Secrets, Tips & Tricks To Improve & Fix Your Bob Ross Easel!

[@nicolemcmahan7994]

I can't say thank you enough. I actually packed it back in the box and cried. I felt cheated. Bob would not be happy about this quality. However, your video helped me. I was able to fix the issues with your help and I am a bit happier. Thank you!

[@WildCreates]

Same, hence why I made the video to help others. Glad I could help ya out. You can always pay it back by Subing to the channel or hitting that almighty Super Thanks Button 🔥

[@AnewStart-Mark]

Your Tie Dye paintings behind you are just amazing. I have try to do a Tie Dye on my yearly bucket list. Getting your easel dirty is a right of passage. it is spiritual growth. its like how business owners frame there first dollar. I feel on a new easel your first colour add to a canvasses earns a nice mark/spot on the easel for just to look back to.

[@WildCreates]

They are acrylic pour paintings. you can see how they are made here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKeXnZx8ns1qr9U

[@IchibanKojiFan]

I'm beginning to realize now why this easel was so inexpensive at a local consignment store! I have yet to use it, but the fact that the canvas would need to be screwed in had me look up how to use it. Glad I did and I appreciate your videos!

[@WildCreates]

Glad I can help you out. If you want the full review and opinions on it, you can see that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJ3PlHWaiJp8nck

[@DavidSedberry]

I used the shelf as a template and cut a piece of plexiglass to lay over the shelf board. Also, I installed screws facing up and down so they grab the INSIDE of the canvas frame.

[@WildCreates]

Awesome - I love to hear artist's modifications. Thanks for sharing

[@aaronakers3095]

I’ve been toying around with a purchase of the BR easel but I’m thinking it’s not for me with all of the tweaks I’d need to do. I actually made my own when I first started painting and still use it! Thank you for both this video and the review. Without them I feel I may have made a purchase I would not have been happy with. I’m still a BR fan and a Wild Creates fan. Keep these videos going!!😎👍🏼

[@WildCreates]

If you only do BR style paintings, it can be worth it!!! BUT if you do or plan on doing other styles, I would say may be look at large H easel. H- Easels: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnOUdHdvrqt5qK8

[@shmoop5221]

Love this stuff. Thanks for the tips, hope the algorithm takes you hither!

[@WildCreates]

Hopefully to the moon ha ha ha

[@brianb2416]

It's pretty crazy that we came up with the almost same exact hacks to the easel. The rubber tip legs is the only thing I didn't do, but definitely going to now after you shown how well it worked out and the idea obviously.

[@WildCreates]

Great minds think alike buddy. To be honest, I actually have been using the alien tape more then the rubber footies. It levels my easel out and stopes it from sliding around. If you think of any other cool improvements, be sure to share 💪

[@KrazyKi]

Can you pleaseee make a tutorial on how u made that painting from the thumbnail, those colors look amazing

[@WildCreates]

I will add it to the list - Until then I have other painting a lot videos you can check out below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGixnoeBmLqNqtk

[@twoturtlesteps7057]

Great tips for simple improvements on this easel. It’s unfortunate that such an expensive piece still needs so many modifications to work smoothly and comfortably for painters. Ultimately, do you think it’s worth that big price tag? Would you buy it again knowing what you know?

[@WildCreates]

Tough to say - I do think it is a great easel (once you have made the improvements) for certain artist like I say in the review video. I wish they would update the easel for todays artist. If they did that I would gladly pay more for a premium product. I think if you can score this around the $200 mark, it would be worth it for wet on wet Bob Ross enthusiast painters.

[@twoturtlesteps7057]

Thanks. Always love your honest feedback!

[@marcelopinedo8491]

como quisiera tener uno de los pinceles de bob ross, tengo 15 años y me encanta pintar con esa técnica, gracias por tus videos , me ayudan mucho, saludos de Perú.

[@WildCreates]

Me alegro de ayudar. Mis enlaces a continuación deberían vincularlo a los pinceles de Bob Ross. Gracias por ver. Y amo el Perú, he estado allí antes :) (Google Translate)

[@jworlitz]

I am an year late to this, but the shelf you can combine two steps you have listed there. Instead of spray painting it, plasti dip it. Then you have it painted nice and you can pull it off when it is too dirty from use and re spray.

