The Best Sketching Chair - An Update

This is an UPDATE about the availability of the Phillips Folding Chair which I use for plein air work.  I've written previously about it

• on Making a Mark - In praise of my sketching chairs
• on Making A Mark Reviews - in a more detailed Product Review: Phillips De Luxe Folding Chair which also provided additional tips about travelling with a folding chair

I cannot recommend this chair highly enough for people who want a very good quality chair which will be robust, reliable and longlasting.

• plus highlighted the chair on my Pastels and Pencils website in the Sketching Chair - Phillips Folding Chair part of the section on Art Materials & Other Resources for Artists.

My Phillips Folding Chair on a trip to sketch Walden Pond in Massachusetts in 2006

A Reader's Query

This morning I got an email from a reader of Making A Mark which asked as follows

I've followed and loved your blog for quite a while. Now I have the opportunity to do a 10-day workshop pastel near Avignon in Oct. 2013 and am looking for a portable, comfy travel chair with back support. On your "what I pack when I travel" post you mentioned such a chair. Please can you share the brand? I'm in the U.S. but perhaps could find it over here.

I took a look at the two links I'd previously provided to supplier in the references above and found that neither now led to a live website - partly because both suppliers have updated their websites!

Here then is an update which goes along the lines of first the bad news and then the good news.

I'm setting out the situation as per the different suppliers I know have had it in stock in the past

Green & Stone

This is how Green & Stone list the chair on their Portable chairs and stools page

Phillips Folding Chair

This product is currently unavailable Lightweight metal frame with strong canvas seat and back. Two heights

Lo Luxe Chair | Weight 1.48kg

Seat height : 40cm

62.30

De Luxe chair | Weight 1.6kg

Seat height : 45cm

63.25

That means they do NOT have a folding chair with back support in stock.  They do however have three stools by Phillips available.  I'd certainly recommend Phillips as a good quality brand if you can get on with only having a stool.

Heaton Cooper

Since I last wrote about this chair Heaton Cooper have introduced a super duper new website for art materials and supplies.  This has a Seat Easels, Chairs and Stools page.  This does not have my Phillips Folding Chair - in its original incarnation - either.

Phillips Bag Chair - available at Heaton Cooper

However what it does have is the Phillips Bag Chair - listed as costing £54.50. The product description indicates the following:

• Tubular aluminium frame, compact and easily portable with a shoulder strap.
• Spacious integral bag with zipped side pocket.
• Seat height 18 inch (46 cms), In green Cordura fabric

Which means it keeps the tubular aluminium frame and the green cordura fabric (which is very strong).  The seat height is slightly higher (presumably to accommodate the bag).

I can't find any other supplier online for this product - so if you're after a very reliable sketching chair with a back, then I suggest you give this product a review. The Heaton Cooper Website also allows you to Send To A Friend | Add to Wish List if you want to bookmark this for future reference.

If you balk at the price, I'd just comment I have taken mine on several long haul international trips involving all sorts of carriers and apart from arriving a day late (to my door) on both American trips, it has had absolutely no mishaps.

and finally......

You too can ask me a question and I'll answer it to the best of my ability - or refer you to a person who can!

Derwent Carry-All (product review)

This is a preliminary review of the NEW Derwent Carry-All which I have yet to take out with me.  This review relates to what it comprises, how it's made and what I can and cannot get it in it.

Derwent Carry-All
(left) front view with shoulder strap attached
(right) opened up showing web pocket for accessories and pencils in a "leaf"; 
space for sketchbook is underneath the pencil leaves
(note: it doesn't come with any art materials - it's just a very big empty pencil case on a strap)

I think the Carry-All has distinct potential but for me it's a "near miss".  I'm awarding it a B+ for a good effort but could do better. 

The reason why?  Two reasons

• I'm confused as to who it is for
• My personal preferences for what I need - I think I would have been tempted to use it an awful lot more - and hence liked it a lot more - if it had just been 25mm taller.  I'll explain why.

I think the dimensions for this carry-all probably started with 'the pencil'. In that context it’s size makes complete sense as it’s well set-up for carrying pencils and I can imagine it will be a very useful bit of kit for those attending classes and workshops.

