Artists Back to Basics - Issue 6 Volume 3 2016

Easles

Contributed

In the market for a new easel, but confused about what is best for you?

Never fear – here’s a comprehensive report on what’s currently available,

including the newest ideas and products, and the perennial favourites.

Easel selection

Choosing the right easel is an integral

part of the painting process. The

importance of having the correct

easel is often overlooked but having

a firm and steady easel can be as

important to the finished painting as

choosing the correct paint, canvas or

brush. One of the first considerations

when selecting an easel is the type of

material it is constructed from. Timber

is primarily used for the majority of

easels although some easels are

constructed from aluminium. Whatever

material is used, the object is to create

an easel that doesn’t move, shake or

vibrate when in use. North American

Red Oak, or any Oak for that matter

is the finest material for constructing

easels. It is an extremely hard wood,

so glue and screws do not come loose

once applied. The colour, grain and

overall appearance of Oak combined

with its strength and hardness make it

the ideal timber for easel manufacture.

The majority of easels on the

market today are constructed from

Beechwood. Beech is a softer wood

than Oak so screws have a tendency

to loosen over time and cause

the easel to shake and vibrate.

The new ‘Lyptus’ wood, a naturally

occurring hybrid of Eucalyptus Grandis

and Eucalyptus Urophylla (both

Australian natives) is comparable

to Oak in strength and hardness.

Lyptus wood has a straight grain and

fine, even texture. As it is plantation

grown, the trees are hand-pruned

throughout their growth years leading

to very uniform wood with few knots.

Aluminium is generally used for field

easels. It is lightweight, strong and

resistant to the elements. There are

many types of easels for different

applications – painting, pastel work,

indoor or outdoor use. Easels are

designed in a variety of styles to

accommodate many different ways

artists work. There are five styles of

easels, The Table Easel, the Tripod or

Field easel, the Box or French Style

Easel, the Lyre (A-Frame) Easel and

the Studio (H-Frame) Easel. There

are a number of variations to each of

these that offer different tilt settings,

storage options and size capabilities.

S&S stocks a wide variety of easels

for everyone from the beginner,

student and hobbyist right through

to the professional artist.

Table Easel - As the name

suggests, is a small easel that fits

onto a table top. Table top easels

are generally scaled-down versions

of a tripod, lyre, studio or box easel

although there are some such

as the Daler-Rowney Artsphere

which have been specifically

designed for table use. These are

ideal where space is an issue.

Lyre or A-Frame Easel - Triangular

shaped easels with two front

legs and single rear leg that form

the shape of an “A” when in use.

The single rear leg is collapsible

on most types of Lyre easels

allowing for easy storage and for

use in corners and tight spaces.

Generally, A-frame easels do not

tilt forward of the painting surface.

Lyptus Aztec

Richeson

Lancaster

JB10 and bag

BEST

Lite Best

Richeson

Lyptus

Buyer’s Guide