How to make an easel with your own hands: the choice of materials and tools, a collection of drawings, a step by step master class

Those who draw, know that it is uncomfortable to do it on paper or canvas, which simply lies on the table. Since you have to look at the paper or canvas at an angle, the drawing gets distorted.

In this situation, the problem is alleviated by an easel. The drawing surface is fixed on a stand and is already in front of the eyes of the person who is drawing. Accordingly, the drawing is also perceived differently.

Contents:

The purpose of an easel. Materials and tools for work

An easel - a machine that looks like a stand. The word comes from the German "Malbrett", which means "drawing board". Before easels, artists used altar stands.

It was designed for artists to place a future painting in a comfortable position. Also, an easel can be used not only in the process of creating a painting, but also in the process of displaying the finished image.

You can make the stand aesthetic, beautiful, which will only improve the impression of the finished painting.

This important object for artists can be made by yourself. For the craft you will need:

Carpentry board;
Frame;
Plywood;
Wooden bars;
Metal profile;
Polypropylene pipes.

The carpenter's board can be replaced with a tabletop or a cabinet door. The most affordable option for wooden planks are those made of pine. Beech is used to make sturdy, high-quality stands.

You will also need the following things in the process:

Self-tapping screws;
Nails;
Bolts;
Latches;
Brackets for hinged furniture;
Nuts;
Hooks;
Hinges;
Locks;
PVA glue;
Acrylic varnish.

Instead of acrylic varnish, you can take another varnish, as long as it is designed to protect the wood surface. PVA glue can be replaced by any other glue that is designed for wood.

The following tools will need to be used in the assembly process:

A saw;
Jigsaw;
Jigsaw for wood;
Screwdriver;
Drill with drill bits of different sizes;
Hammer;
A sanding machine.

Instead of a screwdriver you can take a screwdriver, instead of a sanding machine just a hand device for sanding (sandpaper).

The main attribute that you need to make is a drawing with all the dimensions, proportions.

An easel for drawing with their own hands: drawings with dimensions

There is a large choice of stands. All models differ in size, appearance, material. Also, each type of machine is used for different purposes. The choice of stand is influenced by the way of drawing, the place of drawing, the size of the paper, the canvas, the age of the one who draws.

It also affects how many degrees the drawing will be tilted. For example, if the drawing involves a lot of water, you should not take easels that cannot be tilted horizontally.

Tripod

Most often other models are created to make the easel more compact, mobile, convenient.

An easel in the form of a stand with three legs - tripod. Advantages: compact, small, lightweight. Not the most stable option, but excellent for beginner artists. Suitable for work outdoors, if the artist is constantly changing the place of work.

The advantages of the tripod is that it is compact, it is simple, easy to fold, unfold.

The disadvantages are that the tripod is unstable, fragile in design, also work with large formats can be inconvenient.

For tripod will need laths, 3 pieces of 2 * 4.5 cm, a length of 2 meters. Also slats 2*3 cm, metal anchors, bolts.

Folding

This type of stand was invented during the Renaissance.

It has a simple design, which looks like the letter "A". It is a universal variant of a floor easel, well suited for painting. Also suitable for painting exhibitions, as it looks elegant.

This easel is not suitable for working with watercolors, other water techniques, because the folding easel is difficult to fix in a horizontal position.

For this type of easel you will also need to take slats, strips, anchors, bolts.

The advantage is that the easel is stable. It can be easily put in a corner of the room. The easel can be modified. And the artist can place canvases of almost any format.

The disadvantages are that folding models are long, so they are difficult to transport.

To assemble a folding one, you also need to take a jigsaw, a hammer with a nail, a sanding machine.

Desktop

A great option for beginners, especially children. In fact, the table stand is a full-fledged stand, only without legs.

It is worth using it only at home, not in the studio. Table easels are originally designed for home use. The main advantage of a table easel is that the artist easily selects the position for drawing.

Also of the good points is that it is lightweight, does not take up much space, inexpensive compared to other types, suitable for everyone. There is also no need to buy additional stands for tools, as they will lie on the table.

But there are disadvantages with these models. The stand starts to move easily on the surface if you press a little harder on the image. It is unstable, there is a risk of easily spoiling the entire work. Not suitable for large format canvases.

In general, tabletop is only good for home use for novice artists.

Stationary

Already by the name you can understand that these easels are similar to large drawing machines. They have a more complex design, large size, weight.

Stands also come in different types, but they are all endowed with a considerable capacity, a large number of fasteners, special adjustments, winches.

The machine can support a lot of weight, well suited for large-scale drawings.

The advantage is that you can draw on the paper / canvas quite a large format. Also special brackets help to keep the image firmly in place. The design of this stand is stable.

The disadvantages are that it is big, does not fold up, takes up a lot of space. The price is not insignificant.

Sketchbook

This model is designed specially for plein air work, for those who work outdoors, in nature. Accordingly it is portable and can be easily carried on your back or shoulder.

When assembled it looks like a suitcase inside which you can put all necessary painting materials and tools.

The advantage of etudnik is that it is portable, allowing you to carry the tools and materials inside it. It can be easily folded and becomes compact. It is good for frequent moves because it does not take much space in car.

The disadvantages are that it is designed to be carried on the shoulders and on the back, but it is heavy for that. The price, more often than not, turns out to be high.

You will need a wood saw, an electric jigsaw, a sanding machine or sandpaper, a screwdriver or screwdriver to make it.

For the sketchbook itself one thick and two thin plywood, piano hinges, fasteners to carry on the back and shoulder, PVA glue (or wood glue), a handle for the suitcase, fixing plates, furniture hinges, a lock or latch, furniture varnish, self-tapping screws and nails.

Although the sketchbook was created for those who constantly change places to paint, it may well be used only at home.

Mast

In terms of design, such stands are the simplest. But they lack the durability that is found in professional designs.

The advantages of mast stands are that they are lightweight and compact. They are easy to set up and have many functions and features.

The disadvantages are that mast models are unstable, not suitable for working with paper or large format canvas. Mast models are not mobile, they are difficult to fold.

This model is not popular, but they are often used for painting and exhibitions. To assemble it, you need to take wooden slats (3 pieces), a saw, hammer, nails, jigsaw. Also brackets, which are used for furniture, and frame, latches, bolts.

In general, it's worth thinking hard about what kind of stand is appropriate before assembling it.

For working with paper, a sketchbook will do. If the artist works with a small canvas of A4 and A3 format, it is worth taking a sketchbook, a table model.

For drawings larger than 1 meter, folding easels and easel easels are also suitable. A child can make a table easel, it can be adjusted, it is suitable for any height.

Professional artists should give preference to stands that fit the way they draw. If you're planning to work outdoors, in nature, it's worth taking a sketchbook. If the place of work is only one, it does not change, the easel type of stand will do well.