French Easel Tips?

[susanc]

I'd like to invest in a French easel for my outdoor painting sessions. Problem is, there's no Consumer Reports on them! Any recommendations from you experts out there?

My apologies if this is the wrong forum to post this in--I hoped some seasoned landscape painters might help me out.

susan

[paintfool]

Susanc, welcome to WC! The 'studio tips' forum is where we would normaly place this question, however, since a good sturdy easel is a necessity for plien air painting, lets wait & see what recommendations we might get from some of our accomplished out door painters. I am in the market for a nice one myself. Linda? David?
Cheryl

[LarrySeiler]

Well....you can see mine first hand, as it appears often in my Wetcanvas Artschool lessons...

Just plug my name in the window that comes up after clicking onto "Search" on the Wetcanvas home page, my name, "Seiler" and you'll see a bunch of lesson urls come up. The one where I demonstrate at Cornerstone Festival perhaps shows the easel off quite nicely.

I have an El Greco mahogany backpack model, which is about half-size. Its about $200-$240 depending upon the retailer. Very sturdy wood, very good brass hardware.

I wanted an easel that would last. I have been warned by many artists to shy away from the Julian French easels...which are made not quite as sturdy.

Its fully adjustable, and its quite portable. They sell of course backpacks to carry it on your back.

You can purchase the heavier full sized version, but...my take is, most plein air painters need to travel light and quick. Most paint smaller images since they are chasing the available and elusive sunlight, and use those smaller paintings as resources to make larger paintings in-studio.

Still...I paint 12" x 16" quite often, which is a respectable size out of doors. I don't remember what the limit is, but I think it will hold a canvas 24" in height quite easily.

The easel legs set up at a comfortable variable adjustable height, and being a bit over 6' tall, I like mine higher. It is also very sturdy in gusty winds.

I'm yet wanting one day to invest in a pochade box....which is about the size of a wooden cigar box, that one could hold on a lap, or table top. Easy to pack in a suitcase, etc; Well..those are my opinions.

Larry Seiler http://lseiler.artistnation.com

[blondheim12]

Well Susanc,
I have used all kinds of easels for plein air work. I bought a very expensive full size El Greco, like Larry described. It was a pain in the neck and weighed a ton. I took the legs off and now use it as a pochade box, for which it is excellent. I now use an inexpensive aluminum stanrite easel. It is perfect because it is very light weight. I have rhumetoid arthritis, so weight is a major problem for me. I like the little light weight easels and they hold canvases up to 40x48 inches. I use a card table and a peice of glass for pallette so I am very basic with my equipment.
Good luck.
Linda

------------------
www.lindablondheim.com (http://www.lindablondheim.com)

[dj-tps]

I have a Julian full size which I've used for 20 years. I've never had a problem with it. It will handle a 32" high canvas, although I have never done one that large on site. I've seen Mabef boxes which appear to be cheap copies of the original Julian design. I agree with Larry that a half-box size would be nice to have.

[LarrySeiler]

In case I may have been misunderstood Linda, I don't advocate the full box. I travel light and fast, and have the half-box.

Larry

[paintfool]

I am using the same aluminum Stanrite that Linda described. It was a gift from my husband so thought i'd better use it http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/wink.gif For,as Linda pointed out the weight issue, i like it a lot & it is good for uneven terrain. It is sometimes though not quite heavy enough if the wind decides to kick up so i think i will invest in something like the half sized that Larry is talking about.
Cheryl

[Gisela]

I've got the full size Julien easel and I love it. It's heavy and sturdy enough to withstand stormy weather on a Lake Michigan peninsula (my latest outdoor painting excursion)and that's what I was looking for in a portable easel. It is heavy, but I'd rather gripe about the weight than have it blow away! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/wink.gif

Gisela

------------------

Artworks by Gisela Towner (http://www.artistnation.com/members/paris/gisela)

[nancymae]

I have recently invested in a Julian type model. I haven't used it much outside yet, but I have been carrying it around. It is heavy...about 15 pounds totally loaded. But I do use an inexpensive luggage carrier in which to carry all my equipment. That works very nicely except over very rough terrain. It holds my easel, my paper, my chair...and anything else I care to bring with me. I got it at Walmart for $12.00. Let me know what kind of easel you get!! and how you use it!! Oh yeah...my easel cost about $120.00 through an art catalog. I believe it was Jerry's.

Take care and keep painting!!!

Nancy

[LarrySeiler]

Again, if you check some of my how-to demo's here on Wetcanvas, where I often paint on location, you'll be able first hand to check out the easel. I have a number of images of it up and close.

