Simple plein air sketching kit - my lightweight easel for use with a Portable Painter palette

A simple idea for an ultra-lightweight plein air sketching kit. I use this with the Portable painter palette and it works incredibly well.
It's very easy to make at home and doesn't require any DIY skills. It fits into a small bag and is smaller than an A5 sketching book so you really can take it with you anywhere you go! Use it for painting outdoors en plein air, on vacation, even when you go shopping :)
For details of the materials you need and to read more about it on my blog - visit: andywalkerart.com/2022/10/29/...
For other DIY easel designs, visit www.diyeasel.com/#/

[@susanbviemeister3596]

brilliant...I especially like the drumroll, that says it all.

[@user-hk9du6px9x]

I always thought how silly the standing cups that flank that set were. I couldn't figure out how to hold it. Well, you solved that problem! Nice setup! 🎨😋

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Glad I could help!

[@mnap1595]

They serve as a sort of "clamp" for putting the palette on your leg. How well that works will come down to the thickness of your leg, I suppose. I don't think this was designed with the intention of being used while standing, though it obviously can be.

[@ReplayFan562]

I am not an artist, sketcher, painter, or anything close, but I love gadgets and things. This is such a great idea, and makes me want to go out and try painting, lol. I love your artwork! Thank you for sharing. Take care

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thanks for your comments. Maybe you should give sketching a go! it will open up a whole new world of discovery for you! :)

[@awatercolourist]

I love the simplicity of this design. Thank you for sharing it.

[@AndyWalkerArt]

My pleasure!

[@cjc6507]

Ingenious way to use the portable painter. Thanks for the idea.

[@leslie-annepepin8927]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@bj6656]

Really cool! Thank you for showing us the set up.

[@squadiodatamj5998]

Thank you for sharing (so well) this clever idea.

[@ImaMes888]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@Lanternamagika]

Genius is simplicity !!! Kudos

[@diegogmejuto]

Amazingly helpful. Thank you for sharing!

[@dorothyminor7581]

This brilliant! Thank you!

[@sallyweiner4180]

Love this, thank you

[@morrisjensen1959]

A great video, Andy. Thanks for posting - Both my wife and have have a 'Portable Painter Palette', it's a great urban sketcher's tool. I'd love to see a larger version with 18 colour sections or / and, the 12 with three double sections added, as it is, I half fill the four small wells and the middle double well along side the brush holder with paint also, mainly to allow me to mixed more greys and greens, on longer trips. Warning: and I have raised this point with the manufacturer, the grooves for sliding in the two black water tubs are weak points. Twice my box has fallen about 18-24 inches, once off my knee and once off a small seat and both water tubs snapped off at the groove. I've re-enforce those points with aluminium squares cut from a coke can, superglued and hot-glued all round. You do need to keep any added support thin so the two water tubs still slide on when not using. Happy painting.

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thanks for your comments. You can get additional smaller paint containers from the manufacturers that will increase the number of colours you can put in. See my blogpost andywalkerart.com/2023/11/10/how-to-get-more-colours-in-your-palette/

[@notafan1275]

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thanks😊

[@NoFri11s]

Brilliant! So simple! Thanks for sharing!

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@sueanderson7386]

Excellent idea! ❤

[@AndyWalkerArt]

thank you.

[@cathyhasty6554]

Thank you! The easier the better.

[@tracyhickman1359]

Brilliant! Thx for sharing 🙌🎨🙌

[@AndyWalkerArt]

👍 thanks

[@savjn]

I really freaking love this!!! This is what I meant when I say I want to watch art videos😊 Keep it going!!

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thank you 🙂 Look out for more videos on the Portable Painter from me.

[@bobbieherron6972]

Brilliant! I already had all the supplies I needed, including a perfect size coroplast board. New kit ready for the next warm-ish day. :-)

[@AndyWalkerArt]

It works really well, although I've recently made an improvement to it so that it works even better. Look out for another video soon!

[@mally125]

I had the same problem with the Escoda brushes I bought. The number 4 had to be sent back 3 times as it was unable to hold a point. Thanks for a great video, some very good ideas.

[@melbendigo]

Love it! :)

[@TheOneRioji]

Thank you for sharing this!!