[@WildCreates]

That would be awesome... Plasta-Dip would work great - Just make sure your keep the inner beveled edges thinner or clean. So the Shelf can still slide and fit into place. Hell lets for full have and Epoxy coat it too. Make it super durable 🔥

[@jworlitz]

@@WildCreates Epoxy is a great idea Im probably gonna look into that.

[@WildCreates]

Heck ya buddy.

[@davidhart1873]

You are the greatest Thank you for every thing you do!!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@WildCreates]

I appreciate that!

[@PicksPaints]

If you don't have a clamp. A couple of large metal washers and a couple large rubber washers that span the gap down the center bars. A fairly large threaded bolt and large wing nut should also solve this issue. I hope that idea translates. I'll take credit for giving the idea of using the shelf as a template. There's also something else I just though of. A pair of 1x2s glued to the under side of the shelf down either side of the bucket hole (line it up nice though) will help stabilize the MDF shelf. If the under side of the shelf has a finish on it, sand back the finish before you glue... Clamp it, let it dry and the shelf will be more stable. However, I would just opt for a heavier duty plywood shelf. Jigsaw, sandpaper and drill would be all you'd need to fashion a new shelf.

[@WildCreates]

Thanks for the idea and you deserve all the credit - I tried to find the comment you last left for I could give you credit but couldn't find it ( more and more are commenting now so things can be hard to find ha ha ha) But forgive the non shout out you deserve 💪. Funny you say that - I was thinking of doing the exact same thing. The spare wood I keep laying around wasn't the correct shape and length. So I might venture out and see what I can find, then experiment. If you have any more awesome ideas keep them coming.... I love hearing them.

[@PicksPaints]

@@WildCreates oh I have quite a few ideas.. 😁 I paint a lot of 16x20 canvases. I made a frame out of 1x4 poplar to screw my canvases to. I pop on the H Frame easel and now I can paint edge to edge.

[@WildCreates]

love the creativity you have

[@PicksPaints]

@@WildCreates check your IG messages

[@ethanmanani8541]

Thanks wild, I just got my own bob ross easel so theres additions will help me out a lot

[@WildCreates]

Oh nice - let me know how you like it after you paint on it a few times

[@ethanmanani8541]

@@WildCreates will do bro👊

[@MortuaryManor]

Have you ever used the Ross Napoli table easel? I found it on sale today so im going to give it a go. Have a great day and happy painting! 🎨

[@WildCreates]

If you mean the wood block table top one... then yes. Its OK - It's better than nothing. Its worth it IF its on extreme sale. Otherwise I would get a normal easel.

[@MortuaryManor]

@@WildCreates no its a new metal easel. I wish i could get a normal one but im disabled and can't stand for very long

[@WildCreates]

can you send me a link to the one you are looking at so I can give better input Or perhaps let me know your budget and I can give a suggestion :)

[@MortuaryManor]

@@WildCreates i appreciate the help. The one i got is the one that is on bobs website. I found it for $20 cheaper. If this is something i have fun with then theres no limit for a budget on a good easel. Thanks again for everything! Have a great weekend!

[@MortuaryManor]

It appears that most, if not all, the certified Bob Ross classes use this easel. Should be a decent beginner.

[@josephlysher3325]

I just watched your video ! Great ideas ! The only advice i have is on the screws . I believe they are not meant to be screwed into the canvas but rather screwed to where the points make contact with the canvas and when you put the canvas in you just have to apply a slight pressure donwnward before you tighten the bolt that secures the top and you're good to go . That canvas will not move even when you get rough with it . I actually screw the screws all the way in to the easal and when you set the canvas in place just allowing the points to push slightly into the canvas this then creates a space on the top and bottom of your canvas which makes it way easier to paint the top and bottom edge .

[@WildCreates]

That would be great and make 100% sense, however my threaded screws dont work that way on my easel. The Mount bar holes are slightly bigger than the screws. So nothing is really holding the screws in place except the canvas frame. I could add some threading tap and see if that solves the issue to some degree. OR maybe liquid nail them in place.

