Painting Easels: Everything you need to know

Art is a unique human language – and in so many ways, art has searched and commissioned any number of forms and media to translate the imagination. From all of these essential tools and equipment of artists, painting easels have established itself as one of the most universally symbolic and vital arts accessories till date.

Indeed, the easel’s importance in the art world undiminished from its crude beginning and what is more surprising is the complexity of its evolved form. Drawing from history and contemporary usage, this article covers different painting easels, advantages and purposes to explain why this basic yet essential piece of equipment is important in every artist’s kit.

The Spring 2009 Newsletter focuses on three easels, exploring where they have been, why they are in Albany, and where they may be going in the future.

Table of Contents

A Historical Perspective on Art Easels

History shows that art easels have been used thousands of years ago. The earliest recorded examples of an easel-like device can be traced back to ancient Egyptians who used wooden frames for accommodation of the papyrus for writing and painting. In the Middle Ages the easels were more elaborate and were widely used by European painters who included religious and commissioned artworks.

In the Renaissance, the art easel assumed its modern development and turned into an essential means of the masters, including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. All these artists considered the easel to be necessary tools for the masterpieces since it helped them make large paintings from the canvas with ease.

By the mid seventeenth century, easels had become standard equipment for painters inside their studios as well as on painting excursions that led to the en plein air movement of painting from life.

Types of Painting Easels

Painting easels come in various shapes and sizes, designed to meet the unique requirements of different artists. Here are the most common types:

1. H-Frame Easel

This one is called ‘H’ type easel, and is strong and robust, as its shape resembles the English letter ‘H’. It is perfectly suitable for studio applications where it can provide support for large and bulky canvases. The height and angle can easily be changed, therefore, the H frame easel is best suited for working artists who require a firm surface to work with.

2. A-Frame Easel (Lyre Easel)

There are two types of easels currently in the market: the A-frame easel, which has the shape of the letter “A” and the H-frame easel. It’s simple to fold and store and particularly suitable for narrow spaces. This easel will suit artists painting on small canvas or artists who prefer a more compact easel.

3. Tabletop Easel

The details of this type of easel should be obvious from its name: tabletop easels are meant to be placed on a table or a desk. They are very compact and suitable for artists who do not have much space in a small studio or prefer to give pieces a small size. These easels are ideal for drawing, watercolor painting, and other fine work of art such as painting and the likes.

4. Giant Easel

In the exhibition of huge paintings, a giant art easel serves as a background for the big paintings for artists who need them. This is because the above easels are specially designed to be sturdy with the potential of holding huge paintings. They are normally applied by muralists and large scale painters.

5. Convertible Easel

Convertible easels are extremely portable and can be easily changed from the standing to the horizontal position. This makes them suitable for normal painting as well as watercolor or fluid painting which needs a flat surface to be painted on.

6. Portable Easel (French Easels)

The standing and folding easels: French easels are favored by artists who paint outdoors or often switch positions. Many of these easels have storage options designed for paints and other painting aids, which makes it very popular among painters who prefer painting outdoors.

Benefits of Using a Painting Easels

The utility of a painting easel goes far beyond its function as a canvas holder. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Improved Posture and Comfort

Working on the flat surface like(instant) painting of table this may cause so much strain on the back, the neck and shoulders. Easels also are adjustable in a way to make the artist work close to eye level hence avoiding some strains which may result from wrong posture due to a long sitting.

2. Enhanced Perspective

An upright position of artwork facilitates control and allows the artist to look at it essentially from the proper angle as would a viewer appreciate the piece. This is beneficial in an assessment of the existing proportions, providing an overview of the auto composition as well as in quick detection of errors.

3. Flexibility and Adjustability

Fundamentally, most easel stands are variable to allow the artist to choose the angle and thus the height of the easel. This adaptability is most important where there are variations in thickness and sheen of paint while brushing, detailing or when using broad strokes.

4. Maximized Workspace

Easel stands floor space horizontally while tables and desks remain in place to contain other materials, documents or for creating other art. It is particularly beneficial in small studios because they cannot afford to have many high-ticket trainers.

Choosing the Right Painting Easel

The choice of easel depends on the specific need, production preference and working style a particular artist has. Here are some factors to consider:

Space: Portable artists will likely want a compact design such as a top or collapsible A-frame, while having a traditional art studio will want a strong H-frame or jumbo easel.
Canvas Size: The size and weighable of the canvas should also meet the easel’s capacity of holding it.
Portability: In plein air painting, one needs a light portable easel that can be compactly folded.
Material: Common materials used in the making of easels include wood, metal and any fusion of the two. Some are wooden in design, usually from beechwood or oak and give a traditional feel and some are made of metal, are light weight, portable but robust.
Budget: Easels available starting from student models and can go up to better quality easels for professionals. Selecting the best type of easel may improve painting and it is a wise investment in the long run.

The Painting Easel in Modern Art Practice

If we are living in the age where digital art is on the rise then tools such as an easel still maintain their stance. Today there are still numerous artists who continue to use easels because they offer haptic and active values that are not provided by screen interfaces.

Moreover, easels have a significant role in teaching with arts applied in learning various fundamental aspects by students.

Apart from their practical usage, easels themselves may be regarded as representations of creation. With a piece of raw material on a frame, artists wouldn’t lack options in painting and sculpting. Regardless of whether in a dynamic studio or a quiet meadow, building a chair, or in a classroom, an easel creates a feeling of invention and importance.

Conclusion

The painting easels is much more than an adjunct; it is the connection between an artist’s mind and physical reality. These depictions reflect functionality, adaptability and even the philosophical value of the symbol.

From great ancient Egyptian masters to studios of the present age the art easel remained a reliable background for countless masterpieces and is thus truly the timeless element of art. When artists start experimenting more and more, the painting easels will for sure stay with them and enhance their creativity and the process of creation.