Plein Air Easels. What I've Used & Love. Plus Something New!

Thanks for the review of plein air easels. I really like the Etsy one. What lightweight tripod do you use? I am a Patreon of your channel and appreciate the helpful quality content that you post. Have a good holiday season and looking forward to painting with you in 2024.

Hi Steve, I think your demo is great. I only have a piece of cardboard. I want to do more plain air.

Love this video. Did you ever make a follow up using the Taylor Seamount version? Curious to know what you thought after using it in the field. Thanks!

as always love your channel.

Steve, are you single????

Thank you for your videos! I’m wanting to get started with Plein Air painting and your videos are so helpful!

do you have a stool you like? thanks!

I've responded to your other post about Taylor Seamount's easel and how much I love mine but I still think your easel has some amazing features. I'd love to have more width and a foldout section at the base.

Thank you for a very informative and enlightening video. I am very new to sketching and watercolor painting. I notice you are placing your paper in an upright position. That looks awkward to me since water runs down and I see almost all watercolor painting done flat. I would think some plein air easels have designs that allow to place the artwork flat. Please advise...thank you

Oh, maybe someone needs to make a Steve Mitchell easel! 😊

Steve, thank you for another great video. I've been following your plein air setup journey with great interest because I was just getting started with my plein air setup. I was looking for a lightweight one that I could pack in my backpack while hiking and camping and I too have problems with wrist and hand pain/cramping while holding something for an extended period of time so I knew it had to be an easel instead of a sketch board style. I really like the Gurney sketchbook easel but I'm not a DIY woodworker so making my own was not in the picture. After watching your video a few months ago, I immediately ordered one from Taylor's Etsy shop. I am so happy that I did! I've been using it for several months and I really like it. Thank you so much for the suggestion and the other great content you provide.

New Subscriber here!
Thank you! 🌸

Very cool. Thank you for your review! I paint in oil but do like to use a craft paper sketch book to do quick studies, or color note studies etc. This would be perfect because it’s too difficult for me to hold a sketchbook still enough so I can enjoy the process. I really like this option!

Thanks for sharing.😊

Never thought about mounting art stuff on my tripods until now!🤩

Steve, what home printers do you recommend for art reference and photos?

I hadn't seen that Etchr satchel--that looks so great! Also, I may have to bite the bullet and learn how to use power tools to make a custom easel, hah hah!

I just got one of Taylor Seymour’s easels, and it is everything you said about it. Wonderful, easy to use and LIGHT! Now for me to get brave and get out there! Thanks for the review Steve!

I love my Etchr Slate Mini, I added my own backpack straps to it too. I mainly use it setup on my tripod. I also love my Guerrilla box (I have the 6x8 which is perfect for my needs)
But I have been wanting to make a small foldable setup like your James-Gurney-inspired DIY easel. I love the idea of customising it down to the inch with all the weird things I need 😅 you’re inspiring me to buy some tools and give it a try…

I'm interested in plein air painting and might pick up the Etchr satchel, even though mostly my outdoor painting will take place on the deck in the back of my house. Still outdoors, right?

There is currently a discussion going on (Sarah Burns) about using dried gouache, and your name came up on you using a 50/50 watercolor/gouache palette. I've hunted, but can't find it...

I made mine as well. Spotted a unused back to a huge cabinet TV on the curb trash day. Plastic, ridges in the right places, cut it down and made a shelf/place for pallets. Made use of magnets as well. Hacked up a piece to keep the tripod legs in position, place for water and brushes, cost only my time. Snagged a used ArtComber as I have a bum foot now, the seat was the goal. Also made up cold weather water warming pallet, but it’s too cold to go out! Lol

I purchased Taylor Seamount’s easel as i really hate plein aire sketching and painting without a good support. Can’t wait to get it. This was really helpful for me, as i can’t carry heavy bags and boxes around.

Thanks!

Great review Steve! I'm trying to decide what easel is best for larger watercolor works such as 18 X 24. Seems like with the type that just attach to the tripod in the middle, you may get too much wobble. If you have any thoughts, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Great video - I love how much detail you give viewers to help them make decisions when buying supplies. Thanks so much!

Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂

What do you think about a French easel, a lot bigger than these. You mentioned guache, how would you describe how it works. Taylor’s easel looks great, thanks for showing it ❤️

Hi Steve, I think it's wise to stop doing what makes your wrist hurt!

