DIY watercolor easel

How to make a DIY easel for plein air watercolor painting using easily found materials.

[@sugarcane9425]

This is really cool DIY easel from what I have seen and this year is 2023 . No other competition to me. I shall try it .Thks

[@timwarner5540]

Thanks Doug brilliant video very clear I love plein air cheers Tim

[@xeppepochannel]

Great! The adventure of getting one of those t-nuts begins! Thank you so much for sharing and cheers from Argentina!

[@lindabezet3139]

Doug,wanted to let u know that I got my easel built. Very happy with it. Instead of cutting out the handle rounded I cut it in a square so the square tripod legs fit it. Plus I didn’t cut it very much larger than it already was so it doesn’t drop down on legs very much at all. In fact the shelf is only 9 inches below the easel. 😀 Thanks so much for video.

[@jonesapalooza]

Great! I am so glad you got it to work for you. Thanks for letting me know! Happy painting!

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

Yay!! I was hoping to be able to do something as simple as this with my huge artist Hardboard. You have done exactly what I want to do! Super excited to get my quick release plates in & t-nuts. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@artbreeze]

Thats brilliant idea to make a watercolor easel.Thank you very much for sharing.

[@gorway7]

I love your design Doug, especially the additional shelf. My setup is a bit more basic, but very light and compact. I have a piece of UPVC edging strip 2 1/2" x 3/16" cut to the length of 17", the width of my Gatorfoam panel. I drilled and tapped two holes in opposite corners of a spare tripod mount and have this fixed permanently to the centre of the UPVC batten and when attached to my tripod, I just use two large Bulldog clips to attach the panel. I have a shorter batten I use more often outside for my 1/8 sheet panel - this is also ideal with my sketchbook. I only have a small tripod a Velbon CX mini which only extends to 26" but this is ideal for me as I have to sit these days anyhow. I can usually find a stump, rock or something else to sit on and this thing only weighs about a pound and half, and just 12" long when collapsed - I can get the lot in a small knapsack with room for a warm jacket and a flask of tea.

[@Jack-es9xq]

the simplest things show the greatest genius! I'll use this for a monitor I attach to my Nikon camera. Old eyes need the help a larger monitor gives. This mounting device is perfect!

[@ZOONG12345]

Brilliant, thanks Doug

[@keniamaya-schmidt890]

I thought i found a new favorite artist channel but theres only one video! I'd love to see more videos of your art!

[@moma-b]

Same here. I hope everything is ok with Doug Jones. 🤞🤞🤞🤞

[@brianashmorestudio]

Looks fantastic!! Better than mine. Thanks for the shout out!

[@ramkumarsunuwar8408]

Cheap and comfortable, nice Idea, thanks.

[@maralabas]

Very clever!!!! 👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌

[@cathyndellinger]

It’s great!!

[@ArtistWizardry]

That's great!

[@timluns]

Thanks I'm going to make one!

[@robertocatrone715]

Brilliant. thank you

[@eileenjohnston6835]

Good ideas!

[@kimberlyulibarri176]

Thanks for such an understandable and complete explanation! I have been looking for a simple way to make an easel and shelf and yours is just the thing!

[@birjeeshussain6106]

I like your painting

[@alejandrocuriel5376]

muchas gracias por compartir me haré uno igual

[@pixels2u]

Very nice, TFS ;)

[@susanjohnson4454]

How far up from the bottom do you drill the hole for the tee nut? And, what size drill bit? Thanks very much. I love this idea and ready to make my own!

[@joerudy1176]

nice job

[@amalukviswan3420]

😍👍

[@sugarcane9425]

Not only inexpensive but main point is work well indeed .

[@MKANDRESTINPEACE]

excelent ide sr

[@maralabas]

😃👏👏👏👍👍👍👌👌👌

[@wclevel]

Great video. Looking to try this. What kind of tripod do you have?

[@HMC2133]

I wish you can make these shelve and the board with T nut sell! I managed to buy a nice tripod, but now, I don't know when I get to managed to make these two boards that will fit into the trippod.

[@jamesbutler5995]

Thanks for sharing your idea but what is the reason why you screw the two screws in from the handle of the drawing board thanks again.

[@lindabezet3139]

Doug,love ur easel but I have a problem with building my shelf. I purchased an inexpensive tripod with more square than round legs. Plus I wanted the shelf very close to the easel so I wouldn’t have to bend over. So I only cut out a section of handle not any of the rounded part. So it wouldn’t drop too far down on legs but the shelf droops completely down. Is it cause the tripod legs or squareish or because I need to enlarge the oval area of the board? Does that make any sense whatsoever. I’m trying to make it today and would greatly appreciate an answer asap. Thank u so much.

[@jonesapalooza]

Linda, I was just pondering this same question today. I would like for my shelf to be closer to the easel and not so low on the tripod. It drops down low because of the width of the oval handle cut out on the board. So far I have not come up with a way to get it up higher, but I will keep thinking... : )

[@SanjogSinnarkar]

Hi, your setup looks nice and sturdy. I created one but wobbles a lot because of the easel. What easel are you using? Looks very sturdy. Thank you

[@jonesapalooza]

My tripod is a Manfrotto (190XDB) It is very sturdy. I have had it many years. It was a bit pricey, but I think worth it.

[@SanjogSinnarkar]

Thanks a lot for replying. This really helps😊

[@izzm2327]

Doug, What is the name of the tripod that you use in this video? would you recommend using that after setting up your watercolor easel? A lot of complains about tripods not being sturdy enough and I wanted to get your opinion on the matter.

[@jonesapalooza]

My tripod is a Manfrotto which is made in Italy. It is very sturdy. I like it a lot. However it is not a lightweight tripod and it may be a bit pricey for you. Hope this is helpful.

[@suel4269]

I just came from watching Brian Ashmore’s video. I already have a nice tripod and ball head. Hubby said he would make me an easel. 😬 Are the T nuts a standard size to fit the tripod head?

[@jonesapalooza]

The ones I show in the video will fit most tripods. Get the proper size and threads that are on the bag. Good luck!

[@sfoss9470]

This is probably a dumb question but does the quick release part come on the tripod or do you buy it separately? Thank you for the video. I’m gonna send it to my hubby’s phone and hope he’s feeling crafty😂

[@jonesapalooza]

it came with my tripod.

[@lindabezet3139]

I don’t know how to send a pic with my message on utube. Do u, r maybe I could send it from my email to yours. Not sure if that’s a good idea for privacy purposes. Let me try to explain again,I know it’s confusing, my shelf after it is wrapped around 2 of the 3 legs just droops toward the floor. It’s hanging at a 45 degree angle. Thanks so much for this.

[@lindabezet3139]

But my problem is it doesn’t hold horizontal at all. How do I make it horizontal and not practically vertical which of course makes the shelf useless!

[@jonesapalooza]

I guess I don't quite understand what you have done without seeing a picture of it.

[@joysblues]

But this easel doesn’t adjust to different degrees from horizontal to vertical. I find this very important when plein air watercolor painting.

[@WhiteLotusOm]

You use a tripod with a ball swivel head!