Believe it or not, I have done 4 x 6 FOOT paintings on the French easel (the first one you demonstrated)! How? The bottom of the canvas rests on the wing nuts of the two front legs! The canvas has a cross bar and this enables me to bungie the heck out of it to the main body of the easel (so it stays resting on the wing nuts). The top of the canvas can be held by the extender as normal, OR the extender can be affixed to the CROSS BAR at the back of the canvas (which incidentally is a good way to work slightly larger using the conventional base for the canvas). the key here is to always bring 2-3 good bungie cords of different lengths. Another tip is that your backpack or tote bag can be bungled to suspend from the bottom of the easel which provides a great deal of weight and stability, in windy conditions for example. It also is a way to prevent your backpack from being stolen!

Thanks for the tips and advice, Off to Japan soon so Im thinking about what to take on my trip. Happy Painting Mate 😊

Thank you.

After years of putting everything in a backpack...decided to get the jullian paint easel...is only 9 lbs and all my pastels fit in the drawer. Thank you for your demonstration on the fold out legs. Mine is 22 x16 so fits in overhead bin on planes. Also holds handwipes as pastels are dusty.

well done sir. Thank you

This is so helpful Thank you

On one of my easels, I screwed Sheetrock screws up through the wood the canvas sits on and the points stuck up about 1/8” and these little points didn’t hurt the canvas but held it up a bit and was secure.

I really like the second easel you show. The metal one that folds up flat. Where can I buy one?

Using the French diesel for over 50 years the leather handle wears out after a while I have a folding pallet that doubles in size that I made I have a strap that I put over my shoulders so if I'm walking a long distance with it in the woods it doesn't wear my and an arm out

Amazing video Mike! Thank you for the tips.

Hi there! I was curious as to why you've been prevented from taking your French easel on flights. Just yesterday I flew from Cancun, Mexico to Puerto Vallarta. I had it in a hard case luggage wrapped in bubble wrap (more to protect the suitcase!) and it was checked baggage. Is this prohibition a US thing? Very important for me to know if I want to take it to US to paint. Thanks for your video!

You can't take the French easel on a plane, in a carry bag? Just wondering, as I"m getting ready to travel and new to this,.. if you use a metal simple easel, how do you handle your paint when standing up, etc.?

My question I can't find an answer to from anyone...where do you put your wet painting once you're packing up your plein air setup? Is there some safe way to carry your painting once you're packing up and going home?

Thank you for your tips. Hoping you can help me solve a mystery. I bought a Julian French Easel in the 1980's. It has a funky smell so haven't used it very much. I just started using it again. On each of the front two legs, there is a brass piece sticking out. Can't figure out the use. Do you know? Thank you.

What brand is your sturdy French easel? We've looked around for our daughter, but the common downside is cheep wood and whimpy screws. We would like to get her a quality one once.

I prefer the large Yarka easel. They’re Russian I believe.

Oh…500 OR 1000 paintings….mmmk I’m tracking now.

Where did you get the stool?

Good Ideas and mind checking....appreciate your 80 years of experience!!! (joking)!

Your videos are fine but your free offering to get my email is a JOKE. Be better than that.