I do a ton of plein air in oil and a little in gouache. My favorite oil set up is Solteck and i do gouache on my lap. I want to build an easel like the above favorite

Amazing video as always, Steve. The Taylor Seamount easel would be perfect if it had a little ledge at the bottom (like your modified go-to easel has). I've discovered one true thing about supplies, every artist's need is as individual as they are. So many lovely options, so many awesome artists, so many beautiful works of art. You mentioned your wrist going numb and those of us with carpel tunnel know what you are going through. Thank you!

So many good options! Thanks for sharing your expertise in a clear and concise manner. I always learn something new. Much appreciated .

I adore my cupeasel. It is lightweight and holds my paints as well as having a fold out for water and a removable(for cleaning) mixing tray.

Steve. You should take a look at Cup Easel. I use the Superlight Water Kit. I modified it with some magnets and it holds my Folio Palette from Art toolkit. Wonderful design. But a bit pricy 😊

This looks great! Thanks for showing your journey with your eqseks. I am still designing mine and hoping to get some time at an open workshop to make it. I don't have any tools but there are community workshops I can use. It is just too cold for now for Plein Air, but might be a good time to make an easel.

I’m in the middle of making a exact replica of the same James Gurney easel can’t wait to finish it n start making art in the field hope you like yours looking forward to seeing it in the future videos thanks for sharing

I like your new eyeglasses

Nice thoughts. I'd like to make my own so I can customize it how I like. Not fond of magnets as it's hard to find strong ones. I'd also like to have holes for brushes, and I'm not particularly fond of the idea of having to cart around a tripod, and most don't have thumb holes. I also would prefer a bigger easel and pallete space so I can tape large piece of paper down (9x12). I know the new one you bought has a drawing accessory board but I don't see the point of carting around another piece of wood when I can just make the top portion larger! Lots to think about! I'll make my own but some design is needed! Can I ask what bolt you used that your board swivels to? I like the idea of having a board for brushes and water that swivels out as well. Thanks for the ideas!

I find myself a beginner in plein air but I do love it very much! I've realized that the less equipment and the less set up, the more likely I am to do it! Sometimes a clip and my portable Painter Micro and a small sketchbook is best! :D

Amazing easel. Thank you for the information. A question about the sketchbooks you use. I’d like to find a 100% cotton sketchbook. Where can I get one? Amazon don’t seem to have them. And here in Italy no supplier has them. Moleskin make journals but not with cotton paper.

Been looking at getting a easel for Art toolkit setup.

I love this! I am in the dark depth of a Maine winter so thinking about plein air is very appealing. I have a small backpack with a folding canvas stool attached to it mane by Grumbacher 20+ years ago. I wish I could find another because it's perfect! The zippers have started to corrode tho and I've lost a zipper pull but anyway it's the best thing I've used. I can put a up to 9x12 sketchbook, portable painter and water bottle and hike far with it. I can't wait for spring! Winter plein air is not for me.

Hi Steve thank you for sharing your plein air tools with us. I use a pochade box my brother made for me. It's got a few things we could fix about it, but overall I'm quite happy with it.

May I ask about your filming set up when you paint outdoors? I would love to know what sort of camera your use for that and how you clamp it on for filming outdoors.

Thank you once again for all your work on this channel!

Hi Steve

I have the smallest News Wave u.go plainair Pochade Box.
it is the only one of this kind that i found a shop for in germany. I am very satisfied with that . But I can't quite make friends with the side parts. the construction of the side parts is a bit wobbly and you shouldn't put too much strain on them. the metal holders are quite sharp-edged and cumbersome to store. I already scratched the wood of the box while putting it away.

Lots of lovely set up here. I bought a 'just go sketching' kit from Etsy. It's an ingenious piece of kit that secures your working area to your sketchbook. Everything is included in a sturdy bag. I use mine all the time and it comes in different sizes. Worth a look. I also like the etchr mini bag as I can fit loads in if you need to take extra stuff

Great video! I'm always interested in the tools other folks use for plein air. Especially with watercolor. :)

These videos always make me want to be more active in painting. I’m inspired! Now I just need to find the time to go out and paint…

Thanks for your review. One can never have enough art supplies. I currently use the Cup Easel Lite. It fits in my backpack, and contains my pallette, which I can change out colors.

I smell pattent! Get your portable easel patented👍❤️