What Type of Easel Should I Buy?
What type of easel should I buy? Is a question I get asked all the time. Let me help you make the decision by explaining the different types of easels and the pros and cons for each one. I don’t want you to have to ask what type of easel should I buy? Again.
Types of Easels
Table top easels
Floor standing easels
What Materials are Easels Made Out of:
Wood
Plastic
Metal like aluminum
Where to Buy Easels?
Michaels or an art supply store
Amazon
Walmart
You can even build your own
What Type of Easel Should I Buy?
Table Top Easels
A table top easel is something that is easily portable and rests on top of a table. You can fold it up and store it away when it is not in use. I have a wooden one that I love. I would recommend purchasing a wooden one because the quality will make it last longer especially if you are transporting it a lot or folding it up a lot to store.
A con for table top easels would be that you need to use it on a flat surface or a table. This makes painting outdoors with this easel a little more difficult. If you have a small studio you might not have room on a desk or table for an easel or space to store it when it is not in use. Another con is that a table easel can only fit smaller canvases 12”x16” is the largest canvas the average table top easel can hold.
The cost for a good wooden table top easel is around $40.
Floor Standing Easels
A floor standing easel stands on the floor and can be folded up when it is not in use. I have both a wooden one and a lighter aluminum one that is easier to transport if I want to paint outside. The aluminum one is more flimsy so I would not personally put a big heavy canvas on it. The wooden floor standing easel is a lot stronger and more durable.
A floor standing easel is great for your posture. I find that when I am sitting and painting or drawing I naturally hunch over which later gives me a sore neck and shoulders. A floor standing easel also lets you paint on larger canvases even as wide as 4 feet long.
Some cons for a floor standing easel is that they are more expensive than a table top easel. They are a bit more bulky as they take up more room to store and you do need floor space to use them.
The cost is about $100-200.
I hope that answers you question of what type of easel should I buy? If you have any questions you can put them in the comments below!
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