However if you started from the perspective of who else might want to use it then I think Derwent might well have given some more thought to the size.  It’s not big enough to take an A4 sketchbook or most panoramic sketchbooks so one’s limited to carrying an A5 size sketchbook or a smaller Moleskine sketchbook.

The size aspect is what’s going to limit my use of this holdall.  I was ever so disappointed as I tried every which way to get my A4 sketchbook into it.  That's because if I'm using a smaller sketchbook I then also downsize how many pencils I carry around with me.  I can get a small sketchbook and mini pencil wrap in my handbag.  (see Making a Mark Reviews: Product Review: Derwent Pocket Pencil Wrap 24 May 2010)

Here's the breakdown of what I found.  I'll also report back once I've used it 'in the field'.  I'll also be asking Derwent about the size issue as the Carrry-All I have is nothing like the dimensions on their website.

Product: Derwent Carry-All

Summary Review: It's a well-made rather large pencil holdall on a strap.  I find this product promising but confusing. I’m not clear who the target consumer of the carry-all. Storage emphasis: It’s great for people who want a good way of keeping their pencils and other bits of kit neat and tidy and all in one place at home. Mobile with pencils: It’s great for those who just want to carry a lot of pencils and a bit of extra kit around from A to B without lugging a great big pencil box or tin around. However if that’s all they want to do then I’m puzzled as to why the Derwent pencil wraps - which take 30 pencils each - would not work better? Sketching: HOWEVER It’s undersized for the serious sketcher and oversized for a small sketchbook or anybody with a more minimalist approach.  If this bit were fixed it would still serve the other two pencil uses equally well.

Technical Details: The Derwent Carry-All is described as “a pencil storage solution” with the scope to store “up to 132 pencils and more”. size: the product details tell me it should measure 8" square and 6.5" deep (220mm x 220m x 170mm) which would make it an ‘almost’ cube. HOWEVER the one I’ve got is 220mm wide, 275mm high and 130mm deep - so I’m now wondering if there are different sizes. (Mine is 25mm short of an A4 sketchbook - very frustrating!) material: made of a sturdy grade of fawn canvas (same as that used for the pencil wraps); the trim is dark brown. Feels robust. strap: optional shoulder strap in fawn/dark brown canvas. The strap clips are diagonally opposed and not fixed to the centre of each side as that’s where the zip goes. I’d have liked a more padded shoulder grip hand grip: comfy padded carrying handle/grip with velcro fasteners (if not using strap) pencil storage: product details say it comes with 3 pencil “leaves”; each one is supposed to be capable of holding 44 pencils. Mine came with just 2 leaves and I think I can get 24 pencils in each side (2 per elasticated slot) making 48 pencils per leaf and 96 pencils in total. I guess the scope to hold “up to 132 pencils” is related to the three leaves it’s supposed to come with exterior pocket with velcro tab Interior web pocket - big enough for incidentals (erasers, sharpeners, viewfinder etc) Interior elastic band - looks as if was designed for a very fat sketchbook. Too big to hold my Moleskine secure.

Who should buy this? people who sketch (but work out when you’d use it first) pencil artists needing a neat storage solution for the home pencil artists attending workshops suitable for all makes of coloured pencils - I tried them all!

Who should not buy this? people who like big sketchbooks

Highlights: appears to be robust materials and well made

Think Again? decide first what method of transporting pencils works best for you and your own personal needs

Manufacturer / Distributor: Derwent / Cumberland Pencil Company

Suppliers: supplied to me by Derwent as a test item to review; available from Derwent retailers Online Retailers include: Society of Amateur Artists; Jackson Art

Interestingly it's also big enough to take an iPad - but then if I was sketching with my iPad I wouldn’t need the pencils! :)

Product Review: Pilot G-Tec C4 Microtip 0.4mm Rollerball Pen

Pilot Pens: G-Tec C4 Microtip 0.4mm Rollerball Pen (brown ink)
- my latest "bulk" purchase @£3 per pen

Product:  Pilot Pens: G-Tec C4 Microtip 0.4mm Rollerball Pen (brown ink)

