Easel
The artist’s easel is like a conductor’s podium. The painting is orchestrated from this spot.
The challenge for the watercolorist is finding an easel that is portable and fits the specific needs of the medium. To solve these problems, I visited my local hardware shop and camera store and put together my own easel: a Masonite board attached to a compact camera tripod.
My Easel - a Masonite board attached to a compact camera tripod.
The tripod is made of carbon fiber, so it’s lightweight (just over two pounds) and folds down (14” total length folded) to carry in my hand or stow in a backpack. I do not specify here the model or make of the tripod because I use several, and available models change often. Search online and you’ll find many good options.
The Masonite board measures 9” x 12”. I drilled a hole through the center and sunk a threaded T-nut into the board — the threads on the T-nut match the threads on the camera attachment. I then added a washer between the T-nut and board to displace the tension so the board doesn’t split, and screwed and glued everything together.
Front view of Masonite board with T-nut and washer shown at center of board.
Back view of Masonite board with black camera attachment shown at center. This attachment clamps to the fitting at the top of the tripod.
The result: an easel that can adjust to any height I want, and a board that can tilt at any angle desired.
I then added strips of Velcro to the legs to adhere a small spray bottle and a pouch to hold my brushes (see below).
Velcro strips were added to two of the legs to hold a spray bottle and a pouch for holding the paintbrushes. I got the pouch at a bicycle shop.
I attach my watercolor block to the Masonite board using small metal clips. When I paint on loose sheets, I use art tape to attach the sheet to the board.
Works beautifully.
Small metal clips attached watercolor block to Masonite board.
