Pochade Box - Small Size

  The third box in this series is my newest, but also the box that I think will get used for plein air  the most.  For several years I have carried a sketch book and pencil around with me.  This  small box is just about all I need for an 'everyday carry' art box.   5 x 7 inch water colour paper is cut to fit inside the lid. Also this size is flexible to use.

  Here is the box supplied for water colour painting. It has everything needed expect paper towels, the water brushes work quite well for field sketching. There are a couple of pencils and erasers, as well as a sharp knife and a straight edge in the box too.

 

 All that is needed is to substitute  Prismacolor Art Stix  and the box is ready for dry field sketching. Art Stix are basically  wood less pencil crayon colours. Twenty Four colours in the small box. Better than pastels for this use because they don't smudge and can be sharpened to a fine point.  

 To hold the lid open I re-enforced the hinge with leather. This way it is strong and firm without me having to add locking style hinges as on most pochade boxes.

  It is a re-used chisel box, remember when tools came in wooden boxes with box jointed corners? The chisels are long gone but the box was too good to throw away. It wasn't much of a shop project but, it needed to be sanded and the spacer put inside and the hinge modified, all things made easy with a wood shop in the basement.

   

9 x 12 Water colour and ink on paper'

"Fall Colours"

  I am working on a Christmas present currently and so can't post about it with out giving away the surprise. 

  Be thoughtful and Be safe.

Pochade Box - Medium

The next box I made came a couple of years later, when I had a better idea of what I wanted/needed.

13 x 11 x 3 1/4 mid sized box.

As you can see the medium box is much smaller,  and so lighter.  I build the medium box with a removable lid rather than hinges.

  The inside of the lid has a 1/4 -20 t-nut set into the middle.  I made the box from door skin and 1/2 inch pine.  It is simple butt joints with glue and nail construction, so it is very light but still tough.  I choose not to use fancy joinery since it is a tool box, not a jewel box.

  The 1/4 -20 t-nut means that I can attach the lid to any camera tripod and  work either sitting or standing.  I tape or clamp paper or sketch books to the lid and work out of the bottom section of the box.

  The bottom  a section holds water bottles, paint, pencils and brushes when water colour painting,   The whole thing will carry enough paper towels and 8 x 10 drawing papers for several projects at a time.  The contents are easily converted for pencil crayon, pastel etc.  I have found this is a good sized box for most situations. 

 The lid latches on two sides and to keep the top from sliding around I installed alignment pins,

on the one corner there are two and the other only one.  This way the lid goes on the same way each time and the clasps fit perfect.

  On both boxes the handle is braided  rope, it was handy, cheap and comfortable to use.  I also like it because if gets out of the way when I am stowing the box in the trunk, or what ever.

  I guess I should share a couple of my art works (?) since I am talking about art boxes.

10 x 16 inch water colour

5 x 7 water based marker and pencil crayon

   I have drawn dozens of cats, a birds and gerbils for grand children too.

  Next time the last, smallest and latest box.