It is most convenient to paint with watercolors at home or in the open air on a rotary easel. One that can be easily tilted in different directions. The problem is that conventional easels assume either an upright position or a slight tilt. Special easels for watercolors are very expensive. But the artists figured out how to make an easel for watercolors with their own hands! And it is done simply, from a tripod.

How to make an easel from a photo tripod and still retain the functions of a tripod.

Showing off my easel and revealing its secret in this 5 minute video:

To make an easel you will need:

• Photo tripod. Preferably not very heavy, but at the same time durable. I have DEXP. Folded length - 50 cm.
  It cost about 1000 rubles.

• A square made of hardboard or plywood for a platform. I have a platform size of 17x17 cm.

• Small wooden block for attachment to the site.

• Velcro tape. Sold in the sewing department. You need no more than 20 cm. Enough and 10 cm. I fastened in the form of strips, but this is a lot, 4 squares are enough the size of the width of the tape.
• Fasteners: nails or screws. Glue type "Moment" to stick the tape. Additionally, I punched the tape with staples of a furniture stapler.
• Tablet on which the paper will be attached.

The process of making an easel

Everything is very simple.

We take out the holder for the equipment from the photo tripod.

From a wooden block we cut out a prism with beveled edges according to the size of the mount. We attach the resulting bar to a platform made of hardboard or plywood.

On the platform we glue pieces of Velcro tape, its part with hooks.

On the tablet at the same distance we glue the fleecy part of the Velcro tape. Now the tablet and the platform are easily connected with Velcro and are firmly held.

I made two tablets with this mount: one very light from foam board, the second from plexiglass. You can use one or the other depending on the watercolor technique.

As you can see, making your own very comfortable easel is not so difficult! It weighs less than purchased ones, it is very convenient for both plein air and drawing at home.

For a beginner, as well as for a professional in drawing, one day the question arises of buying an easel. The store may be overpriced or the desired option is out of stock. Solution: purchase materials and make an easel for drawing with your own hands. First you need to determine what requirements the product must meet: appearance, scheme, color. An accurate picture in the head gives a practical final version.

What is an easel?

An easel is a stand for drawing pictures, mostly U-shaped. In the manufacture of wood or metal is used. It is a frame for fixing the canvas, which is placed on three legs or two stands. There are options for desktop, children's easels or tablets that are used for drawing or creating blueprints.

Easel device

The design consists of a central wooden plank, to which a latch, an arrow, and a canvas shelf are attached. The latch adjusts the height and angle of inclination. The arrow and the shelf are a single whole. Attached to B-pillar. Determines the height using slots and a rod with a handle. The elements are connected on a strong base that can withstand several canvases.

Species

• Lyra. The most common type is considered student. It is a stable, compact folding tripod. The main plus is a wide subframe, light weight. There is only floor version, is not used horizontally. The angle of inclination varies in many ways: in some types it is possible to direct the top of the easel towards the artist.
• Clapper easel. Often used by beginners. Work is carried out with thick paper, which is attached to a button or adhesive tape, because. this species does not have top and bottom clamps. The stand has four legs. The height depends on the location of the back rail. Pros - simplicity, strength, the ability to work standing or sitting, regardless of age.
• Tablet. Refers to universal desktop machines. The design is simple (only a frame and legs), it has no clamps, no clamps, no additional shelves. Therefore, for fixing, as in the previous version, a button is used. The angle of inclination depends on the position of the retractable rear leg. You can work on it only with small canvases.
• Transforming easel. Universal option. They are used both for drawing and for drawing up drawings. It has a large number of functions: the canvas can be defined in a vertical position, in a horizontal position, choose any level of inclination. Work comfortably while sitting a simple chair, as well as high. Work is carried out with materials of medium size.
• Studio easels. Option for large professional works. In this case, there are many options at hand: height adjustment, tilt angle selection, a special compartment for brushes and paints. Differs in large dimensions, stability when working even with large canvases, reliable fastening of canvases and the absence of horizontal installation.
• Tripod. An easel with three legs. main feature- great mobility of the rod, various variations of position to horizontal, lightness. Suitable for outdoor work. In the home and studio version, the design is unstable, but the canvas must be securely fastened. When working on a tripod, small or medium blades are used.

Dimensions

In addition to the options listed, machines can be made for children, desktop or folding. The dimensions of the easel for drawing depend on the canvas: small in size, like a landscape sheet and A3 (desktop, tablet). Medium ones work with a canvas up to 1 meter (Lyre). On large ones, you can create works from 1-2 meters or more (Lyra or studio).

