Charlie Lee's Sketch Easel

This is an in-depth look at Charlie Lee's Sketch Easel. In this video I explore the many features of this hand built sketch easel as well as adjustments, tripods and other supporting products. Here is a list of products featured in this video. Please use the affiliate links below to help support more reviews like this one.
Charlie Lee's Sketch Easel - tinyurl.com/ytvrrdap
Manfroto 190XPro Tripod - amzn.to/3fX1E3F
A less expensive, but good tripod - amzn.to/3pqgOS2
Vanguard BBH-200 - amzn.to/3io7Tir
A less expensive, but good ball head - amzn.to/2RyKAaY
Lochby Tool Roll - www.lochby.com/collections/ac...
Schmincke Watercolor Set - amzn.to/3gi64B2
A less expensive Schmincke Watercolor Set - amzn.to/3vY6CTx
Sketch Easel water cup holder - amzn.to/3w6tiAR
All about Crows - • 5 Reasons To Like Crow...
Other gear I use:
Holbein Artist Gouache Set - amzn.to/33PDHWi
Schmincke Gouache Set - amzn.to/3abhfZ0
Caran d'Ache Gouache - amzn.to/2MKrx7e
Richeson - Casein Paint Underpainting Set - amzn.to/35Oqiid
Richeson - Casein Artist Color Theory (Set of 6) - amzn.to/3iPpTzO
Richeson - Artist Casein Colors, Set of 12 - amzn.to/3iMXavr
da Vinci Cosmotop Spin Short Handle Flat 10 - amzn.to/2MFWYzV
da Vinci Casaneo #6 Flat - amzn.to/2XM26Iu
Princeton Velvetouch Size 1/2 - amzn.to/33Zs27F
Escoda Versatil Round, Size 6 - amzn.to/31GVPiq
Escoda Versatil Round, Size 2 - amzn.to/31Et4Tt
Faber-castell Tk - 9400 Clutch Pencil Hb 2mm - amzn.to/2Yd1z1S
Credits:
Video production and content: Marty Owings
Music credits: Yes Darling - Orjan Karlsson
For Sponsorships or Product Reviews:
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[@thefrugalcrafter]

Wonderful set up! Good to see you my friend!

[@owingsart]

Thank you Lindsay. Really appreciate the support as always and happy summertime my friend.

[@erinaceus]

That Sketch Easel is absolutely beautiful!

[@NanaBeth1]

Wow! The craftsmanship makes the easel its' own work of art.

[@zoetkt]

This easel is indeed a work of art in itself. It is so beautifully made, you can see the love that went into making it. Great review as always Marty!

[@owingsart]

It's just wonderful Zoe. Do you do any sketching in the wild?

[@normroe3122]

I bought one of these about a year ago. Amazed and the quality for the price and Charlie’s responsiveness

[@allisonschneider7414]

Very thorough review. Thanks for taking the time to film this. I’ve just placed my order!

[@Finkeldinken]

That looks like amazing materials and craftsmanship! So well thought out, versatile and clearly sturdy and beautiful. Looks like an easel for Life. It's above my pay grade right now, but I still love it and it looks like a great buy. I'll put it on my dream list for the future. Thank you for sharing!

[@owingsart]

That’s what I did. I saved up and it’s worth every penny. ☺️👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@kellywilson2147]

That's such a beautiful sketch easel! I think I'm going to have to get one.

[@carolray3637]

Marty I love this video - especially how you framed the shots where your face is placed in some of them, and other interesting production choices you made. Your knowledge, expertise, enthusiasm, wit/sense of humour all come together in a wonderfully entertaining and informative piece for a great product. So good

[@owingsart]

That's very kind of you Carol and very generous. I enjoyed doing this video and I'm learning as I go from people like Lindsay Weirich, Steve Mitchell and James Gurney. I recently upgraded my camera and like this new Sony cam a LOT. I was much more subdued in this video than I would like to have been, but I need to temper my enthusiasm a bit. Thanks for noticing all the subtle things I'm trying to improve on. Hope you are doing great. All the best - Marty

[@KristaFulbright]

It’s really beautifully made.

[@ajoydas-Watch-It]

Piece of Art that easel, love it. If i ever need one once my Ugo breaks down I might consider this one next.

[@essietangle9931]

What a beauty, the walnut is extra special. Glad he has the magnets in it. Your yard looks great and a nice size. Hope you all are having a great summer.

[@owingsart]

Truly blessed to have a nice yard with a little space. Yes the magnets are a key to making this easel very versatile. Is it hot yet in Texas? We have been in the 90’s here and that’s pretty hot for this time of year in MInnesota.

[@essietangle9931]

@@owingsart we hit 99 yesterday and they have us hot after that. Very strange weather or you could just say we had a spring for a change. We are very stressed over this open border. They will have many deaths in the extreme heat. The world is too upside down for me right now. Take care. Hope you really enjoy that beautiful prize you ordered.

[@lmac_z]

Thank you for the video. What a beautiful sketch easel. May have to save up for one!! 😊

[@shenahicks140]

Good to see a video on this easel! I have been thinking about ordering one.

