Getting ready for Plein Air painting

I've been watching videos about how to make pochade boxes. These are little boxes that have your paint, palette and paint surface in when you go out on the land and paint. Buying these boxes is expensive. I just need something basic. I'm not sure that I will enjoy painting outdoors. Most of the paintings I have done outside were not good enough to keep. If somehow I become passionate about painting outdoors, then I can invest in something better.

Painting outdoors from real life is hard. I can't imagine how Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven travelled by canoe in the north with their paint, food, tents, etc to paint in all sorts of weather. Not only do you have to carry all your heavy materials, but you have to deal with changing light, wind, bugs and weather while you're painting. Let's not forget about dealing with self-doubt.

I watched a video where a gentleman made his own pochade box without hinges or clasps or anything fancy. He used velcro to hold it closed. I got an idea to simplify it further. I only need one part of it, and that is the tray. I have a small easel which can hold my panels. I can use a tray to put my palette on and mix my paint.

More about this subject in a later post.