How to make an easel with your own hands

When the goal is determined, and in the head there is a clear picture of the easel with your own hands, you can proceed to the main stage - manufacturing. To make an easel at home, you will need a drawing with dimensions and tools:

• self-tapping screws, 2 anchors with a nut;
• saw;
• strap;
• sandpaper;
• drill;
• drill;
• a hammer;
• screwdriver;

In this example, a medium-sized do-it-yourself easel scheme is considered. The size and volume of the material depends on this:

• 5 bars 20 mm (thickness), 40 mm (width) and 250 cm long;
• bar 40 mm (thickness), 40 mm (width) and 250 cm length;
• 30 mm loop.

When all the materials are at hand, you can start assembling the easel with your own hands. For safety, it is better to work with gloves. Suitable disposable materials. Further step-by-step instruction: "making an easel":

1. On the bars 20/40, measure two of 170 cm and two of 140 cm. Saw the marked bars, process with sandpaper, rounding the corners.
2. On bars 170 cm from the top, mark 95, 105, 115, 125, 135, 145 cm, make holes in them with a drill and process with sandpaper. Combine in one design.
3. On a 70 cm bar, mark 1 by 13 cm from two edges. Make holes so that two points (1 and 13 cm) can be connected. Treat with sandpaper.
4. Fix the resulting side to the base. Put the shelf in the right place, secure with anchors and nuts.
5. Attach one end of the strap to the leg, the other to the middle bar (connects two legs) with bolts.
6. Varnish.

The instruction described on how to assemble an easel is universal. In this example, you can create any kind, give a variety of forms, only the details change. An easel with your own hands can be made of the following types:

• The desktop easel is compact in the literal sense: it can be placed directly on the table. In the manufacture of the lower bar - 600 by 20 by 40. A bar is attached to it - 600 by 10 by 40 is also one. Small upper bar - 250 by 20 by 40 1 pc. Rear rack - 150 by 20 by 40 1 pc. In addition, you will need a furniture hinge, 6x50 bolts, washers and nuts.
• Folding is convenient for transportation or storage at home behind a closet. It can be removed to a secluded place without disassembling completely. To make it fold, you need to nail a sliding bar to all materials. It is attached to the canvas support and to the leg. In this case, the machine in a folding state reaches the size of a conventional thickened bar.
• Children's homemade easel is smaller than the classic one. To create a homemade easel of this kind, you need to build on the growth of the child, determine the size of the main bar from it. Attach with self-tapping screws 2 slats of 50 cm (to the front leg), 2 by 40 cm (on the racks on the side), wooden rail round section 60 cm. If there are several children, you can make the design double-sided. Then the drawing of the easel with dimensions will resemble the letter "A".
• The flapper is the easiest kind to make. 4 rails of the same size (base) are fastened with leg rails, laid with a plywood sheet, sanded with sandpaper. You can start drawing.
• The tripod differs from all types in that inner sides(the junction of the front and rear bars) should form an equilateral triangle. The tripod is easy to fold. It is necessary to fasten the card loop and attach it at the top connection so that it does not stagger, is stable.
• The draftsman's easel, also known as a transformer, is made according to the same principle as folding views. The joint of the joints is fastened with loops, which later help to take the form that is needed.

size and price table: height*canvas height*canvas width

Found an easel cheaper? Please let us know! And we will give the price 5% lower.

Standard from reinforced differs in design. Retractable and retractable upper bar and how the legs are connected to each other. On the standard 2, the front legs are held together by a bottom bar, and the back by a Velcro tape. In reinforced ones (they are semi-automatic), the upper bar is unscrewed with a lever, all 3 legs are held by a folding mount.

Folding metal telescopic tripods with three legs packed in a canvas bag. Whiteboard stand with many adjustable elements.

We offer 4 types of telescopic tripods(retractable legs):

1. Tripod easel tripod large (reinforced 2) in a case. Price 1700 rub

2. tripod easel tripod medium (reinforced 1) in a case. Price 1500 rubles.

Less reinforced construction, but the tripod size is the same.

3. tripod easel tripod small (standard) in a case. Price 990 rubles

4. New!

RUSSIAN-MADE tripod easel, board (picture) height up to 130 cm!

Height from the floor to the top bracket up to 200 cm. Differs in high durability. Weight 3.8 kg

Price 2390 rub

The legs extend and increase three times (like a telescope), while being fixed with a latch. With a special handle, the length is unscrewed to fit the size of the board, and fixed with a spring with fixation. Watch the video with the telescopic tripod.