[@owingsart]

Thanks for watching.

[@jrm2716]

Beautiful sketch easel. I'm sure those crows are just adding their comments. They are always looking for some fun. Tfs.

[@owingsart]

LOL, yes they were.

[@aartadventure]

A beautiful product and extremely well demonstrated. Also great to see your friendly face! Thanks for sharing :)

[@pincom85]

Awesome for your great review!!

[@TheDarivan]

Great great Review, thanks.

[@starshinesoldier]

Wow, it looks so nice and I love that you can stick your watercolor palette on the easel. You’re watercolor palette looks well loved and used. Hahah, I love seeing used palettes, they’re so pretty on their own. Thank you for such a detailed review! :)

[@owingsart]

Hi there my friend - Thanks for noticing my old Schmincke palette - I love that thing and it's been everywhere with me. Like a good pair of worn shoes, it just fits right. Hope you are doing well and coping with the pandemic okay.

[@tbelsom]

I love mine❣️

[@ShahanoorMamun]

nice set up

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Haven't been able to follow you for a while ( bedridden) . Your new look means the world is moving ahead without me. Thank goodness the voice is the same.i wouldn't have recognized you otherwise. This is a nice product but I won't be out and sketching unless I somehow get much better. I hope others find this as attractive as I do. Thank you for a through evaluation.

[@owingsart]

I am sorry to hear your having issues Marjorie. You are always welcome here and I won't leave you behind. I appreciate your note and the support. I am only every a mouse click away. :-) Take care Marjorie and always look at the bright side my friend.

[@MadebyDawn23]

Nice Easel, I dont much sketching on location but that is really nice.

[@chanapac.8248]

just bought it after watching your video :)

[@owingsart]

Let me know what you think after you receive it.

[@Dweck2002]

Great 👍

[@amicamiabella]

Searching for the link to the crows. 😁 This looks like a great set-up for plein air painting, Marty! So lovely to see you surrounded by nature. Great video!

[@owingsart]

Hi Anja - I was thinking of you the other day as we have person who joins us weekly on Zoom for sketching and she lives in Germany. Maybe you could join us sometime Anja? No pressure, we just have fun. How’s your summer going Anja? I think the vaccines will start to be distributed more widely in Germany soon.

[@amicamiabella]

​@@owingsart Hi Marty, thank you for the invitation. I got into sketching portraits and as an absolute beginner I'm making progress, working with a book from the British artist Jake Spicer. Summer is bringing some lighter vibes. About 20 % of the German population got both shots and the pandemic seems to loose its grip. Finally. I'm really craving for 'real' contact... a few days ago I went into a shop for the first time since months. Clothes - no! Art supplies! 😊

[@mussoletart8485]

this is like the old painting trips ♡ enjoyed it a lot Marty. The easel looks great too, good to see it in action.

[@owingsart]

Thank you my friend.

[@syedazim2011]

Hi Charlie, Many thanks; a very effectively demonstrated sketch easel. I am from Bangladesh, and reviewed a lot of easels. I like this one very much. I would be grateful if you could help me get the link to buy the hinge; this is the barrier I have been facing. Your assistance and support will make me move forward. Cheers. Azim

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

Marty in the field !

[@owingsart]

I saw you on Let's Make A Deal - So happy for you my friend. You are a celeb now. Remember us little people when you get to the top. :-)

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

@@owingsart Marty , I am smiling ear to ear. This made my night. It was seriously one of the most amazing days ever.

[@phillblake6829]

Beard is looking good mate

[@owingsart]

Being cooped up means I shaved a LOT less this past year. 🤪🤣🤣

[@cherylynn927]

Would love to see you use Charlies easel. To me I would have difficulty with my rinse water. It appears to be on an angle. It would make more sense to see it in use. I know you use a water brush but I don't. Thanks Marty this is a very interesting product, thank you for sharing. Maybe his web site has people using it.

[@owingsart]

amzn.to/3w6tiAR

[@cherylynn927]

@@owingsart Thanks!

[@nancytipton2640]

👍😊

[@maliaspoerke2818]

Hi Marty, I found you recently by watching Steve. This is a fabulous easel. I might have to check them out. I do have a question about paint if you don't mind. I have been using QAR watercolors. I am wondering if you have an opinion about them. I like the highly pigmented paint. They are great but not to many colors. So I mix my own. Thanks so much for being there for us.

[@owingsart]

Hi Malia - Thanks for the reference back to Steve, he’s a good friend and I’m happy you found me through him. I actually love QOR paints. They are well made and used extensively in restoration, in places like art museums and conservation work. It’s perfectly okay to mix colors and hopefully you’re enjoying them.

[@lynnephelps2370]

Love the beautiful workmanship! Nice review. But how do you handle the water? Or do you only year it with a waterbrush?

[@owingsart]

Both! I have a little water cup I can clip on the side.

[@stevesidare2493]

I love those hinges! I guess the magnets are on the back of the paint set?

[@owingsart]

It's super well made.

[@dianethoroughman9541]

That is a pretty yard. Is it your backyard? The sketch easel is also very nice looking. What I want to know is where do you put your water and rags or paper towels when you use Charlie's Sketch Easel?

