2020-11-03

Finally finished the smallest body easel. I had to purchase longer strings in order to tie the slipknots correctly. I purchased twill tape. Here's a photo of the completed body easel. I have to say these feel pretty awkward to use, but with use will probably become more comfortable. As it is, I'm constantly worried about the whole thing tipping over and I keep fighting the harness with the paintbrush as I work. I've only worked with the for a few minutes, though, I confess!

2020-11-03

Update/correction: -- I was not tying the slipknots correctly. Once I fixed this, the slipknots work just fine! My mistake entirely!! Oops!!

Here's the incorrect tie:

And here's the correct tie:

 

2020-10-30

I am making two body easels in different sizes to fit into two different tote bags. I also made a slight modification to the lap desk from last month.

I bought a box of business-card-style magnets to use to attach the supplies. Previously I had been using the little inch-square magnets, and found they weren't secure enough and made items wobbly. I'm very impressed with how securely the business-card-size magnets hold the items! (I'm using the tin boxes art pencils come it--they work great!)

Here’s a picture of the lap desk with the additional magnets (I added the watercolor block so you can see the size):

 

I've had some difficulties making these body-easels. The design described in “part II Variation I” (the one that uses the rainbow-colored shoelaces) didn’t work for me at all. The harness that goes around your neck slipped to one end of the shoelaces and the desk tipped completely vertical—I couldn’t get it to stay put! So...back to the drawing board...

I had better luck with the first design, described in lesson 5. However, I have not been able to keep the slip knots from slipping, so I adjusted the strings (I used woolen shoelaces) to where I wanted them and then secured them with binder-clip-thingies (what are these things called??) I don’t think this will be my final design, but it seems to be working for now. (I've only had time to try it once. It will take some getting used to.)

I also had trouble with the strings underneath the foam-core board. The knots securing the wire rings kept coming untied. The nylon/polyester cord I have on hand does not want to stay tied! So I triple-knotted it and then secured the knots with a small piece of additional clear packing tape.

Here’s a picture of the first, completed body easel. The painting is on a 7" x 9" watercolor block, to give you an idea of the size. I painted it while standing in my studio and looking through the window at a willow tree blowing in the wind outside.

 

Here’s a little tip – I found it awkward trying to tape the cord onto the foam-core board, so I marked the string and the correct spot with pencil at each end and then tacked the ends into place with a piece of regular Scotch tape, just to hold it in place while I applied the clear packing tape. Here's a picture:

 

2020-09-28

I'm finally uploading a work I've completed using this lap desk. I haven't yet tried using it for paint--while this is balanced on my lap, although I have done so with it on a table (doesn't count!)

Anyway, here are a couple of photos showing my sketch done in pencil, while using the lap desk in the living room. I'm still trying to get the hang of how to configure using the magnetic trays with a large sketchbook. At first this arrangement seemed awkward, but it actually was amazingly not so!

Hi Chris,
Using your suggestions, I have made an all-in-one desk to place on my lap so I can sketch while watching tv in the evenings. I balance it on a sofa pillow on my lap. I haven't really tried it out much yet except for a bit of pencil sketching...I'm still a bit nervous about using watercolor paint and water in this way!
You can't really tell from the pictures, but everything is made to work through the magic of those little square stick-on magnets. I made use of several metal pencil cases too.
It's all attached to a 1/2" piece of foam board.
The layout is pretty flexible too! I'm looking forward to giving it a try.
-- Mary