Easel on three legs. Design features

Painting always needs proper organization. It uses unique tools and fixtures. The main element here ismetal easel . It has a number of advantages:

Thanks to him, the artist has the ability to set the canvas in the right position, fix it well, and prevent accidental falling or damage.

The lightness of the design allows you to effortlessly move the easel, put it in the right angle, under the most successful lighting.

The functionality of this device will delight professionals.

Outwardly, it looks like a musical instrument "lyre". Its design includes three main legs, two are placed in the front part and fastened together by a cross member, a special bar with a lock and a stand is mounted on them. To make the design simpler and lighter, more stable, the upper cross member is made slightly shorter than the lower one, thereforemetal easel has a narrowed shape at the top.

Features of the fixture device

This device for artists has many differences.Aluminum tripod easel folding created in an interesting variation. It has a latch at the top, bottom shelf. The canvas can be held by special slider holders that move along the grooves. In this system, the stand itself can also move.

Modern metal easels in the simplest version have three legs, a fixed stand for placing the canvas. As a rule, novice artists acquire such designs, or masters for exhibition purposes and drying paintings.Aluminum tripod easel folding will be a little more complicated in its device. This model is made of durable, lightweight alloy, weighs relatively little. This is not only for professionals, but also for beginners. This solution can be used both for work in the studio and outdoor plein-airs..

Folding easel metal

Introduced folding telescopicmetal easel , which has three legs in its design, can also include a tarpaulin cover in its set, which is very convenient when traveling. The stand for LED-boards with a large number of adjustable parts is also very convenient. Such a product is convenient in that the legs are retractable here and can be three times longer and secured with a special latch for fixation. With the help of a special handle, you can twist the required size to fit the dimensions of the board. You can buy such a product at the lowest price in Moscow on the website www.site.

WHAT EALS ARE THERE?

Classifications of easels can be very different. Many manufacturers classify their easels in their own way. We have developed a simplified classification for use on our website:

The main characteristics of easels:

Technical features of easels:

EASEL "LYRA"

Lyra- an easel on three legs, the front legs of which, connected by several slats, converge at the top and form a working frame of the easel in the form of a trapezoid. The back leg is usually movable. By moving the back leg of the easel, the working angle of the easel is adjusted. This design provides sufficient stability and at the same time lightness of the easel. Foreign manufacturers sometimes call this type of easels - "A-easels".

easel "machine"

Machine- a professional easel on a stable base with parallel posts connected into a frame by several planks. This design ensures excellent stability of the easel. Foreign manufacturers sometimes call this type of easels - "H - easels".

Machines are usually equipped with a retractable or fixed mast and a convenient mechanism for moving the canvas in height. The frame of the easel can deviate in a fairly wide range of angles, usually including negative. Thanks to this, “fresh” oil paintings can be dried directly on the easel by throwing a film or cloth on top to protect them from dust without fear of smearing the paint.

Easels - machines do not have the possibility of horizontal installation of the working surface, which somewhat limits the scope of their application when using "wet" painting techniques - watercolor or gouache.

Canvas on a stretcher or tablet rests on a stand mounted on a mast and on the frame of an easel. Usually, a shelf for accessories, brushes, paints and other small items and accessories is combined with the stand.

Machines differ in convenience of use, stability and considerable dimensions. To work with such an easel, you need to have enough space. Professional artists usually use this type of easel in their studios. A solid, functional and well-thought-out design allows the artist to focus on creativity without spending extra time and effort on fixing and moving the canvas in the process.

EASEL "TRIPOD"

Tripod- portable folding easel tripod type on three legs. It is used for demonstration works and in the open air. Lightweight, portable, limited stability. When folded, it takes up little space and fits into a medium-sized bag. Foreign manufacturers refer this type of easels to "field" easels.

Tripods usually have three height-adjustable telescopic legs and a movable mast fixed on the same axis. The tilt angle of the easel is adjusted by the position of the mast. The working angles of the canvas are any - from a slight negative to the horizontal. Thanks to this, easels - tripods are universal. It is convenient to work on them not only with oils and acrylics, but also with watercolors, gouache and pastels.

Canvas on a stretcher or tablet rests on small stands on the front legs of the easel, or on the bottom stop of the mast. On easels - tripods, they usually work with canvases of small and medium sizes. For larger canvases, some manufacturers make reinforced tripods.

It must be borne in mind that easels - tripods have a low level of stability and are not very convenient for working in stationary conditions. Great importance for stability, the easel has material, precision workmanship and good fittings. Undoubtedly, this applies to any type of easel, but it is tripods that are most sensitive to workmanship.

The best material for making wooden tripods is beech. There are also metal tripods that are comfortable, practical and strong enough.