[@AndyWalkerArt]

My pleasure. Pleased you found it helpful. 👍

[@chaoticgood8645]

I love the use of this board in this! Thank you for showing us this with your portable painter since you can't tack it down with magnets like the metal pallets, now we have another option that works just as well! This is just what I needed for painting on vacation :)

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thank you!

[@lindathaxton1994]

Very clever - thank you for sharing 🙏

[@AndyWalkerArt]

🙂👍

[@sugarcane9425]

Good one Andy. Thks you

[@nancytipton2640]

Wow! Perfect! Thank you for sharing you ingenious ideas!😊

[@AndyWalkerArt]

My pleasure!

[@jmalkvideos]

A great setup!

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thanks!

[@josefinakadriance9638]

Thank you! Andy.

[@deborahrech7429]

Love your sketches!

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thanks!

[@robynblake4841]

Great tutorial and love your work! 🇦🇺

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thank you!

[@kilaamos6070]

Brilliant! thank you!

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bonniegarson80]

Very cool

[@lauraoquinn9812]

I love this. I have everything i need. I might try a double layer of chloroplast first. Each layer going opposite direction so I don’t have to bother cutting wood 😂. Such a great idea. Thank you for sharing! Your sketches are super

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thanks very much! I think the chloroplast should work really well. 🙂

[@viktoriam6304]

the simplewt and smallest. great jib

[@gracedoernerart2138]

Thank you...

[@carmenzaldivar4393]

Great! Thank you

[@AndyWalkerArt]

My pleasure.

[@THEMAYQUEEN1]

That’s awesome. Your wooden board is such a great idea!! I have so much trouble deciding what to bring painting when going out. Culling one’s art supplies is truely difficult.

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thanks. It always pays to travel light and take the minimum with us. We never use half the stuff anyway!

[@THEMAYQUEEN1]

@@AndyWalkerArt yes so true 👍

[@sam11_art]

❤nice

[@stevesidare2493]

Very nice! I think I might be getting the P. Painter and the board. I also like the sketchbook. Another video got me thinking it wasn't a very good paper in it. But your paintings look good, though I tend to work my paper harder.

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Hi Steve, thanks for your comments. Re the paper in sketchbooks, I've tried several different makes and to be honest I've found different qualities of paper even within the same make.

[@JohnnyB-art]

This was so helpful , thank you for making this video, iv subscribed and look forward to watching more of your videos. All the best buddy 😊

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thanks very much!

[@JohnnyB-art]

@@AndyWalkerArt your very welcome 👍😊

[@christianebehr138]

That is so nice, your pictures are very beatiful I found your videos do I suscribed 😊

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thanks very much!

[@markdonovan1540]

A tidy set up. I prefer the Frank Herring Compact palette, although this one here has some useful features. I have the same sketchbook as shown in the video, but I'm still in the process of trying out different ones. I also use the Escoda Versatil no.12 travel brush, together with a no.8 Escoda Perla and a Van Beek no.5. They are superb brushes for taking out for sketching plein air and urban-sketching. I also take one flat travel brush by Midas Touch - although I'm not entirely happy with its feel, so I might look for a better quality one. It looks like you might be based in Spain somewhere, judging by the "Coviran paquete de pañuelos"

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Thanks for your comments, Mark. I like this palette because of the handy water holder and brush holder that also become the carrying case for it. I also use an even smaller handmade palette for a very lightweight set-up. Yes, I live in Spain, which is very hot at the moment!

[@markdonovan1540]

@@AndyWalkerArt I've considered buying that palette a few times, but I usually carry a small collapsible container and everything fits into my small bag. I almost always carry a 1-litre water bottle for drinking, so I use some of it for painting and then top up in the local bar. I like making my own DIY palletes too. I've used lozenger tins, souvenir soap tins, mints tins, cycle puncture repair tins and even a flat, round Nivea container! I live in Madrid, so the very low humidity makes it challenging to paint with watercolours. I have to wet the paper a lot and use the atomiser sprays to maintain humidity in some areas.

[@franswey2]

❤😊

[@oefcfree3250]

that is really unique I can't believe what a wonderful idea, I've been looking for something better for a long time. Have you thought of getting a paten for this?

[@naly202]

Have you ever tried one of those brushes that have a barred that can be filled with water? I think the kit'd be even more compact.

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Yes I have, but I don't particularly like them. I found them difficult to control regarding the water flow and also the brush bristles are not very soft. So instead I use escoda travel brushes that fold away.

