Has your kid found a passion for art? Are you wondering how to make an easy art easel for your mini artist? Creating kid-friendly easels only require a few easy steps:
- Gather your materials, such as PVC piping
- Assemble the easel frame
- Attach a flat surface to the frame for supporting a drawing pad or art paper
- Customize your easel to your desire
We have two DIY art easels that will encourage kids’ creativity. Whether they work on smaller projects sitting at a table or larger masterpieces, we have the solution for you with these two options:
- A table-top easel made with PVC pipe that allows your little ones to get creative.
- A freestanding floor easel that allows for bigger projects.
Following are the materials you’ll need and the instructions for making both types of easels.
Table-Top Easel
Here’s what you’ll need for this project:
Materials
(2) 1/2" PVC 90-degree elbows
(6) 1/2" PVC T-fittings
(2) 1/2" x 1 1/2" PVC pipe
(2) 1/2" x 4" PVC pipe
(5) 1/2" x 9 3/4" PVC pipe
(1) 1 1/2" x 11" Aluminum corner (like the pieces that are used for drywall)
Tools
Miter saw (or PVC pipe cutter)
Tape measure
Tin snips
Tape
Steps to Create the Table-Top Easel
Step 1: Gather your supplies. Mark and cut your PVC pipe into the listed lengths using the miter saw or PVC pipe cutter.
Step 2: Assemble the frames. The face of the easel will use three of the 9 3/4” lengths of pipe for the sides and bottom of the frame. Use two of the T-fittings to attach the bottom pipe to the two sides. The top of this frame will be open, but you can attach the 90-degree elbows to the tops along with the 1 1/2” pieces. The second frame, which will be the stand for the easel, is made using two 9 3/4” pipes for the sides and two 4” pieces for the top and bottom. Use T-fittings for the corners.
Step 3: Join the frames. Now you have two frames, one that is a rectangle (stand) and one that is larger and open at the top (face). To join them, pull the top of the face frame apart (like you would a stethoscope) and put it into the open ends of the T-fittings on the stand frame.
Step 4: Attach the tray. Take the aluminum corner and cut it with the tin snips so that the ends of the corner just reach where the center of the outermost pipes would be. Then, attach it to the easel using tape (you could also use glue or screws, if you want). The position of the tray depends on your personal preference but we recommend not to go any higher than the tops of the T-fittings behind it. Be sure to file down and round all the sharp edges and corners on the tray, so your little one won’t get hurt.
Step 5: Next, add a strap of some sort to keep the easel open, but without letting it do the splits. You can use tape to make the strap, or anything else you have on hand (such as string, chain, rope, a belt, etc.). Just tape or tie the two lower pipes of the frames together at the distance you want.
Step 6: Put on the finishing touches. Now you can attach with tape a piece of cardboard as a backing where the art paper will be placed. You can add a binder clip at the top to hold the paper.
For more detailed photos, visit Instructables.com.
Floor Easel
Here’s what you’ll need for this project:
Materials
(6) 3/4” x 36” PVC pipe
(2) 3/4” x 28” PVC pipe
(4) 3/4” x 12” PVC pipe
(8) 3/4” x 8 1/2" PVC pipe
(10) 3/4” x 2 1/4” PVC pipe
(16) 3/4” PVC T-fitting
(4) 3/4” 90-degree elbows
(4) 3/4” Caps
(2) Dry erase boards 33” x 28”
(4) Shower curtain rings
Tools
Miter saw (or PVC pipe cutter)
Tape measure
Sheet metal screws
Steps to Create the Floor Easel
Step 1: Gather your supplies. Mark and cut your PVC pipe into the listed lengths using the miter saw or PVC pipe cutter.
Step 2: Assemble the front and back sides of the easel. The front and back are the same so follow this step twice.
a. For the sides and legs: Take two 36” long PVC pipes and lay them a few inches apart. Then, place a 90-degree elbow at the top of each pipe so the elbows are pointing towards each other. Attach T-fittings at the bottoms of the pipes so that the middle openings of the fittings point toward each other. Insert two of the 12” long PVC pipes into the openings of the T-fittings that point downward (these will be the legs of the easel). Place two caps on the bottom of your easel legs.
b. For the middle: Insert two 2 1/4” pipes into the middle opening of the T-fittings from the step above to begin to create the bottom of the easel. Attach two more T-fittings to the 2 ¼” length pipe with the middle opening of the fitting pointing upwards. Insert two of the 8 ½” length pipe into the T-fittings so a straight line is created. Attach these two 8 ½” pipes together with a third T-fitting. Into this middle T-fitting, insert a 36” long pipe to create the “backbone” or middle support of the easel. To the top of this pipe, attach a T-fitting so that it looks like an actual “T.”
c. For the top: Into the arms of the T-fitting just placed in the step above, insert two 8 ½” long PVC pipes with “upside down” T-fittings attached to the opposite ends of the 8 1/2” pipe. Finally, connect the top of this frame by inserting two 2 ¼” length pipes into the 90-degree elbows and upside down T-fittings.
d. Repeat Step 2 to create the back of your easel then continue with Step 3.
Step 3: Attach the front to the back. Using two of the 2 1/4” long pieces of pipe, connect the front to the back by the T-fittings. Use the 28” lengths of pipe as side supports for the front and back using the T-fittings on the legs of the easel to create an A-shape on each side.
Step 4: Attach dry erase boards as backings for the easel on the front and back using sheet metal screws. You can also use a dry erase board to create a shelf on the bottom, if desired.
Step 5: Add the shower curtain rings to the top of the easel to hold art paper pads.
For more information, head over to TheOwlTeacher.com.
Customize Your Easel to Your Future Artist’s Desires
You can get your little artist’s creative juices flowing by customizing the easel you create. The great thing about PVC projects is that they can be modified to the size that works best for you. For smaller children you may want to create a smaller version, while for bigger kids, a larger version would be better. Simply adjust the length of your piping to build the ideal size easel. You may also decide to use PVC pipe glue at pipe connections to make your easel sturdier for more rambunctious artists. And maybe you might want your kid’s first project to be decorating the easel itself. You can easily spray paint the easel however you want or embellish it with stickers or other crafty decorations.
For more crafting ideas, check out our tutorials for a kid’s chair, kid-friendly holiday crafts, and, for those of you in warmer climates, water guns.