Due to their “airy” design and small unassembled dimensions, tripod easels are popular for use at exhibitions, especially mobile ones.

EASEL "TRANSFORMER"

Transformer- a universal studio easel with the possibility of both tilt-vertical and horizontal arrangement working surface. The designs of transformers are different, but they are united by the ability to hold the canvas or tablet at the angles necessary to work with various techniques painting. Foreign manufacturers sometimes refer to such easels as "convertible" or "hybrid".

Transformers are convenient for artists working with oil or acrylic, and watercolor, gouache or pastel. As a rule, transformers are used to paint medium-sized paintings.

The design of transformers is quite complicated and it is desirable to use such easels from well-known manufacturers, since the requirements for the quality of workmanship and the materials and accessories used are high. A good transformer will delight the artist with its versatility and ease of use.

"STICK" EALS

- the simplest tripod easel, assembled from planks. Typically, a stick easel consists of a set of eight slats and mounting screws. Stick easels are used as demonstration or when teaching the basics of painting.

Each leg consists of two planks connected by screws. The legs are fixed at the top with a screw or pin. A stand for a canvas or a tablet is also assembled from two strips and is attached at the required height to the front legs of the easel. The canvas is not fixed and stands freely on the stand, leaning against the legs of the easel.

The main advantages of such easels are portability and low price.

EALS "CLAPPER"

- an entry-level easel, which is a frame or tablet, standing at an angle on four legs. The angle of the tablet can be adjusted by moving the back legs of the easel. it is used in art schools and art studios, however, it can also be used for home painting classes.

The design of the easel is simple and does not require the use of particularly high-quality materials. Due to this, easels - crackers are quite cheap. As a rule, crackers are equipped with a plywood tablet, on which it is convenient to fix sheets of paper or cardboard. Some models of crackers have a removable tablet, instead of which you can fix the canvas on a stretcher. In this case, the canvas is not fixed and stands freely on a stand, leaning on the easel frame. The installation height of a stationary tablet is not adjustable, and removable tablets can have several fixed height positions.

The main advantages of this easel are low price and practicality.

FRAME easel

- a table easel, which is a frame supported by a retractable leg. On the easel, you can fix a tablet or canvas on a small or medium-sized stretcher.

It has a simple design and limited functionality. Despite this, the easel performs its functions perfectly and is widely used in teaching painting and by amateur artists.

TABLET EALS

- a desktop tablet with a retractable leg. The angle of the tablet is adjusted by moving the retracted leg. Some models may be equipped with a movable top clamp for an external flatbed or canvas on a stretcher. The tablet is made of solid wood.

A sheet of paper or cardboard is attached to the easel tablet with buttons. With a top clamp and canvas stand, the easel can hold canvas on a stretcher or an external flatbed larger than the easel flatbed.

Refers to a variety of universal desktop easels, easy to use when working with small paintings.

MAST EALS

Most floor easels have a mast or, as it is also called, a bar. Masts are retractable and fixed. On the mast, a support for mounting the canvas and a clamp for fixing the upper part of the canvas are attached.

The retractable mast provides convenient movement of the canvas in height. In this case, the support under the canvas, as a rule, moves along with the mast. If the easel mast is stationary, the canvas can only be moved vertically by moving the stand along the mast. This, as a rule, is not very convenient and takes a long time. The design of the upper canvas clamp - slider on all easels is almost the same. The slider can move along the mast and is fixed with a screw lock.

On high-end easels, the mast can be split or inlaid to increase the canvas height.

NEGATIVE ANGLE OF AN EALS

As a rule, the position of the working part of the easel when working with oil or acrylic is obliquely vertical. The canvas or tablet is tilted at an angle to the vertical "away from the artist" for ease of use. However, this position of the canvas does not allow the "fresh" oil paint applied to the painting to dry without the risk of dust deposition. Some designs of easels allow you to tilt the working part "on the artist." Thus, if a protective film or cloth is thrown over the top of the painting, the painting will be protected from dust without the risk of damaging the "fresh" paint.

HORIZONTAL POSITION OF THE EALS

For some "wet" painting techniques, such as watercolor or gouache, it is important that the light consistency paint does not run down the paper after application. To do this, a piece of paper or cardboard attached to the tablet should be placed horizontally. Easels designed for this type of work allow you to transfer the working part to a horizontal position.

WHAT IS THE MOST CONVENIENT MECHANISM FOR MANUAL CANVAS HEIGHT SHIFT?

