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How to Build a Child's Easel

Drawing is one way a child can express his creativity. A child who expresses himself creatively may feel better about himself and even do better academically and socially.



Making an art easel at home can be a way to provide your child with an outlet for his creativity while showcasing your own artistic talents. Using simple materials, you can build a homemade art easel for around $100. Your child can even help in the process by measuring and assisting you in the easel's assembly.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Drill
  • 2 1-inch by 2-inch boards, 44 inches long
  • 1 1-inch by 2-inch board, 36 inches long
  • 1 1-inch by 2-inch board, 32 inches long
  • 1 1-inch by 2-inch board, 24 inches long
  • 1 1-inch by 6-inch board, 12 inches long
  • 6-inch T-hinge
  • 13 1/4-inch carriage bolts
  • 3 1-inch wood screws
  • 12-inch piece of rope
  • Plastic container
  • Plywood, chalkboard or dry-erase board
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Instructions

  1. Preparation

    • 1

      Measure and lay out all the 1-by-2 pieces of wood.

    • 2

      Measure 2 inches and 24 inches from one end of the 44-inch board and draw a mark at each point with a pencil. Drill holes through the marks with the drill.

    • 3

      Measure and mark 16 inches from one end of the 36-inch board; drill a hole through the mark.

    • 4

      Measure and mark 2 inches and 5 inches from one end of the 32-inch board. Measure and mark 4 inches and 8 inches from the other end of the board. Drill holes through all four marks.

    • 5

      Measure and mark 4, 12 and 20 inches from the end of the 24-inch board. Drill holes through those marks with the drill.

    • 6

      Drill three holes 3/4 inch from the top of the 1-by-6 board, evenly spaced. Drill another hole 3/4 inch from the bottom of the 1-by-6 board, lining it up with the top center hole.

    Assembly

    • 7

      Lay the 1-by-6 piece of wood on the ground. Place the front leg (44-inch) pieces on top of the board on the outer edges, lining up the holes you previously drilled. These pieces will be the base of the easel.

    • 8

      Lay the other front (32-inch) piece on top in the center, making sure to line up the holes you drilled. This piece will hold the easel's paper or board.

    • 9

      Insert the carriage bolts into the drilled holes to begin assembling the easel. Slightly raise the easel pieces to place the nuts and washers on the ends of the bolts and tighten them by hand.

    • 10

      Place the 24-inch board across the front leg pieces, lining up the drilled holes. Insert the remaining carriage bolts and tighten them by hand.

    • 11

      Attach the T-hinge to the 36-inch board prior to adding it to the easel by placing the hinge on the end of the board. Drill holes and attach the hinge with the provided screws.

    • 12

      Add the 36-inch board to the rear of the easel with the T-hinge. Turn the easel upside down and screw the short end of the hinge to the 1-by-6 board using wood screws.

    • 13

      Place the easel right side up and spread the attached rear leg until the easel is sturdy. Tie one end of the rope to the front leg and one end to the rear leg to prevent the easel from collapsing during use.

    • 14

      Attach the plastic container to the base of the easel by drilling a hole into the container and easel and securing the container with a wood screw or carriage bolt. Use the container to store art supplies.

      Place a piece of plywood or a purchased chalkboard or dry-erase board onto the assembled easel. Clip paper to the plywood so your child can begin drawing with the art easel.

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