The Jullian Easel

High season for outdoor painting is upon us, so it seems appropriate to write about the most important piece of equipment for a plein air painter--the portable easel. I think it is a highly personal choice. Sort of like a wallet--everybody has their own favorite way of arranging credit cards and cash and coins--and once you find the perfect wallet configuration that works for you, it's hard to change.

Eugene Boudin

When painters first began working outdoors, they carried a paint box. This was a simple wooden box, which held tubes of paint and other materials, and which sat on the ground. The painter also carried a separate folding easel, which held the canvas. As you can imagine, there was lots of leaning over, back strain and inconvenience in this set up. (Or you could paint sitting down, which is also not very desirable). Plus it meant carrying a bunch of separate items into the field. 

Then came Roger Jullian to the rescue. Jullian was a French prisoner of war during World War II. While in captivity, he set his mind to designing the perfect outdoor outfit. His creation combined the paint box and the easel into one contraption. Voila! Easy to transport, and no more leaning over to the ground to get paint. The canvas rests on the easel ledge, and the paints and brushes go in the flat boxy part.

I love the fact that Jullian dreamt this up from a prison cell--imagine the hope and desire he must have felt as he worked out the perfect outdoor painting arrangement from his confinement. Jullian returned to France after the War ended, and formed the Jullian Company, to produce his newly designed easel. It is sill produced today, and is my easel of choice. It comes with hooks for a shoulder strap, and so I can carry it as you see below.  Very low tech, to be sure, but it has stood the test of time!

Here are a few shots of my trust Jullian easel out in the field with me. Looking forward to more ventures together!