Pilot Product Catalogue description

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: The Pilot-G-Tec-C4 rollerball pen in brown ink is my pen of choice for sketching.   Summary:  It has an incredibly thin line making very fine hatching incredibly easy to do.  The even flow of the ink and the ease of its release also means that I can hold the pen very lightly which helps with my tenosynovitis.  There is absolutely no need to press hard.  It also is very good at NOT "blobbing" hence sketches are not ruined by a sudden release of a blob of ink.  It works exceptionally well on very smooth paper such as that found in Moleskine Sketchbooks. There are two aspects which will not appeal to some sketchers - the ink is not waterproof hence will run if you apply watercolours over the top.  The very thin point means that there is no scope for varying the line - it is constant and very fine

Technical Details: pure gel ink - which does not spread or "blob" probably the finest rollerball pen you can buy very fine 2mm line comes in 10 shades black, blue and red commonly found in shops brown ink sometimes found in shops generally need to order online for other colours

Who should buy this?  People who sketch Anybody needing a very fine pen line Anybody wanting a pen with brown ink anybody wanting to avoid ink "blobs" anybody who needs to hold a pen lightly (the ink releases well and flows without interruption - no need to press hard)

Who should not buy this?   Anybody wanting waterproof ink - because it's not anybody liking a variable line  people who are heavy handed and press hard when using a pen

Highlights: tiny point glides over the page it loves moleskine sketchbooks and all bristol plate and hot press paper excellent for hatching and shading (see drawing at below) works fine under coloured pencil (see my Travels with a Sketchbook) ink runs well / good at avoiding ink blobs ink seems to last a long time very popular pen

Think Again? not recommended for use with watercolours as ink is not waterproof difficult to find in shops in brown ink - need to buy in batches or order online (see suppliers at end)

Manufacturer / Distributor:  Pilot UK Address: The Pilot Pen Co (UK) Ltd, 4 Dukes Meadow, Millboard Road, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire SL8 5XF Telephone: 01628 537100 Enquiry form Web: http://www.pilotpen.co.uk/

Suppliers:  Recommended distributor is Cult Pens - reliable and helpful suppliers which is cheapest for single purchases and bulk buys High street stores I can sometimes find these in Rymans and Paperchase (if they're in stock) - but not always in the brown/sepia colour - hence the big purchase when I do! Online Retailers Paperchase:  Pilot G-Tec C4 0.4mm Microtip Rollerball Pen £3.00 per pen (same price in the stores and online) pilot g-tec C4 brown Cult Pens  Pilot G-Tec C4 0.4mm Microtip Rollerball Pen £2.64 per pen (inc VAT) Pilot G-Tec C4 0.4mm Microtip Rollerball Pen (Pack of 12) - Brown (£29.78 - delivered free) A Cult Pens best-seller - the ultra-fine Pilot G-Tec-C4 rollerball writes a 0.2mm line of pure gel ink colour without spreading. Available in ten ink colours - BlackBlue Red Green Light Blue Brown Purple Pink Orange and Yellow  Black, blue, red and green refills available here. Rymans Online: Pilot G-Tec C4 Rollerball Pen 0.4mm Black Pilot G-Tec C4 Rollerball Pen 0.4mm Blue  brown ink not available online Amazon Pilot G-Tec C4 0.4mm Microtip Rollerball Pen (Pack of 12) - Brown (£42.48 - delivered free) all colours can be ordered online

Having now taken the photo and written the post I can now put my pens away in the "in stock" box!

Do let me know if you have any comments about these pens.

 Spanish Olive and Tulip Wood Apples #1

6" x 10", pen and sepia ink on Saunders Waterford HP

copyright Katherine Tyrrell

CLICK IMAGE TO SEE A LARGER IMAGE DRAWN USING THIS PEN

Links

• Making A Mark - Artists and illustrators drawing in pen and ink
• Pen and Ink - Resources for Artists

Product review: Pentel Waterbrush

My Pentel Aquash Water Brush next to Derwent's new small/fin waterbrush
photo copyright Katherine Tyrrell

Product: Pentel Aquash Water Brush

Manufacturer / Distributor: Pentel / Derwent & various online suppliers - see below

Technical Details: made in Japan by Pentel nylon tipped brush pen with one way valve and barrel to supply water barrel can be filled with plain water OR a dilute solution of any water-soluble art medium (the best being artists' inks, watercolours or gouache) provides a constant supply of water when the brush applied to paper; squeeze the barrel to control the flow Pentel Aquash comes in three sizes - fine (10mm), medium (13mm) and broad (17mm) - see Heaton Cooper website for a very good photo of the different sizes of Aquash waterbrush pen Derwent now supply two sizes - small and medium

Summary: This is a very popular and effective waterbrush. It's made by Pentel but is now also available via Derwent and Derwent retailers. It's repackaged with the Derwent name on the packaging.

