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Author: Wayne_Gaudon, Contributing Editor
| A pochade box is a compact, portable painting studio in a small box. "Pochade" is a French word meaning "quick (color) sketch".
Traditional pochade boxes were characterized by three simple elements: A hinged lid which functions as an easel and wet painting carrier, a palette which slides out to one side, and the lower portion of the box which contains paints and brushes, etc. These ingenious, old-fashioned devices were used extensively by 18th and 19th century landscape painters, but had become nearly extinct until the mid 1980s. Traditional pochade boxes came in many shapes and sizes and were used for oils, pastels and watercolors. |  |
 | A lot of beginners get "French easels" and "pochade boxes" confused with one another. A french easel is designed to be a true, portable studio, capable of being used to create finished paintings. They are generally bigger and heavier, and are designed to stand on their own with extendable legs. A typical french style easel can be seen to the left. |
| The pochade box, on the other hand, was originally designed to be used for performing plein air "studies", which are smaller, and less detailed than a finished painting. Pochades are typically smaller, lighter, and do not have legs (although some ingenious artists have devised ways of connecting them to standard camera tripods, making them in essence, a hybrid).
In addition, most French easels are designed to only carry one (1) wet canvas or panel. Most pochade boxes are designed to carry at least two (2) pieces. Some pochades have extra deep lids, capable of carrying up to ten at a time! |  |
| The price for a pochade box can range anywhere from $50 to $300, depending upon the size of the box, type, and quality of materials used in its construction. If you are like most starving artists, and are working under a budget, have no fear! I have word that our editor-in-chief will be publishing an article soon showing you step-by-step instructions on how to build your own pochade box!
Be sure to take some time later to peruse the new WetCanvas! product review system. There is a category there specifically for commercial pochade boxes. At the time of this writing the category has not yet been open for review, but should be soon. Here is a quick link. |
| Thursday, Sept. 5, after putting down a book, I decided to do a Pochade painting. I completed the painting in about 5 minutes and I was so pleasantly surprised by it, that I posted it on WC! I asked others to post their pochade works, but Titanium was the only one to respond. I did get a few good compliments on my 5 minute study. After Scott reviewed my thread and added his compliment he asked if I wanted to do an article on Pochades. So Scott, here is my brief experience with Pochades. :) |
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