[@gracedoernerart2138]

Some people slot that palette onto the knee or leg too... sitting

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Yes, the Portable Painter is designed for that too, and I do use it that way when seated.

[@liqinzhu]

Brilliant!! A perfect reason to buy a portable painter which i have been eyeing for a while. A question for you: how do you handle the dirty water?

[@AndyWalkerArt]

I throw it away, down a drain or sometimes into a nearby plantpot etc.. if I'm in a town. I'm pretty sure its safe to do so without polluting the environment or killing anything.

[@liqinzhu]

@@AndyWalkerArt Ok. Thanks!

[@captainnolan5062]

Also, it seems like you could put a quick release plate on your piece of wood, and then attach the whole thing to a tripod.

[@AndyWalkerArt]

That would make it totally hands free. Good idea.

[@captainnolan5062]

@@AndyWalkerArt The Sirui 5cx carbon fiber traveler tripod weighs less than 2 pounds (.94 kg) so it doesn't add too much weight to your kit.

[@VenturesOfTimTim]

It looks like a nice setup. My only question is- how does it work if you want to paint both pages during a session? Does the small board provide enough stability for both pages?

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Yes It does. The board crosses the fold between the pages equally on both sides, so they are held equally firmly, and if you use the elastic strap that often comes with a sketchbook on one side and put an elastic band on the other, or a clip, then the pages will stay open and fixed. Have fun!

[@VenturesOfTimTim]

@@AndyWalkerArt awesome! Thanks!

[@getrohanlobo]

This is amazing - what is the name of the clip!! I just ordered the Portable Painter Palette

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Hi. The clip is something you can buy in most hardware stores or stationers these days, probably on Amazon too. Not sure what it's called.

[@pattbennett2392]

What is the measurement of your wood backing? Thank you for sharing ! Love your idea

[@joseantonioplaza8596]

0:06 is port of Cartagena, Spain. Gorgeus place. Walls are from XVI century and the church at the top of the picture...well, better discover by yourself. Below is placed one of the best preserved roman ruins in the World, that are placed over Carthago ruins (Cartagena= Carthago nova), that are placed over a phoenician ruins and so on; 3000 years of history in one place.

[@leslie-annepepin8927]

May I ask what brand/where you found the tote bag you use? Thank you.

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Hi. I bought it locally a few years ago but the label inside says MISAKO.

[@karenwilson6483]

I have the portable painter but need a board. Can you share the measurements for it?

[@AndyWalkerArt]

I used 1/8" (3mm) plywood which was 5 1/4" (13.5cm) wide and 6 3/4" (17cm) long.

[@AndyWalkerArt]

I used 1/8" (3mm) plywood which was 5 1/4" (13.5cm) wide and 6 3/4" (17cm) long.

[@carolyn_r]

that's brilliant! can you say what the dimensions of the board is? (I haven't bought the portable palette yet) thanks

[@AndyWalkerArt]

I used 1/8" (3mm) plywood which was 5 1/4" (13.5cm) wide and 6 3/4" (17cm) long.

[@carolyn_r]

@@AndyWalkerArt thanks so much! you figured this out without having to purchase a whole kit. Thanks!

[@captainnolan5062]

Why not overlap the palette a bit and clip it on as well, so there is no chance of the watercolors and water coming off?

[@AndyWalkerArt]

That's a good idea if you are concerned about the palette sliding off, but I've never had a problem with it as it is. The fit is quite tight enough so friction does the job.

[@mister_66]

And what is bad a regular box that all artists use?

[@AndyWalkerArt]

Good question. Well, they can be bulky and heavy to carry, but this weights almost nothing and is just 3mm thick.

[@s.courtneywalton1737]

What are the dimensions of the board?

[@AndyWalkerArt]

I used thin plywood which was 3mm (1/8") thick. 13.5cm (5 1/4") wide by 17cm (6 3/4") long.

[@SantiagoPerezartist]

Where in Spain are you?

[@AndyWalkerArt]

cerca de Huércal-Overa en Almería.

[@SantiagoPerezartist]

@@AndyWalkerArt excellent I have a place in Almuñecar down the coast from you. Lots of great places to paint.

[@AndyWalkerArt]

I know Almuñécar que well. It's a very nice place. Stayed there a couple of times in the past for a short break.