Artists easels are a necessary tool for anyone, who wishes to paint directly from life, whether it be outside staring at your local landscape or inside working from a still life or a live model. In all these situations having an easel, where you can place your canvas while working is an essential ingredient for completing a painting. There is something about standing in front of your subject that enhances the powers of observation and concentration.
Instructions
Build an Artist Easel
1. Procure the materials. The easel will have four non-folding legs and a tray for supporting the canvas and a limited amount of art supplies. For the legs the ideal size of wood stock would be 2 X 2 pine or fir. If you have a table saw then you can make these pieces yourself and if you don't then your lumber may have 1 X 3's, which will work. You will need four legs approximately six feet in length, two pieces of plywood ( 10" X 10" is about the right size ) and two pairs of butt hinges (3" X 4"). Also included are some short wood screws for the hinges ( 3/4 inch flathead ) and longer wood screws for the body of the easel ( these can be 1-inch flathead wood ) A few extra pieces of wood (again 1" X 3" will work.)at least 3-feet in length will round out the materials list. Tools needed include a circular saw, table saw, electric drill and sander.
2. Cut and sand the four legs. Ideal size for the legs would be 2 inches X 2 inches, although the standard stock size of 1 X 3 would also work. Cut each leg to the exact length of six feet and sand thoroughly with an orbital sander.
3. Cut two pieces of plywood to a balanced, trapezoid shape with the bottom being ten inches wide and the top being eight inches across. Sand the edges of the plywood after it has been cut. The plywood should be ½ or ¾ inches thick and interior grade is fine.
4. Screw the legs to the plywood. Each piece of plywood should get two legs. The legs should start at the top of the plywood and follow the outside edge. Lay the legs on a table and place the plywood on top of the legs and insert three wood screws per leg going through the plywood first. Round head screws, 1 inch in length, will work fine. Leave the top 3 inches of the legs void of any screws.
5. Attach the two pair of hinges to the two pieces of plywood (at this point the legs will already be attached to the plywood ) Simply place both sets of legs on a workbench with the plywood facing up. Slide the two pieces of plywood together, lay out the hinges and insert the screws through the holes in the hinge and into the plywood. Now you have an adjustable four-legged stand.
6. Build a wooden trough and attach it to the front legs. For the trough you will need three pieces of 1 X 3 wood with one being the exact same length ( 3 to 4 feet will be find ). Attach two pieces of wood together in a L shape using wood screws (flathead 1 1/2 inch are just right ). After you have attached these two boards, then you can attach one more board to the edge of the bottom board in the L shaped pair of boards that you just made. When finished you will have a U shaped trough made from three boards of exactly the same length.
7. Attach the trough to one pair of legs. Attach several screws to each leg by drilling the screws through the back side of the trough and into each leg. You should select a height that is between 3 and 4 feet off the ground. This should also be comfortable for your height, and then make sure the trough is level, because this is where your canvas and art supplies will sit. Now you have a very basic easel that folds and has a shelf, where you can place a few supplies. At this point the choice of front and back is arbitrary.You have two sets of legs with your easel. Wherever you attach the trough, this will be the front.
