree with Stefan, the smaller the better and the easier. Along with the Utrecht pochade box I have a Guerilla Thumbox that can carry four 6 x 8 canvas panels..It's small and convenient and can pack brushes and 6 tubes as well as a small jar for Gamsol.

Great video Stefan as always. The collection of videos you're making are becoming valuable for us oil painters. I look forward to your next great video. cheers :)

Stefan. You are my guru. I just stumbled on your videos existed. You are great. Thanks so much.

So wonderful how you break things down. Love your videos so so much.

Thanks

Great talk, I went to India for 4 months and did not bring cameras with me. Just a minimal watercolour box. Unforgettable

My Craftech Sienna Plein Air Pochade Box and supply box arrived today. It looks great on my manfrotto 190 tripod. nice and sturdy too. Just need the rain to stop coming down

Love the thumb box. Where to buy it?

Hello Stefan - thank you for these explanations. What brand is the "Chinese made one"? - you said it's great value but don't say what type it is. I've looked on your website where you suggested there would be links to supplies but can't see it.

Extremely good and useful. It's pronounced "Plan" air though. It's French.

You are so helpful. Thank you very much. And.... why didn't I think of that?

very good small box, I just found it from Taobao, a Chinese eBay, only 35RMB, same as US$ 7. no, is only $5.

Here are some resources for plein air painters looking for equipment. A 2020 Guide to the Best Pochade Boxes: www.virtualartacademy.com/pochade-box/ and a 2020 Guide to the Best Plein Air Easels: www.virtualartacademy.com/plein-air-easel/ (these are based on independent reviews from users, and the site does not sell any of them or get commissions in order to maintain its impartiality)

Thank you Stefan.i am from China.can you tell me where do I buy the box in China?

V

can you givse me something more specific on the box from china how do I find it