[@owingsart]

Hi Diane - Yes that is my backyard and it's a sanctuary from the big world. :-) Use this for your water - amzn.to/3w6tiAR And I just tie my rag to my tripod.

[@MrsTiffanyGrey]

Handsome model, Marty! I would like somewhere to hold water and a larger surface with a vertical option? Thank you for the review!

[@owingsart]

There’s a clip that you can put a small water container on. I’ll add a link when I get a chance.

[@owingsart]

amzn.to/3w6tiAR

[@MrsTiffanyGrey]

@@owingsart :: Thanks for taking the time, Marty!

[@Blissfulthings]

I'm not sure if this has been asked but, where do you put a water container? Very nice video Marty ty Heather

[@owingsart]

Hi Heather - I clip a water bottle to the side. I cut the water bottle down so it's like a cup. Others use a Nalgene cup with a lid.

[@heartchitect1960]

Hey, Marty, Steve M. Stated that it would be helpful for painters to learn how to draw, so I'm asking your opinion on how one should get started. Especially for those who like to learn methodically, Asperger, OCD, Autistic type people. Thank you. 😊

[@owingsart]

Hey that's a great question with many, many answers, but the best answer, in my opinion, is to draw whatever brings you joy and practice that. For very methodical process and step by steps, there are literally hundreds of great videos on YT. I learn a lot from Steve, Lindsay, James Gurney and others on KZbin. There's a guy named Colin Bradley who I find to be an excellent teacher - kzbin.infovideos

[@towardsthelight4919]

Thanks but where do put your water containers please?

[@owingsart]

Clip on watercolor container ring. See the video description.

[@annnoyez]

Beautiful easel and I agree schmincke watercolors are the best. I have Winston and Newton, qor, senelier, I tried Daniel Smith, but they re in my draw and I always takey schmincke pallet... a clip on watercontainer would be nice to, that would be an upgrade... perhaps you can give him the idea...?

[@mbfrezon]

Maybe an "S" hook through one of the brush holes. Or stick a magnet in the bottom of the water dish.

[@owingsart]

@@mbfrezon amzn.to/3w6tiAR

[@owingsart]

amzn.to/3w6tiAR

[@annnoyez]

@@owingsart good idea... you can even put 2 on... 1 for clean water and one for rinsing water... and 1 for a beverage... lol. With lid. Otherwise I am sure you wish your brush in it... hhhhh

[@carolgehman6036]

Looks nice, but what about a place for water cup?

[@owingsart]

Try this - amzn.to/3w6tiAR

[@user-bc2ll5um6d]

I'm Korean Artist. Charlie Lee's products are very famous for their high qualities, so my friends and I enjoy to use his products. Please try, it is very regrettable to do not use them.

[@owingsart]

Thank you. I also like his products.

[@belias8036]

Where can I purchase this ease?

[@owingsart]

Google Charlie Lee.

[@angela14962002]

[@ElizabethKilbride]

looks great but a bit out of my price range right now

[@owingsart]

There are definitely more affordable alternatives.

[@R_H21]

Holy moly. I don’t need a fancy Gurney easel. I’m not a builder but I built one with items from Amazon quite EASILY. Very disappointed you recommended such a ***wasteful*** item. I guess rich people gotta have beautiful items.

[@owingsart]

I wish I was rich, lol. I just save up so I can buy nicer things. That’s great that you built your own easel.

[@carolray3637]

Different strokes… I’m not sure why you say this is wasteful, since he probably used many of the same bits and pieces that you would have used. Not everyone has the time or tools to DIY one of these, and this just looks like a nice, well-made and useful item. Personally I’m glad to hear about such things! 🙂

[@R_H21]

@@carolray3637 Like I said, I’m not a builder. I was able to make one using a hammer and screw driver. Simple. Functional. But people want super expensive stuff that work just the same. If painting is your goal, just paint. I once saw a James Gurney video where I noticed he uses the same cheap brush I use from Michaels. And he mentioned you don’t need fancy brushes to paint. And look at how beautiful his art is, and how successful he is. I appreciate that his channel has few to no product reviews….. because his focus is to JUST PAINT and educate others. I’m getting tired of channels that do more product reviews than making art. If I ever become some famous artist after I die (which I know I never will), I’d want my stuff to be in a museum where people say, “Damn, look what she created with these simple supplies.” That’s the kind of legacy I’d want to leave behind…. not, oh look at all the fancy stuff she had only to make so-so art. They say in basketball…. it’s not the shoes that make you a great basketball player. Just sayin’.

[@owingsart]

@@R_H21 I think I see the misunderstanding here. My channel is mostly an art supply review channel, with some art videos, while Mr. Gurney's channel is mostly an Art channel with occasional supply reviews. Like I said, kudos to you for building your own easel and I can appreciate your point of view. That said, people make videos for many reasons and choose to spend their money on different things for different reasons. For example, I like to save up, buy good stuff and when I can afford it, I like to spend my money with independent builders/artists. Thanks again for weighing in.

[@R_H21]

@@owingsart Thx for letting me know! Have a good day.