Building a Pochade Box

bottom of box with t-nut inset for tripod attachment

hinge detail

This is a pochade painting box I started building two years ago, and just recently finished after reading and viewing Jim Serrett's blog. His blog http://www.pochadeboxpaintings.com/2009/02/how-to-build-your-own-pochade-box.html gives detailed directions with great photos of how to build the pochade box and panel carrier. I also constructed a carrier which looks pretty much like his so I did not photograph mine. I have a small $100.00 table saw that I use but one can go to a real lumber yard if possible and pay to have the major pieces cut if you do not have a table saw. Since I made my box over a period of time, I do not know how much time it took and I did not keep track of the cost. I enjoyed making it and Jim's cost seems fairly accurate. (Scavenged materials probably helped keep the cost of mine down.) Thank you Jim for your great directions.

I put my hinge together about two years ago from brass pieces I found after looking at a lot of photos of ready-made pochade boxes. . It actually seems to hold if I make sure to tighten it well. I will probably use a small bungee sometimes to hold a painting instead of the two wood pieces in the photo. If I paint a small 4 x 6" painting I cannot use the bungee, as it is too big to hold the panel tight. I then have to use the two pieces of 1/4" thich wood pieces that slide up tight to the 4 x 6 painting. I am gradually fine tuning the box.

Chicken Little

5" x 7" monotype print

This is a recent monotype print that I did from a sketch done at the Groton Family Farm in Groton CT., www.grotonfamilyfarm.com. 

The print is one of the works I will be exhibiting and selling at the 2009 Autumn Art Trail Weekend in Clinton CT on Oct. 10-11.  I will have a tent at the Outdoor Art Festival on the Clinton Landing 54 E. Main st., Clinton CT behind the town hall.  The event is sponsored  by http://www.artscenterkillingworth.org. If you are in the area come and see me!

New Haven Water Reflections

14" x 11"  oil on board

I could not resist painting this scene in the New Haven, CT harbor.   The geometric shapes of shadow and light with their contrast to the soft fluid water were definitely a must to paint.

Dusk, water and the empty space

10" x 10" oil on panel

This is a scene I painted which once had a big brick apartment building and other houses near Fort Trumbull in New London, CT.  It is the scene of an eminent domain site where many people once lived.  It is funny how a bulldozed area looks so forlorn and ugly in one kind of light, but is transformed by an evening sunset into a mosaic of color and contrast. 

One Dog Night

6" x 6" oil on board

With painting, I often emphasize the contrast of textures and blocks of color by utilizing a palette knife. I feel the knife becomes a pencil or chisel in my hand and I enjoy the physical pushing and pulling of paint, scraping away and adding. It's a different feeling than when I paint with a brush.

I noticed this regal dog standing guard over the goats and his turf at a local goat farm. The one ear up and one down reminded me of a German Shepherd I once owned and loved.

UPDATED: if you wish to purchase this painting go to my ebay auctions:

http://myworld.ebay.com/jholderartworks/