Who should buy this?: artists using watercolour or watercolour pencils artists wanting to use dilute solutions of artist's ink

Who should not buy this? artists who don't like brushes artists who use media not amenable to dilution using water

Highlights: neat and effective design - very simple to use easily portable - a way of taking a brush and water out with you without carrying a pot of water

Think Again? Fine for sketching. However, if using watercolour pencils indoors, conventional brushes may well give you more control Nylon brush is springy but does not provide the quality of control of (say) a sable watercolour brush Requires a support which accepts water - and not all sketchbooks do, although most will take a light wash Not always easy to locate these brushes in B&M art materials shops. Unless you've already seen them in your local shop you might find them easier to obtain from an online supplier. However, this situation may well have changed now that Derwent is supplying two brushes to Derwent retailers

Suppliers: Available from: Derwent B&M retailers - if they've chosen to stock them. a variety of online art materials suppliers -see sample list below - with links to the product: Amazon - Pentel Water Brush art & craft 3 pack - fine, medium & broad tip (best price for the pack of three brushes) or Pentel Water Brush art & craft medium tip - single piece Artifolk (also supplies a set of three different sizes) Cult Pens - offers the best price for the individual brushes (as of today's date) Heaton Cooper similar pricing to Artifolk plus offers same set of three Ken Bromley - supplies all three sizes Scribblers - also have a good range of other brush pens made by Pentel (see link to Roz's review below)

Derwent now have a small Waterbrush. When I was sent a sample to try I looked at it and was very puzzled. I had to go and get my existing waterbrush to check it out - you can see the photo above. They were exactly the same! I asked Derwent about this and it turns out that Derwent is now repackaging the very popular and very efficient Aquabrush/waterbrush made by Pentel - which isn't always very easy to find in art materials shops.

Derwent have sold the medium size waterbrush for some time but are now also selling the small/fin waterbrush which is suitable for more detailed work as well. So that's good news!

Basically this is a tool which has a nylon brush on one end (with a cover) and a transparent plastic barrel sitting behind it. It works very like a conventional pen - hence the name brush pen. There's a one-way valve which allows water through to thr brush when there is pressure on the end of the brush. Squeezing the flexible barrel increases the flow - and you can squeeze out drops if you try hard!

You need to give the brush a good 'wash' in warm water before using it for the first time. I'd also be very wary of using it with inks which you shouldn't put in conventional pens - like Indian ink. Essentially you don't want to use it with anything which when dry will stop the valve from working or refuse to budge from the inside of the barrel!

This is a tool which is very useful for those who sketch and those who use watercolour pencils. I was sat on a tube when I dried my waterbrush out for the first time! This is a page of my Talens watercolour pencils on a sheet of Winsor & Newton heavy weight (80lb) sketchbook.

I think I probably need to do a review at some point of all the different brands of watercolour pencils when used with this brush!

Tim Fisher has produced a very helpful video about watercolour pencil techniques in which this brush features which has been posted on YouTube by Jacksonstops (who I think might be Tim - it's not obvious from YouTube). See this post on Making A Mark - Watercolour pencil techniques.

The differences in cost between different suppliers are not very significant. For most people it's going to boil down to whether you prefer to buy your supplies at your local art shop or online and which retailer you usually use!

I can confidently state that if this is a product which you like, you'll find yourself using it a lot and will probably want more than one - especially you want dilute solutions of water-based medium in the barrel - and that's when cost will be of more relevance.

See also:

• Russ Stutler who provides a review of waterbrushes that he uses on his sketchbook site. It's very detailed and it's by somebody who has been using watbrushes for years.
  
• Roz Stendhal of Rozworks who is also a long time user of waterbrushes and provides a very useful review of Pentel Brush Pens: The Pocket Brush and the Color Brush on her blog (but bear in mind she's also talking about two products which are something slightly different)

Art Equipment - Resources for Artists

This site is for visual artists. It provides links to: items of art equipment and tools recommended ways of putting together toolkits and recommendations for equipment for working in the studio or plein air

Product Review: Really Useful Boxes (for art media and crafts)

Product: Really Useful Boxes

Manufacturer / Distributor: Really Useful Products - a European Company that design and develop their own range of Really Useful Boxes.

