My Mini Pochade Box

I thought I would share this previous post since it's almost plein-air time here in Maine. We still have a bit of snow on the ground and the wind today was damp and cold, but it won't be long now.

I wanted a small box that I could easily take with me anytime I thought I would have a few minutes to paint. I keep the box ready and only need to add my colors. It's even handy to use while sitting in my car.

My dollar pencil box measuring 5x8x2½

My new mini pochade box.

This box is just the right size for two 5x7 panels. I taped wax paper on the bottom for easy clean-up and adjusted the consistency of the paint with medium when I added it to the box. A small packet of handi wipes goes in my pocket.  

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I brace the canvas with my thumb while painting, using the lid as my easel.

The box is deep enough to securely hold two wet 5x7 panels placed back to back and on an angle. The paint brushes can either be placed at the bottom edge of the canvas or in the box, wrapped in a bit of the handi wipes.

A perfect fit.

It closes up, nice and neat.

These inexpensive plastic boxes come in all sizes so you can easily make up a kit to suit the size canvas you prefer. It's fun to just grab the box and go without having to carry all our usual plein air gear.

Thank's for visiting. Enjoy.

Celene

My Mini Pochade Box

I have really enjoyed using my small plein air painting kit (shown below and described in a previous blog post) but sometimes wished that I had an even smaller kit to take with me.

My original small pochade box (Click here to read previous post.).

So I bought a small plastic pencil box, measuring 5x8x2.5.

My dollar pencil box.

My new mini pochade box.

The box was just the right size for two 5x7 panels. I taped wax paper on the bottom for easy clean-up and adjusted the consistency of the paint with medium when I added it to the box. A small packet of handi wipes goes in my pocket.  

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I brace the canvas with my thumb while painting, using the lid as my easel.

The box is deep enough to securely hold two wet 5x7's placed back to back and on an angle. The paint brushes can either be placed at the bottom edge of the canvas or in the box, wrapped in a bit of the handi wipes.

A perfect fit.

It closes up, nice and neat.

Comparison.

I added a note to myself to check the paint before I go.

There is a good selection of inexpensive plastic boxes available to make up a kit to suit the size canvas you prefer. It's fun to just grab the box and go without having to carry all our usual plein air gear.

Thank you for visiting. Enjoy.

Celene

My Homemade Plein Air Kit

If you've ever wished that you had a small painting kit that you could just grab and take with you, this might interest you.  I wanted a small kit that I could take with me when I drove into town to run errands, etc.  I can even paint sitting in my car if I see something that catches my attention. When my painting is finished I close the lid and everything is contained - safe and tidy.

This 8x12 plastic box was just the perfect size to hold everything I needed.

• Paint brushes with the handles shortened.
• An empty Liquin bottle is just the right shape for turps and seals well.
• A small plastic box holds my five colors of paint.
• A plastic lid stored in a freezer bag serves as my palette.
• A packet of tissues and a zip top bag with a few Handi-wipes for cleanup.
• Three 5x7 canvas panels.
• Plastic clips and a small plastic knife for scraping.
• Another small freezer bag for trash.

A clip holds my canvas to the lid as I paint.  

Another clip keeps the wet canvases separate.

When I get home I give the kit a cleaning and restock my supplies but I don't add fresh paint until needed.  I wrote myself a note on the cover to remind me to add the paint.

My kit stores neatly in a small canvas tote.  Just give me two minutes to refill the paint and I am ready to go.

You can easily modify this kit to fit larger canvases - just get a bigger box.  Happy painting.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene