If anybody is considering making their own easel just due to the cost of BR one, you can often pick up up a little used one on ebay this time of year, coz people get them bought for Christmas, think they can't paint coz they don't give it a chance, and sell their stuff off still in great condition. That goes for paints and tools too. I like the current BR easel as it breaks down for tabletop use which suits me as I can't stand up for very long. If you want a really cheap way doing it I saw someone jam a canvas between two batons screwed to the wall. I guess a couple of wedges would hold the canvas firmly in place.