Technical Details: Range of craft boxes (smaller sizes 0.55 litre Really Useful Box - suitable for pencils 0.35 litre Really Useful Box - suitable for pastels in ground rice/cornmeal Box colour choices are either transparent, solid, white strong , or purple strong. All boxes include a lid unless otherwise stated.

Summary: Robust transparent boxes which provide storage when transporting pastels and pencils.

Who should buy this?: art tutors transporting materials for workshops plein air artists artists who sketch craft artists artists requiring storage for stock of art media

Who should not buy this? artists with adequate storage artists who don't need to transport media easily artists with preferred alternatives for carrying art media

Highlights: robust and sensible sized transparent boxes suitable for storage of dry media (or other art media or craft materials) each box has a lid and and handles (and spare or replacement lids are available) can be stacked or racked

Think Again? Only to be purchased once you've sorted and rationalised what you already hold in stock!

Suppliers: Available from a complete of boxes available online from Really Useful Products in different countries UK | USA | Germany | Ireland | France | Belgium | Netherlands | Sweden | Switzerland List of retailers for the UK including E-commerce (buying online) Direct from a multiple retailer Direct from a multiple wholesaler Special household storage outlets Other stockists Amazon.co.uk (buying online) eBay (buying online) Mail order Factory shop In USA products tailored for the US market are available through the online shop from June 2009 (despatched from warehouse in Illinois)

At Felicity House's workshop yesterday, she showed and shared with us how she kept her pastels. One idea which I particularly liked were her use of different sizes of what I subsequently discovered are "really useful boxes".

They come in ideal size for holding

• sets of pencils (back of the photo) or
  
• pastel pieces in ground rice (front of the photo). It's a simple idea but very useful! No need to take the complete pastel set when using pastels plein air or away from home - take these small sets of pieces of pastels.
  

See the photograph to see what I mean.

Really useful boxes holding pastels and pencils
Felicity House's workshop kit
photo copyright Katherine Tyrrell

What I liked about the boxes were that they were transparent, had handles and could be stacked. I'm convinced and will be getting hold of some.

Their website provides a summary of the complete range of sizes and dimensions

This page provides details of Really useful boxes in different countries - UK | USA | Germany | Ireland | France | Belgium | Netherlands | Sweden | Switzerland

These are comments from Felicity House

The Really Useful Boxes are excellent ... BUT beware .... they are not 'water tight' like the tupperware style plastic box . ie when using for storing pastel pieces in ground rice , it can leak a bit if they are tipped up sideways . They are great for the studio and teaching. As I stack all my teaching boxes inside a large strong opaque R U Box and
transport this pretty well level , I dont have a problem . but they'd certainly leak ground rice if placed haphazardly in a rucksack that went at all angles during an outing , wouldnt be a problem with pencils , charcoal etc or with pastels in your larger grain cornmeal or whole rice.

My small , shallow, circular tubs have SCREW-ON lids , so they seal tight and don't leak at all . they are great to chuck in a rucksack for travelling. They are empty Garnier body creme containers...used to get from Boots , but I havn't seen them for a year or so now, I would get back up replacements if I had found them again. Others I've seen are not that shallow.

Product Review: Blacks Eurohike Compact Chair

Product: Eurohike Compact Chair

Manufacturer / Distributor: Blacks

Technical Details: Product code 096193 Steel Frame, Polyester fabric in black, folds to a compact size, (they say) easy to carry to the camp site, beach or to an outdoor event. (I say) it's a bit heavy for carrying long distances. Comes with a cover.

Summary: A larger more comfortable chair suitable for use when working plein air not far from the vehicle which got you there. Rather large, heavy and awkward to carry any distance and/or on public transport.

Who should buy this?: Artists who like their creature comforts - even if it's just for sitting down and taking a long hard look at what you've done

Who should not buy this? Artists who have trouble carrying awkward shapes or heavy weights.

