How to Choose an Easel that is right for you.

How to Choose an Easel that is Right for You.

     When selecting art supplies, the choices can be daunting.  The vast array of selection often leaves artists baffled as to which product to choose.  Usually an artist buys several brands of paint, brushes, canvases, etc., in order to determine which product works best for him.  However, when choosing a higher priced product, like an easel, this is often impossible to do because of lack of funds.  Therefore, an artist typically buys a product based on his price range and is often stuck with an item that isn't a good fit for him.  To lesson this effect and to make shopping on this site easier, we have put together a guide for choosing an easel that will work with your style of painting.

A Comment about Aluminum versus Wood

     On this site we sell both wooden and aluminum easels. Choosing the type of material that is right for you is extremely important and we wouldn't want to sell you an aluminum easel when you really need a wooden one.  Therefore, we have taken the time to list the pros and cons of each.

THE PROS ABOUT GOING ALUMINUM

EASIER TO CLEAN

      Aluminum is easier to clean than the traditional wooden easel.  Simply wipe down the service with a damp cloth, or a turpentine soaked cloth for tough oil paint spills.  Just be sure to wash the turpentine off thoroughly with water and soap, this will extend the beauty and usability of the product. 

MORE DURABLE

     The aluminum alloys that we use, are more durable than wood.  With aluminum, you don't have to worry about cracking wood, or turpentine, or oil soaking into the wood and destroying it.   In fact, we are so certain about aluminum's durability that we will repair or replace any parts that prove to be defective or that get damaged while using the product in the correct manner.  If you experience such a problem, just email info@artisteaselsonline.com for instructions on how to get a replacement part. When writing to us, please include your contact information, how you've been using the product, how it got damaged, what part it is and what is damaged on it.

LIGHTWEIGHT

     Aluminum offers greater portability than wooden easels because of it's nominal weight.  Aluminum is durable while being light enough to carry into the field or move around the studio.

EASY ADJUSTABILITY

     Aluminum has a smooth surface and therefore, when adjusting the easel, it moves smoothly and without much effort.  The rough service of wood will often catch while sliding the mechanisms that hold the canvas.

PRICE

     Because of the manufacturing process and the wide availability of aluminum, these easels are generally more affordable than wooden ones.

THE CONS ABOUT GOING ALUMINUM

LESS SUPPORT WHILE PAINTING AGGRESSIVELY

     If you are an aggressive painter, (you like to jab, punch and hit the canvas with a lot of force), then aluminum may not be the way to go.  Because of it's light weight it is easier to knock over when painting with great force.  With the average painter, this is not a problem, but if you know you tend to get wild and forceful while painting, then a heavier wooden easel would be the best bet.

INDUSTRIAL LOOK

    An aluminum easel, will often look industrial.  While some artists love the sleek, industrial look of aluminum, a lot of them don't.  Even beautifully designed aluminum will never give off the natural warmth of wood.

THE PROS ABOUT GOING WOODEN

SUPPORT WHILE PAINTING AGRESSIVELY

     The heavier weight of wood, allows for maximum support while painting aggressively.  If you get a large studio easel in wood, it would be nearly impossible to knock it down while painting aggressively.  This is a good choice for artists who love to put the full force of their body behind their brush strokes.

BEAUTY

     Let's face it, a well designed wooden easel is a thing of beauty.  They are nice to look at and lend warmth to a studio area.  For some artists, where they paint is important for inspiring them and the natural beauty of the wood can do just this.

THE CONS ABOUT GOING WOODEN

HEAVY, LESS PORTABLE

     While the weight of wood can be useful in offering support while painting, it can also be a hindrance when you want to move it.  If you tend to change where you paint each day, then you must keep in mind that you'll have to wrestle with a large, heavy, cumbersome easel.  Make sure to look at the weight of the product before purchasing it and consider if you'll be able to move it quickly and by yourself.  Nothing is more frustrating than having to wait for a friend to help move the easel before you can paint!  Talk about a mood killer.

HARDER TO ADJUST

    Wood is not as smooth as aluminum and therefore, you may have a harder time sliding the canvas support mechanisms.  Also, some wooden easels tend to be larger than their aluminum counterparts because they don't offer telescoping legs for storage or portability.

