I am proud of myself for the home-made guerilla easel, which is light in weight, easy to carry and allows me to paint any sizes under 12x16. Besides the camera tripod, which I used with my camera, the box cost only $16 at A.C. Moore. I had the right size nut welded onto a T-shape iron and screwed to its bottom so that it can stay on the tripod. On its side, it is not a Maxim gun barrel but a brush holder made of a PVC tube. You need a lid support which opens at an angle >90 degree. I am still in a process of improvement. I've ordered a military ALICE backpack frame. This way I can carry on my back everything: the easel, the tripod, a folded 3-leg camping stool, and a folded painting umbrella.