Highlights: VERY comfortable. Good if you're going to be spending all day working plein air ideal for the middle aged artist - and even more confortable than alternatives - whose hips are no longer slim has a 'hole' in the arm of the chair intended for drinks but does very nicely as a water pot holder for watercolourists - so long as you've got the right sized pot for your water durable looks complicated but erects relatively easily

Think Again? comfort comes with a price - this is not a lightweight option tendency to make you want to lean back and close your eyes any colour you like as long as it's black! getting it in and out of its cover has a certain nuisance value If travelling by air this will need to checked separately as "item" at airports so you need to allow extra time to do this

Suppliers: Available from Blacks £19.99

I wouldn't like you to think that I have an extensive sleection of sketching chairs and stools - but this one joined my collection as a bargain in a sale at Blacks! Plus it seems sensible to do all the chairs and stools in one fell swoop!

My second sketching chair looks like the picture on the left.

The current version - the Eurohike Compact Chair - has a slightly different seat design which you can see on the Blacks website.

The design is essentially the same ie a strong steel frame and a polyester 'aerated' fabric seat and back. It is is amazingly comfortable, especially for those of us who are finding slim hips a dim and distant memory.

It even has a neat socket for drinks - which would work well for those using watercolours.

However the disadvantage of this chair is its size and its weight. When wrapped in its carry bag, it's heavy (3 kg / 6.6lb). That's double the weight of my Phillips chair (3.3 lbs) which completely rules out this chair for overseas trips. Also its size when folded is BIG. Its carry bag is also not the easiest thing to sling over your shoulder while carrying the rest of my plein air gear. In my view, this is the one to stick in the car and take out when using the car for pelin air trips within the UK.

One big bonus for me was it was super cheap in a sale and only cost me £14.99. It now costs £19.99 but that's still a very reasonable price - but maybe watch out for sale bargains?

On my Art Equipment - Resources for Artists site, I've listed:

• other folding chairs and stools for plein air work
  
• bags, backpacks, totes and trollies

If you're thinking of doing more plein air work this summer or maybe even going on a painting trip or holiday you might want to take a peek.

Product Review: Phillips De Luxe Folding Chair

Product: Phillips De Luxe Folding Chair

Manufacturer / Distributor: Phillips / (see end of table)

Technical Details: Tubular aluminium, lightweight (3.3lbs) with Cordura canvas 11 inch (28cm) wide seat and back. Seat height 17 inches (43cm).

Summary: A high quality sketching chair which is very sturdy and very reliable. Not cheap but well worth the investment. Lightweight and easy to carry - but you need a spare hand

Who should buy this?: Artists and people who sketch. Artists with back problems and/or who prefer to sit to sketch/draw/paint

Who should not buy this? People who prefer to stand and/or prefer to travel light and/or don't have a hand free to carry it when working plein air

Highlights: a very good size for tall people like me - two heights available well made with very durable seating material - takes adults who aren't lightweights folds flat easily - once you understand how survives all that various airline services and airports can do to luggage

Think Again? any colour you like as long as it's green! it ALWAYS requires you to check it separately at airporst so you need to sllow extra time to do this

Suppliers: Available from Green and Stone in Chelsea £56.35 Heaton Cooper £54.50

My Phillips Chair on its travels Left to right:

• Me (in 1992) sat on my first Phillips Folding Chair, sketching the temples on Lake Bratan, in the Bedugul area of north central Bali
• My second Phillips Chair in Albuquerque, New Mexico (July 2006)
  
• My second Phillips Chair at Walden Pond, Massachusetts (September 2006)

This product is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I've travelled all over the world in the last 20 years or so with my Phillips De Luxe Folding Chair as you can see from the photos above. In my experience, the chair 'travels' really well - albeit with some caveats (see notes below). I've had two and I only had to get the second as the first went AWOL after it was left behind on a luggage trolley by mistake at the end of a 26 hour flight! I immediately went straight out to buy another....which at the time was somewhat easier than it is now.

The Phillips Folding Chair has a killer combination of being both lightweight (3.3lbs) and very robust. It has a lightweight tubular aluminium frame and and comes in two heights which means that I can sit comfortably despite the fact I'm very tall. It has a very strong green Cordura canvas seat and back and I find the canvas back makes a huge difference to my overall comfort. Indeed the back is the main attraction for those of us who have back problems. The material used is the same as that used in top of the range endurance luggage which explains why it doesn't split and tear when anybody who isn't light as a feather sits on it.

