May 26, 2009:
My prototype easel has two main flaws:
-The panel holder is awkward.
-It cannot safely transport wet paintings.
The original system of holding the painting in place featured a moveable top rail which clamped the painting between that and the fixed bottom rail. This was accomplished via a vertical slider, held in place by two 45 degree cuts. The system works, but it isn't necessary. (See picture, right: click for high resolution.)
The benefit to such a design was that it allowed for work larger than the height of the easel. The problem is that I don't need to go larger than the easel while painting outdoors (and I should have realized this sooner). Limiting the panel height would simplify the easel and lighten the load. The need for a moveable top rail remains, but it will be much simpler.
As for the transportation of wet paintings- a rack will be built into the bottom of the easel. (More on this soon...)
All complaints aside, it ended up being a pretty nice little easel. It fits into a backpack and it weighs no more than a medium sized book. It's tremendously more convenient than my French box easel.
I may draw up plans for the finished version, but in the mean time you can download a scalable 3D model of the early (prototype) version, by clicking the image to the left. The file (59.8 kb) requires Google SketchUp, a free 3D modeling program. (Alternatively you may use Google SketchUp Viewer if you don't intend to create or edit your own models.)
May 23, 2009:
I designed a new easel recently; a tripod mounting field easel along the lines of the Open Box M, EASyL, and others. The main difference between those and mine being that mine was built in an afternoon with commercially available materials for around $30. Granted, theirs have some very nice features which I have yet to fully incorporate.
This weekend is the testing phase for the prototype. It isn't pretty, but it's [mostly] functional. After more testing I will revise the design and build one that looks good (this, I'm told, will help the paintings).
More on this topic, soon.
Continuous:
I teach an observational painting class at O.S.A. (Oregon Society of Artists).
The Portrait, Still life, and Landscape are among the subjects covered. Focusing on observational drawing and painting, students learn to analyze what they see and record it with accuracy. Various observational techniques such as sight-size drawing, and tips for achieving color accuracy, are discussed.
Class time: Mondays, 1:30 - 4:30pm.
Oregon Society of Artists
2185 SW Park Place
Portland, OR 97205
503-228-0706
www.oregonsocietyofartists.com