LESS DURABLE

    Wood degrades faster than aluminum and using harsh products on it, like turpentine and oil paint, tend to speed the process up.  Also, you have to worry about the wood cracking if you tighten the canvas support to much, or if you think you're going to be bumping, or knocking the easel on a regular basis.  If you're a painter that gets frustrated easily and like to kick the first thing you see, then maybe wood is not for you!

PICKING THE STYLE THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU

     By now you should have decided between aluminum and wooden artist easels.  The next step is picking the correct style that will work for how, when, and where you paint.

Table-Top Artist Easels

     Do you enjoy painting sitting down?  Do you tend to paint inside?  Do you want an easel you can paint on and display artwork on?  Do you generally paint in smaller sizes, no larger than 30 inches high?  Are you looking for an easel that children can use easily?  If you answered yes to the above questions, then the table-top models may be for you.  They are highly portable and can easily be moved to any table.  Children enjoy sitting on the floor and painting with the #180 Classic Table Top Easel.  This is the sturdiest of our selection.  If you paint with watercolor, the #160 Deluxe Table Top easel offers a Watercolor position.   To be taken to our selection of Table-Top artist easels, click here.

Field, or Plein Air Artist Easels

     Do you enjoy painting outside?  Do you have very little space for storage?   Do you enjoy painting while standing up and sitting down?  Do you enjoy painting on a table sometimes?  Do you generally paint on small to medium sized canvases, up to 60 inches in height (be sure to check the holding capacity before ordering, as they range from 48"-60")?   If you answered yes to these questions, then the Field easel may be for you.  They have telescoping legs and fold up to between 32"-39" inches in length for easy carrying into the outdoors.  The telescoping legs ensure that you will always have the correct height, whether sitting or standing and they can be used as a table-top model.  For those windy days, they come with leg spikes that can be sunk into the ground to make sure that the wind won't carry off your prized piece of art!  These leg spikes fold up when you want to use it indoors.  Since they stand on three legs, your canvas will always be stable, even if the ground isn't flat.  The center supports can be used to hold palettes and paint boxes.  The patented auto-lock canvas holder allows you to tip the canvas forward.  The canvas supports are adjustable in/out and up/down.  These easels are also great for the artist that doesn't have room for a larger studio model.  If you paint larger, try the #300 Deluxe field easel, which holds canvases up to 60 inches.  To be taken to our field artist easels, please click here.

Watercolor Artist Easels

     Do you paint with watercolors?  Do you enjoy painting both inside and outside?  Do you lack room for storage?  Do you generally paint in smaller sizes, up to 31inches in height?  Do you sometimes like to paint on a table? Then our Watercolor models could be for you.  They include telescoping legs so you can pick the correct height, and they can be used as a table top model.  They have fold down leg spikes for sinking into the ground on windy days, and they have non-slip rubber feet for work indoors.  You are able to position the canvas support in the horizontal position for watercolor painting.  To be taken to our Watercolor Artist Easels, please click here.

Studio Artist Easels

     Do you generally have a specific area where you paint, like a studio or section of a room?  Do you have some room for storage? Do you generally paint indoors?  Do you enjoy painting standing up or sitting on a painting stool?  Do you like extreme stability?  Do you generally paint in larger sizes, up to 86 inches in height (be sure to note the canvas height capability of the easels before purchasing, because they vary)? If you answered yes to the above questions, then the studio easels may be right for you.  If your studio floor is not level, you may want to go with the #500 Classic studio easel, #450 Semi-Pro studio easel, #1400 Traditional studio easel, or #1450 Superior studio easel because these all have three legs so that they can be stable on uneven floor.  If your studio floor is level you may want to go with the #700 Professional studio easel, or the #850B High-Style studio easel.  These easels are extra sturdy since they have four legs and flat bars along the bottom, however, if your floor is uneven, they may tend to rock.  If you like to paint super-sized canvases, you may enjoy the #1450 Superior with an added S12 extension of 12", this would give it the capability of holding 98" high canvases.  To be taken to our Studio Artist Easels, click here.

By now you should have a good idea about which type of artist easel is right for you.  Thank you for stopping by and good luck in your hunt for the perfect easel!