It comes with a palette, plenty of room for paints, wells for brushes. You can turn your wet painting around and face it in toward the easel to walk back out of the woods, or wherever you happen to be. It has a nice leather handle if you don't mind carrying.

I walk in to my paint areas with a gym bag full of things like extra mediums and paper towels, etc; and the easel in one hand.

Larry http://lseiler.artistnation.com

[LarrySeiler]

Hey Nanci...I'm psyched, another painter from northern Wisconsin! WOO-HHHOOoooOooo... welcome!

I'm just a bit further up from you in Laona, the Nicolet National Forest. Most of my preferred paint areas are around Dunbar, Marinette county...and the Peshtigo River. Check out my landscape paintings online here, go thru "Gallery" on my home page, and you'll probably see some scenes you are familiar with!

Hope you develop the habit to get outdoors and paint, we have an awesome toy box in our back yard here that many artists would be envious of! Great to have you on board!!!

Larry Seiler http://lseiler.artistnation.com

[Carolyn]

Greetings All,
I've been hanging around for a while now, trying to catch up on all the old posts, but not posting much myself.

Several years back I purchased a Julian Easel, the full size one. I've thoroughly enjoyed it, however find it pretty heavy if one is traveling very far out with it. {Part of the problem is I take too much stuff! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif Working on that!

Just purchased a wonderful piece of equipment for plein aire or workshops. The "Soltek Aluminum Easel" They have a website www.soltek.com (http://www.soltek.com) I believe. There you can get the info plus lots of pics on set up and features. An umbrella can be attached to it also. It is pricey, but an investment for the future, in my case. Worth a look. Really a nice piece of equipment, and much lighter than the Julian, has storage, can be adjusted to accomodate heights and different painting methods. Good luck with your choice.
Carolyn

[LarrySeiler]

Yeah...I looked at that Soltek easel Carolyn, and you are right..."pricey!"

I received the brochure quite some time ago after inquiring...and liked its features,
...but, about $500 was it...for light aluminum? Eeeeiii ouch!

Larry

[Gisela]

Gee Larry,
I guess I wasn't too far from you last month. I spent a week camped at Leelanau Point, across Lake Michigan from you. I couldn't find Laona on my map, but I did find the Nicolet National Forest. I was waving at you from the lighthouse on the point--did you see me? http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

Gisela

------------------

Artworks by Gisela Towner (http://www.artistnation.com/members/paris/gisela)

[LarrySeiler]

Gee Gis....was that you? I thought all that commotion was some wierd effect with the northern lights! Drats...woulda waved back if I had known better.


Wanted to go up there this past weekend, but everything about 40 minutes north of me got hit with 12" of snow. But, expected 60's in temps this week, and it will all be gone. Ah, you gotta love it. Paint in snow one day, paint in sun and no snow the next.

Larry

[susanc]

Wow! Thanks for all the good tips. I didn't expect so many responses. My son is going into kindergarten next July so I'm getting geared up for painting outdoors this coming year. Only problem is average summer temp. here (Lake Elsinore, CA)is 100 degrees! I might have to wait for next October to go outside again!
Susan

[Ruth]

Here's a small, neat box for outdoor painting. If you know a handyman you can probably have a similar one built. This one is designed for a particular easel. You pre-mix your colors on the little shelves, which slide out for storage or cleaning.
www.jamessulkowski.com/paintbox.html (http://www.jamessulkowski.com/paintbox.html)

[This message has been edited by Ruth (edited October 11, 2000).]

[munchy]

Open Box M is a very popular alternative to the French or Julian type outdoor easel. Open Box M pochade boxes are used by many of the plein air artists who teach at the Scottsdale (AZ)Artist School, and the Loveland (CO) Academy of Art. Very portable, very high quality, VERY light, and ingenious (patented) support arm and brackets to hold panels. Used by Clyde Aspevig, Scott Burdick, Matt Smith and many others. Get their brochure by calling 1-800-473-8098 and check out this alternative.

[LarrySeiler]

I was very interested in this box....and it is advertised nearly every issue of American Artist magazine. It is fairly pricey though, which was the draw back for me.

"Pochade" typically means a painter sketch and such boxes tend to hold small panels....mmmm, 8"x 10"...6" x 9" etc., that then slide inside the top lid for storage when wet.

The disadvantage is most are limited in size this way. For the same price as the "Open" box, you can get a very nice hardwood, brass furnishings easel that will hold the option of larger canvases. IF light is what you are looking for...go backpacker or half-French easel.

Now...if I could afford one...I'd look into an extra box, and the "Open" box might be it. I'm intrigued with the idea of making one out of a good cigar box, though. Someday... someday.