Moving the canvas along the height is an important element in the work of the artist, especially when working with paintings of medium and large sizes. If the easel is equipped with an appropriate mechanism, the artist can easily work with any part of the picture at a comfortable height.

Moving the canvas can be manual and electrified.

The most convenient mechanism for manually moving the canvas in height is the rack and pinion mechanism for moving the mast. with ratchet lock. To move the canvas in height, just pull the locking ring of the locking mechanism, move the easel mast, and with it the canvas to the desired height and release the ring. When moving vertically, the angle of the canvas does not change.

Such a technical solution allows the artist to raise and lower the canvas to the desired height in the process of working on the picture with virtually no effort and time.

WHY DO YOU PAY SO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPES OF EALSET HOLDERS?

The easel is quite a complex and well-thought-out technical object, designed to make the work of the artist as easy as possible. When working on a painting, the artist can change the height of its location, the angle of inclination, remove it from the easel and put the canvas back in place. In this case, the picture must be securely fixed. There are clamps and knots for this. different kind. As a rule, they are fixed with various screw clamps.

The most convenient screw clamps to use are large round or curly handles, to which you can not apply significant force when unscrewing or tightening. On easels of the Profi-Premium class are used wooden handles which are comfortable and look nice. Less convenient to work with clamps "lamb" or "flat lamb", especially in nodes requiring strong fixation. The larger the “lamb” size, the more pleasant it is to work with it.

It also matters how many clamps you need to use for a particular operation. The fewer fixators, the more convenient they are, the easier it is for the artist to work.

Of great importance is the material from which the clamps are made. The most pleasant in work and durable is brass fittings. Iron and aluminum retainers are less convenient and can wear out faster.

When choosing an easel, pay attention to the clamps, their type, material of manufacture and size. The convenience of working with an easel is made up of little things.

WHY THE PRICE OF LOOKING SIMILAR EALS CAN DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY?

Easels are a kind of engineering art. A good easel is not noticeable during work. He seems to "guess" the artist's desire and help him. A good easel is nice to look at and even nicer to touch. The quality structure of the wood used, the silkiness of the surface, the roundness of the details, the strong and durable fittings, the stability and the absence of backlash - all this distinguishes high-end easels from their cheaper counterparts.

In an era when everything has already been invented, the designs of easels of the same type do not differ significantly from each other outwardly. When choosing an easel, you need to trust either your own feelings, or, if this is not possible, trust well-known brands. Italian and French easel manufacturers are the flagships in this market. If you have sufficient funds, it is better to give preference to a more expensive product. After all, a good easel will last a long time and will delight you all the time, and momentary savings will constantly remind you of yourself with minor disappointments ...

An easel is a structure made of wood or metal that allows the artist to hold a canvas or stretcher in front of them while working on their artwork.

Artists have been using easels for a long time, many of their designs have been created.

Easels for the artist's workshop are better to choose massive, made of wood or metal, with the ability to adjust the height of the vertical clamp for the stretcher. Such an easel must withstand the load of a large-sized canvas and hold it steadily during operation.

These tripod easels were known a couple of hundred years ago and earlier.

This easel design is quite complex, it is a studio version, made of wood.

And this is a folding mobile metal tripod easel. It is often bought for open-airs, it is also suitable for small-format work (no more than 70 centimeters in height).

On the one hand, a mobile easel should not be heavy so that you can easily move around with it, and on the other hand, it is better if its weight is higher and the legs are sharper so that you can securely fix it in the soil, in order to avoid turning over during gust time.

At the same time, such an easel is good in studios where artists are trained. Any number of such easels is removed quite quickly on a shelf in a closet.

A desktop easel is a must for miniaturists. It is easier to place a picture of a small format right in front of your eyes on it, it is more stable for this format of work. The design of the desktop easel is very simple, you can see it from the photo:

Another version of the tripod easel.

And here- simplest design tripod easel with a removable plywood stretcher plate.

This rather stable design of the easel is intended only for standing work, so the height of the stationary board-stretcher must be adjusted in accordance with the height of the artist.

This easel is foldable - mobility is ensured with the help of loops fastening the back and front to the stretcher. With the help of side rails with openings made at different widths, you can adjust the angle of the subframe.

The only remark: I would make the side rail longer and with large quantity openings to allow for the gentler slope needed in some types of artwork.

Well, this easel design is very popular in Russia and can be found in art schools and institutes.

When you need to work in watercolor on a plane with an inclination of about 30 degrees, the stretcher of this easel was raised and leaned on a substituted chair. The artist worked standing up. A good option to create works, a width of not more than fifty centimeters.

Using this drawing, it is easy to make such an easel with your own hands.