You can use these boxes on a tabletop, or in some cases on your lap, but a tripod is an important and often overlooked part of your kit. It really does pay to become a bit of a photographer in this respect, do some research, and become familiar with them. As a general rule, most people who are working on location, often travelling, are interested in minimizing weight and bulk. So, smaller box, smaller (and lighter) tripod. Besides your local photography store, places like Amazon, B&H Photo, and Adorama are good places to research online. Talk to fellow painters if possible. A good tripod will serve you well for years and if you get a good balance between strength and weight you won't be cursing it every time you try and shove it in the backpack...