Hi everyone,
As the summer approaches and I am painting more landscapes, I have a mission to put together my ideal plein air painting kit. It is quite a challenge for me because wherever I go I tend to pack the kitchen sink… You should see the amount of art stuff I take with me when I run a course. All possible (as well as probably unlikely) situation is envisaged and planned for. I am trying to break this habit for my field painting kit because I would like to go on hikes and paint in remote places, which means a lot of walking and carrying my kit. The lighter the better. So in the next few weeks I will be trying different combinations of paintboxes, easels, colour selections, travel paintbrushes, painting sketchbooks, as well as various boxes, bags and pouches to carry the kit.
I am starting with the Meeden box easel. They call it a sketchbox, which although it’s kind of not a real word, I really like. It’s big enough to carry quite a lot of materials and equipment, so it’s easing me gently into being reasonable and downsizing. I packed it with 2 sketchbooks, a few brushes in a cloth, a roll of masking tape, my paintbox and a pencil case. There was room left for quite a bit more.
And we’re off to Stoke’s Bay, with views of the Isle of Wight across the Solent… Even on a very windy day on the beach, the box felt comfortable and stable on my lap while I was painting with paintbox in right hand and brush in left hand.
As I was using an A5 sketchbook, I didn’t use the easel parts that hold the canvas together. But the bottom part was deep enough to hold my sketchbook and keep it in place.
After using the sketchbox in the field and testing it in tough conditions, I was pleased with the way I could carry everything I needed and the way it gave me enough stability. It also looks good with the all beech construction. It’s a keeper and I look forward to many plein air trips with my sketchbox.
At the time I am writing this, the sketchbox is on special offer on the Meeden website in the UK, at £39.95. Please click here for an affiliate link to the Meeden site. You can also get 10% off most of the site with the code SANDRINE10.
Here is my YouTube video where you can see the box in action:
I will be trying more plein air supplies in coming months…
Happy Painting!
Sandrine
Sandrine Maugy 