Easels

One of the most important tools every artist must have is an easel (or two or three). Easels provide the perfect workspace for creating your artwork and there is a vast selection of artist’s easels available online for all different types of needs. This directory is designed to help you sort through the available types of easels to find the one that is best for you.

Although there are a few artists that don’t use an easel when painting, the easel is an important tool for those artists who want a comfortable angle to paint at that is adjustable to levels that work for your particular stature and height accommodations. An easel can hold your work tight to avoid slippage that can cause mistakes, and also keep your work up and away from children and pets. Based on your needs, there are many, many easels out there that you might consider purchasing.

For those artists who don’t have a lot of space, a tabletop easel is the perfect solution. A tabletop easel can sit on your coffee table, kitchen table, or anywhere else that you choose. The tabletop easel can be folded up easily and reassembled just as easily, which makes its use in tight quarters convenient and efficient. Additionally, a three leg artist easel is perfect for those who must set their easels on an uneven surface. The legs of a three legged artist easel are fully adjustable, which makes them ideal for painting on any surface.
Easels are typically constructed of either aluminum or other metals, or of wood. Choose an aluminum easel if you plan to carry your easel around with you or move it from place to place often because its lighter and more portable. Metal artist easels are usually compact enough to be broken down into parts that fit into a carrying bag and assembled fairly quickly. A wooden easel is heavier and best for stationary use in the art studio.

One of the most popular artist easels is the French easel. A French easel consists of an easel that has an attached sketch box that is built to hold your supplies and palettes as well as a carrier that allows you to attach your canvases and carry it along with you. French easels are highly portable and very much heralded by all painters. Another popular easel style is the double-sided easel, which allows you to have two completely different works of art going at once – or even two artists working at the same time!

Our comprehensive directory can help you find the best quality tabletop easels, floor easels, studio easels, presentation easels, drawing easels, double sided-easels and more. In addition, we link you to the best supplies for all of your upcoming art supplies, with frequently updated content that allows you to make an informed decision about art supply purchases.

Discerning artists know that the supplies they use to create their masterpieces reflect upon the masterpiece (and artist). Using the best first-rate supplies for all of your pieces not only allows you to create higher-end art work, but also gives you the performance that you are looking for. Our directory recommends Mabef easels as well as other popular brands not only for their durability, but for their reliability and consistency in design.

Best Classic Santa Fe III Easel

The Santa Fe III is a single masted studio easel for the serious artist, excellent for large work. Fully adjustable, it's made from hand-rubbed, oil-finished solid oak, for beauty and longevity. Best easels are designed to be much more than just something to rest a canvas on. Fully guaranteed by the manufacturer, they are an indispensable tool for the artist, with features built in that will serve for a lifetime. The mast of the Santa Fe III is self-contained in its own box construction, and slides upward without the fuss of additional bolts and knobs. A marine-style, single-masted winch raises and lowers canvases up to 250 lbs (91 kg) with ease. A deluxe, 26" wide painting tray offers two 1 quart stainless steel canisters (included), and a bubble level. Non-skid rubber grips secure paintings on the tray. Double-laminated quad base and side frames. This easel offers a variety of settings for sitting or standing, plus angle setting. It folds flat for easy storage. Ships partially assembled. Box dimensions are 77" × 30" × 10" (196 cm × 76 cm × 25 cm). Set of 4 rubber casters (2 regular and 2 lockable), makes it easier to move an easel around within the studio, even while it is in use.

$609.00

Windmill Revolving Easel

This is a truly revolutionary breakthrough in easel design! The Windmill revolving easel incorporates groundbreaking new technology that won first place for Best New Product at the 2007 NAMTA (National Art Materials Trade Association) Show. The Windmill assembly rotates a full 360°, allowing unobstructed access to every part of the canvas surface, while unique brackets hold the stretcher frames from the inside to allow access to the edges. A hydraulic damper also allows the canvas to be tilted horizontally from -2° to 90° to accommodate pastels and watercolors, or for working on fabric and embroidery arts. The Windmill assembly can be detached from the easel, for attachment to other vertical surface, such as walls — or any horizontal surface, such as a worktable. An extra counterweight is recommended with particularly large canvases or when the pivot assembly is attached to another manufacturer’s easel. Beautiful and durable, the Windmill is constructed of satin finished birch laminate. Convenience features include easy roll locking casters, and a base shelf to accommodate toolboxes or canvas storage. Partial assembly is required, with a total assembly time of less than 15 minutes. Effective in easing artist fatigue during lengthy painting sessions, this easel also is ideal for artists who have physical challenges. Each easel includes a Windmill Pivot Assembly and a Universal Bracket Kit. The Studio Easel and Pivot Assembly models also include a removable base. Stand-alone Pivot Assemblies and additional Universal Bracket Kits are sold separately below. The Pivot Assembly attaches, via fasteners or hook-and-loop straps, to horizontal and vertical surfaces such as worktables and walls, as well as many other manufacturers’ larger easels. Windmill Easels and Pivot Assemblies come with two 24" (61 cm) hook-and-loop straps and a selection of additional fasteners. The use of a counterweight may be recommended depending on the size and weight of artwork. 99"H x 23"W x 36"D fully extended. Holds square canvases up to 60" x 60", rectangular canvases from 8" x 10" to 76" x 36", and round and oval canvases. Weighs 86 lb.

$669.00

Best Classic Santa Fe IV Easel

Best's Classic Santa Fe easel is for artists who work big. A Dick Blick exclusive, the Santa Fe IV has a Blick innovation, a ceramic tile tray to help maintain a fresh environment. Tiles can be quickly removed and cleaned. Sturdy H-frame construction and a double mast distinguish this model. Its marine style winch and pulley system can raise and lower a canvas up to 106" tall,and weighing up to 200 lbs. The adjustable top and middle trays have rubber grips to secure the canvas. It's easy to move and lock a canvas into place. Position it for standing or sitting, and use the angle setting to achieve any pitch, up to vertical. Like all of Best's easels, the Santa Fe IV is handcrafted with red oak and features the finest workmanship and hardware. Best's hand-rubbed oil finish matches décor in the living room as well as in the studio. Locking casters are included. Requires truck shipment. Ships partially assembled. Box dimensions are 77" × 30" × 10" (196 cm × 76 cm × 25 cm).

$840.00

Easels

Discovery Unfinished Wood Easel 64 in. high unfinished wood

Aluminum Folding Easel

Martin/Universal Van Dyck French Style Wood Table Easel wooden box easel

Winsor & Newton Aluminum Bristol Easels

Best Classic Santa Fe III Easel