Larry

[Brownie]

I've been most interested in this discussion as I am determined to make a decision on an outdoor easel! I'm trying to decide between the Winsor-Newton (called Windrush sketch box easel), MABEF (original or compact), or Creative Mark (leaning towards this one as it comes with rings for shoulder strap), and all are from ASW catalog. The Safari French easel box looks the sturdiest, but it's also too expensive right now. My only other thought is the Trident Maximilian Swiss-style easel wich looks portable in the Blick catalog, but it's about $100 more than the aforementioned easels.
Any preferences or thoughts on the easels I have mentioned? Thanks, Brownie

[munchy]

For those looking for a great portable, outdoor easel alternative, Open Box M, mentioned in an earlier post, now is up on the web at http://www.openboxm.com/index.html

Small, light, ingenious design... and made by hand by a Wyoming craftsman.
--Doug

[Brownie]

I did check out the M Boxes, but to stand, I'd have to have a good tripod with me anyway, and I know that trying to paint with a box balanced on my lap would be very uncomfortable for ME! Then, I'd need to tote the tripod as well as the box, etc. Too much junk! <G> Nice idea for a very small portable studio if forced to travel with it, but it's not practical for me for daily use. Brownie

[Brownie]

Just thought I'd add here that I had an opportunity to use a friend's French easel this past week during an art retreat. I am now convinced that I'd prefer something smaller, perhaps the half box, especially since I wouldn't be carrying everything in the easel anyway.
Brownie

[dj-tps]

Since I paint outdoors most of the time, I have added a couple of items to my painting gear. Besides the full-size Julian French easel, I made two other helpful items. A tri-fold palette similar to the Painters Pal you see advertised in mags and catalogs. I made mine smaller so it will fit in my backpack. I glued a gray backed glass palette in the center section. The wings hold tissues, brushes, knives, etc. I also made a couple of drying boxes which hold wet paintings so they can be transported back to the studio without worry of damage. One other item I find indispensible is the leak proof, stainless steel, solvent/brush washer. It has a removable strainer so the paint particles drop to the bottom. Occassional cleaning and refreshing the OMS is easy. I've only seen this one made by Holbein at Artisans in Santa Fe, so I got it while there. All my supplies fit into my backpack, and the easel has a carry strap. Hope this additional info is helpful.

[Phyllis Franklin]

This past spring I had the opportunity to paint in Monet's Garden and I took my Walmart small luggage piece and loaded it with everthing that I would need for plein air painting. Then I took bungie cords and strapped a french easel to the luggage so I could pull the entire works along. This worked fine for me, except I found out that you really need to have strong arm muscles when you are going up hill. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------

Yep this is Phy...llis
Sounds like Lizz.
P.S.
Join in the fun! Paint one of the painting projects today. (http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/WetChat/Projects/index.html)

[Degas5]

I like the half size Julian. It came with a shoulder strap that comes in handy and has held up rather well. Even filled will paint, it's easy to take on a long hike. Sometimes I regret not getting the full Julian because they now make replacement boxes which come in handy if you work in more than one medium. It would be great to just slip out the oil box and slip in the pastel box.

------------------

[bk7251]

This is the correct url for Soltek easels.

http://www.soltekarts.com/portable.html

------------------
Barry Katz

[rebob]

<FONT face="Arial">Text</FONT f>
I know this is a little late, but just wanted to pass this on. On Monday Dec 4th I ordered a Jullian full size easel from Art Supply Warehouse (ASW) for $159.00 - shipping included. Today I rec'd my copy of "The Artist's Magazine" in which Jerry's Artarama had the identical item listed at $129.99 (plus 8% shipping) - or $140.99. I called ASW to see if they would meet the Jerry's price and all the response I got was a cold "We don't meet prices". Then I asked if my order had shipped and (of course) it had.... (frankly because of the coldness of the reply I got I was going to cancel the order if it hadn't shipped yet). It isn't the $18.00 that makes me mad, it's the attitude of ASW; they could have said, "I'm sorry, but I'm not permitted to change catalog prices", and I would have understood that. Not just the cold "We don't meet prices"!

I informed them that I thought it was a rather poor way to run a business with all of the competition they have, and told them they could remove me from their mailing list and tell the owner why.

I know - caveat emptor!

[This message has been edited by rebob (edited December 09, 2000).]

[Reye]

Susanc
This is late in coming but a Gloucester Easel is what you really need for Plein air work. VERY stable ...I will give you a source if you want to mail me <jeyer@worldnet.att.net>
Jerry