[@josephlysher3325]

@@WildCreates Thats a bummer ! Mine screw in tight on my Bob Ross Easal . Thats the way its supposed to be i think. There meant to be used as pins . Good old quality control at it's best. Lol maybe screw in a larger sheet metal screw and set them as deep as you want them .

[@WildCreates]

Perhaps - When I used one at a BR lesson it was the same way. Maybe I will try some fatter/beefier screws and see what happens. Thanks for sharing :)

[@paulwoods9128]

These easels are too expensive for what they are. So I did what Bob Ross did in the beginning. I bought a stepladdder (painters ladder in US I believe) the right size, not expensive but sturdy, then bought a tabletop easel from an auction site and bolted it onto the ladder. Very stable, you can add a wooden shelf if you wanted to. Much cheaper.

[@WildCreates]

I would love to see what you built cause I am sure it fantastic.

[@paulwoods9128]

@@WildCreates I would love to send you pictures but my easel is in England where I live and at the moment I am in Eastern Ukraine, yup there! I am due to be back in England mid March, God willing, and will gladly send them then. Do you have an email address I can send them to? I am 68 years old and not totally au fait with computers. Thanks.

[@WildCreates]

Can't wait to see them and stay safe buddy. You can find the email in the about section of my YT channel

[@_GandalfTheGrey_]

YESSSSSS. Thanks for making this! Been waiting for it!

[@WildCreates]

Hope you enjoyed it! Let me know how it goes for ya.

[@jewellguitars]

Hi Wild, me again. Straight question: I see how you can tilt back and forward, but how the heck do you raise the height of the canvas holder?? Great tips here! I'm going to buy weather strip to hold my canvases tomorrow!! Best wishes. Al. UK.

[@WildCreates]

You can adjust the entire height of the easel at the legs. There are these adjusters you push in and slide the legs up or down for the height you need. Hope that helps.

[@jewellguitars]

Many thanks for pointing that out, Wild! Sure it will work! Sounds/looks like a two man job so I'll wait for my son to come help! But many thanks, Wild. Best wishes.! @@WildCreates

[@WildCreates]

Nah... one person can do it - Just adjust one leg at a time and you are good to go 🔥

[@jewellguitars]

Yep, figured one guy push in the buttons, one guy to lift it. Then I thought to turn on it's side! DuH! Now fine, thanks Wild! @@WildCreates

[@davidlang4442]

That doesn't look like particle board. It' looks like MDF. It's likely the water proof version that is used in outdoor signage. It's a bit expensive. 2x regular MDF. Likely adding a lot of cost to this easel MDF is way stronger than particle board. Unfortunately the maker of this easel used either 1/2 inch or worse 3/8" inch. Saves shipping cost. MDF stands for medium density fiberboard. Get a piece of 3/4" and make a copy of the shelf. Why? Because it adds weight. MDF is heavy. That will hold down the easel much better.

[@WildCreates]

If you have the ability to obtain or make a more sturdy shelf... I would highly reccomend it. Make the sides larger too for more space :)

[@stevetaylor7841]

Hi mate great video but did you check if your floor level .

[@WildCreates]

Tested it on multiple surfaces. The push pin leg lock is just an old design that allows for to much loose travel on the legs.

[@bryzabone]

For the money charged for this bob ross easel.. I would’ve thought it would be way more solid… gonna stick with my French box I think 👍🏻

[@WildCreates]

I know right - I think when bob was still painting and alive this would have been just fine (cause there wasn't much out there like it). However, times have changes and so have artists and products. It need an updated version. Its still a good easel but only for certain artist like I say in the review video. Curious to know which French Box you have? I have one and I hate it ha ha ha ha

[@NYjim71]

Thanks so much for this 😊

[@WildCreates]

Always glad to help you out.

[@vickicade8380]

I would drill holes in the shelf so I could store my brushes upright and very accessible.

[@WildCreates]

While the idea is a good one - Storing you brushes isn't the best. It allows all the residue to fall back towards the ferrule - Which can ruin the bristles and brush. Which is why I built this rack - I think I explain a little more about it in this video ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/bF68oWpth9-hZrc )

[@carlmicheal4420]

Random question Do you know what palette knife does Bob ross use in the 1 season?

