Chicago maker and designer Bill Groot has devised a compact tool for creative work wherever you happen to be. Handcrafted in small batches from birch plywood and select solid maple, birch, cherry, and other native hardwoods, the Lap Easel is a portable, adjustable support that settles comfortably on your lap or a tabletop. Strong yet lightweight, it’s built to move from room to room—or out the door—without sacrificing stability.
Design that supports how you work
The Lap Easel’s adjustable construction provides five angled height settings intended to reduce hand and neck fatigue. Whether you’re propping up paper, a sketchbook, or a screen, the incline can be dialed to suit the task. A discreet body compartment offers space to tuck away basic supplies, keeping essentials within reach and surfaces uncluttered.
Material choices are central to its feel and durability. The mix of birch plywood with solid maple, birch, cherry, and other native hardwoods yields a sturdy frame with a refined, tactile finish. Each unit’s small-batch build underscores the maker’s attention to detail, from the joinery to the smoothness of the working surface.
From sketching to cookbooks
Groot’s design flexes across daily routines and studio habits alike. The Lap Easel serves as a stable perch for:
- Drawing and painting
- Reading books and magazines
- Writing
- Relaxing with a screen
- Holding a cookbook
Because it sits comfortably on a lap or tabletop, the same piece can anchor a morning of sketching, an afternoon of reading, and an evening of recipe testing. For those looking to pick one up, it’s available in the Colossal Shop.
All images by Craig Shimala.
This article focuses on the Lap Easel by Bill Groot and the features and uses described above.
