Artist Easels

An artist standing before an easel: the image is idyllic, even if the labor and anguish involved are often not. As an aspiring artist, you may not be sure yet what type of art easel you need. If so, the guidelines assembled below can help. Matching Your Art Easel to Your Style Experienced artists have an advantage in knowing the type of physical activity required to produce their works. But neophyte artists can still select the right art easels if they know how much space they have to work in, the scale of their canvases, and the painting medium they'll be using.

Beginning artists who lack room or intend to work on small-scale projects should start with tabletop easels. Tabletop easels can be folded up, and they come in various forms, from tripod easels to easels with storage boxes.

Body posture is important to consider when shopping for artist easels. Large-scale canvases are going to be more compatible with floor-standing easels. Studio easels provide stability but are not made for transporting.

Look for art easels that provide access to an entire canvas without sacrificing safety. Large lip supports can get in the way, and tilting a canvas to accommodate them will attract dust, particularly when using oils. If you're working with watercolors, look for an art easel that can hold your canvas horizontally.

If you intend to paint landscapes or just like people watching, a portable easel or French easel would suit you well.

Art Easel Materials

Metal and wood will be your best easel material options. Large art easels are often manufactured from oak wood, which makes them heavy but also sturdy. Metal painting easels are lighter and well-suited to average and smaller canvases.

One other advantage of metal easels is how easily they can be broken down and transported. Metal art easels are available that feature telescoping legs, so they're small when necessary, but always rise to the occasion when you feel a spontaneous burst of inspiration.