[@WildCreates]

I don't BUT if I had to take a guess. I would assume its the Bill Alexander Knife - Since he had a line out before Bob did.

[@carlmicheal4420]

@@WildCreates thanks

[@davidweiss8975]

That's a lot of work to make an easel usable. Have you found an easel out there that is good to go, out of the box?

[@WildCreates]

It really is which is a shame. I am a fan of the SoHo Urban easel - Its a different design but work great. I will link it below for ya (see if it fits your style and needs) SoHo Urban H Easel: geni.us/SoHoUrbanEasel

[@thecreativetake]

Those are great tips!

[@WildCreates]

Glad you like them! Hopefully me other videos help you out too.

[@stephenharris2751]

Hey man excellent tutorial. I wonder could you give me some advice on something? I'm quite new to wet on wet and have various brands of oil paints but some of them are quite liquidy (!) how can i thicken them up a bit? Thanks and keep up the great work

[@WildCreates]

I got you. I did a video a while ago the shows a budget friendly hack to get you firmer paint. Don’t mind the intense beard. 😝 kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5fToIGkhNN3ac0 If you have a few bucks to spare you can buy mediums that make paint firmer. Like impasto and such.

[@stephenharris2751]

@@WildCreates Cheers bud I'll go look at that vid now

[@WildCreates]

Glad to help

[@thebeatenbrush]

Wild, you mention that the screws may add “tiny pinholes into the canvas and that would be easier to patch at a later date.” What would you use to patch those tiny holes?

[@WildCreates]

Depends on the depth. Most of mine are shallow pin holes. For those I will use a little bit of gesso, let it dry, then paint over it (generally with White) If its a deeper hole, I will first do wood glue or sometime ModPodge, then do the rest of the steps.

[@thebeatenbrush]

@@WildCreates thank you!

[@WildCreates]

Glad to help out.

[@thebeatenbrush]

@@WildCreates the whole clamp thing was working out for a while, but it just wasn’t sturdy enough for me. I was finishing up a painting one day and my 18x24 completely slipped out. I was fortunate to grab it just right, but that was to close for comfort. Haha

[@WildCreates]

Oh man - Good reaction time. Love the vigorous brush strokes 💪

[@KKing1976]

Now that you have had a chance to really use this easel. If you could go back, knowing what you know now. Would you spend that amount of money again on the bob Ross easel??

[@WildCreates]

Tough to say! I do like the easel now that I have improved it BUT there are a lot of easels out there I haven't tried ( however they cost more money... in the $500 to $1000 zone). I would still recommend it if you have the cash and you like to stand while painting on wet on wet (plus do the improvements I show). If you don't I might recommend a cheaper easel like the SOHO ( SoHo Urban H Easel: geni.us/SoHoUrbanEasel ) to get you started til you want to upgrade.

[@KKing1976]

@@WildCreates asking because I have seen used H frames in my area (eastern Washington) for 50$ used. I scored the top half of the bob Ross easel on eBay for 50$ Wasn’t sure if I should pull the trigger on the whole package next time they drop in price or go for a sturdy H frame.

[@KKing1976]

@@WildCreates btw, painters tape works great on the easel if you wanna keep it clean. Throw a piece on the top and bottoms rails, paint and peel.

[@WildCreates]

Sounds like you would have more experience knowing whats best for your needs - perhaps, weight the pros and cons of each and see what comes out ahead. Just to let ya know, the bottom half of the BR easel is pretty big and wide. Keep the in mind if you are limited on space.

[@PicksPaints]

@@WildCreates I would pass on the SoHo Urban and go with the Carolina Easel. I was torn when I bought mine. I looked at the Soho at my local Jerry's Artarama store. The Carolina is about the same price and much better quality IMHO.

[@firedlake4165]

Believe It or Not, Bob's Original Ease Was Made Out Of A Converted Step Stool

[@heatguillen]

I read that it was made from a friend's old latter...

[@WildCreates]

Yup that is true :)