This is very much my preferred seat when I'm working plein air for several hours at a time - and I've done a lot of very large pastels while sat on my Phillips chair. The folding mechanism is also very easy to work once you've got used to the hinge which you can see at the back of the chair.

This chair may be totally brilliant, but experience suggests that anybody interested in getting hold of one also needs to know the following!

• A Phillips De Luxe Folding Chair is not cheap but as with anything which is good quality it will last for years and years and is probably extremely economical in the long run.
  
• It's very difficult to get hold of one. The only places that I know of that now list them are Green and Stone in Chelsea and Heaton Cooper. (The latter is currently listing them as not in stock as their supplier is having difficulty getting hold of them). You can get two seat heights 40.5 cm and 46cm but they tend to be similarly priced. Price depends on where you source it from - it's listed at £56.35 at Green and Stones - but do bear in mind that
  
• This chair (and any chair for that matter) always has to go in the hold of the aircraft (which makes it an "item of luggage"). It also very often has to go to a separate desk to be checked in at airports. It's therefore advisable to allow a little extra time for drop-off and pick-up (or a lot of extra time at busy times of the year).
  
• I've found that a very strong bungee cord is absolutely essential to hold it together while travelling. You need to make it completely taut. Check that the ends can go hook round the tubular aluminium structure.
  
• It's also essential to label the chair very clearly with its own luggage label and destination address when travelling. My latest chair has now done many more miles than I have. I've never had any problems in Asia and Australasia - but in the USA I've found it tends to take a diversion to other destinations and only arrives at my intended destination about 24 hours after I do. I think the tubular metal frame (which is extremely robust) is what causes the problem and raises suspicions amongst airport security staff. It went AWOL on 3 out of 4 flights to and from the USA in 2006!!! However it was always delivered the next day to an address of my choosing.

I cannot recommend this chair highly enough for people who want a very good quality chair which will be robust, reliable and longlasting.

Links:

• Art Equipment - Resources for Artists - Folding Chairs and Stools - for plein air work
• Art shops in London - Green & Stone

Product Review: Blacks Compact Stool (for sketching)

Product: Blacks Compact Stool (£9.99)

Manufacturer / Distributor: Blacks - retail stores and online

Technical Details: Very sturdy steel frame and polyester fabric seat. Tripod base which enables it to fold into a long column. Velcro strap at top to keep folded stool secure. Comes with its own carry bag with handle. Weight 750g. (Product code 096194)

Summary: A robust but light folding stool which is very easy to carry by hand or in a backpack.

Who should buy this?: Artists working plein air - even larger ladies like me!

Who should not buy this? Artists who only work in their studios and/or only want to work standing up

Highlights: very robust (I'm not a lightweight!) very well designed from a practical perspective easy to fold light and easy to carry extremely good value for money

Think Again? You can have it any colour so long as you like black! ;)

Suppliers: Available only from Blacks

I've always resisted using the sorts of stools I see most artists sitting on.

First because they're not easy to carry and second because I'm never too convinced about how strong they really are. As somebody who has put on quite a bit of weight since my instep snapped and I started to develop mobility problems the latter is of some importance. Plus I need to try and be hands free if I can to make sure I stay safe and avoid affecting my balance.

Which is why I'm so very pleased with my new Blacks compact stool which I'm using for sketchercise. I've now given it three outings and I've been very pleased on each occasion.

Normally I take a folding chair with me when I'm sketching but I don't tend to walk any great distance with this as it can be a bit of a hassle if I'm walking any distance although it is possible to sling it over my shoulder to carry.

The big advantage of the Blacks stool is that it is very light and is based on a tripod so that it can be folded up, popped back into its bag (which comes with a carry handle) and can then be put into in my back pack where it sits quite happily.

Also being a tripod it doesn't throw "a wobbly" if put down on uneven earth and seems to be very good at being very stable.

All in all I feel very safe sitting on it and can highly recommend it to all those who experience 'posterior challenge' and are looking to lose some weight!

My one tip is to remember to put the carry case somewhere safe as it's very light when empty. Some very nice Japanese tourists at Wisley brought mine back to me last Sunday after it had blown away!

[Update: see also Roz Stendhal's review here Minnesota State Fair Prep—Part 1: The Heavy Equipment where she identifies an identical stool - except for different colour fabric for seat and cover. Hers is called the The REI folding tri-pod stool]