How To Make a James Gurney Style Sketch Easel

Now to make a James Gurney style sketch easel, step by step, using minimal tools.

*UPDATE*

In the video I recommend buying pre-cut boards as the easiest way to get a really nice finish. As a few people in the comments noted, there are cheaper options, such as getting ply chopped for you at your hardware store, or chopping it yourself using a hand saw or a jigsaw, and then sanding the edges. One viewer recommended getting offcuts from a carpenter.

Likewise the hinges and the tripod - the ones I recommend are excellent but there are cheaper ones available. If you're on a really tight budget, please don't be put off, you can still make one!

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Links:

Liz Deakin Palette

Benro Slim Carbon Fibre Tripod

Plywood Boards

Osmo Oil

Hinges

T Nut

Magnets

Water Pots

Araldite Rapid

Soudal Fixall

Bolts
The bolts I used I already had in my toolkit, so I can't supply a link, but they're M5 x 10mm with a 9mm dome head. The best place to look is probably eBay, but note that the screw holes on those hinges is 1cm, so the head width needs to be smaller than that.

James Gurney Blog

James Gurney Youtube

James Gurney Books - Colour & Light, Imaginative Realism (both amazing).

[leewilliamson]

I would hope James Gurney would be given praise for the work he has done, by going to his site and picking up his instructions for a small artists fee.

[chelseawhite]

I can’t believe I’m only liking this video now when I’ve been referencing it over and over in the process of building my own easel. Now that it’s done, I’m so thrilled with it and can’t wait to take it for a spin. Thanks so much for your insights and for making this info accessible

[GGlovescj]

You are the most underrated art YouTuber

[barbaraemerson]

Great video and ideas, thank you. Yes, the James Gurney sketch easel is a slight obsession of mine along with small watercolor palettes :)

[cathygardner]

Thank you for the terrific video. You have explained everything clearly for us artistic types who are not familiar with woodwork and tool...:) This will really help!!!

[dollygrice]

Very nice. I made mine from an old cigar box. Love love love James Gurney.

[jonnyboy]

Well done, I so glad I watched this before making one myself.

[Northernhobo]

The Americans have the best kit, no doubt about it. I bought the gurney plans ages ago but thanks to this tutorial I am now going to be able to make it so thanks for all the very useful info

[luckyhiker]

You are a brilliant demonstrator-speaker. Nice job!

[red]

I am impressed with all the work you have done to achieve a "James Gurney" style sketch easel. If I were younger I would make one for myself, but until then I will have to make do. But I know where to go if I decide to make one. Thanks for sharing. JB (UK).

[yancowles]

Thanks Will, that's really fantastic, I always liked the idea of making one of these but I didn't think I'd be able to source all the bits in the UK.
I'm based on Walthamstow and like to get out for a bit of plein air so at the moment I have a backpack with a stool built into it for a Nathan Fowkes type set up. This works really well but there's obviously an issue with height so a tripod mounted easel would be ideal as a complement.

[cherylshannon]

Thanks for sharing your journey! Loved it!

[ShamelesslyCreative]

I have been thinking of making one of these. Turner palette cleaner should work wonderfully to clean your plastic! a little goes a long way.

[danthompsonm]

You made this very clear and straightforward. Thanks!

[jimwarrong]

You can make a 'torque' or better friction hinge by punching out the pin in any hinge and replacing with a similar diameter bolt with washer and wing nut This works just as well, is much cheaper and gives you a lot more flexability in your design. And if you can't find a t nut an ordinary hexagnal nut can be sunk into the wood and if need be, epoxy resined.

[aiirmedia]

Great work! Very informative. Happy painting

[bromptonmicroadventures]

Thanks for this . Now it is time to try

[tamborelconejo]

good....thanks for the info, 100% useful

[halibut]

The clamshell design w/ torsion hinges could also be constructed using two cradled paint boards, the bottom serving as your palette, the upper as your canvas support; the back could cradle a wet canvas for transport. A tripod would have to be attached to the lower board as well.

[stevietv]

This would work great with pastels as well. Thanks