When inspiration takes hold of you, then, of course, you can draw on anything, even on your knee, even on the table. But practice shows that the muse often comes to those artists who organize their workplace correctly.
Easels for drawing: how to choose your own and not make a mistake
An easel is a device for fixing a tablet, canvas, cardboard or other basis for creativity. It creates an ergonomic space, helps to master the subtleties of drawing techniques faster, preserves the health of the artist and is great for demonstrating finished paintings. It directly depends on how correctly you choose an easel, whether you will be comfortable drawing and securely fixing the work.
When choosing an easel, it is important to consider:
on what basis to write;
what formats are to be worked with;
who needs an easel for;
where you plan to write – on the street or at home.
If you are going to work on paper, you will definitely need a tablet (a special board) to attach the sheets. The only easel that has a built–in tablet is a firecracker. For other models, you need to buy it separately.
For small canvases (A4, A3 format), firecrackers, desktop and portable models, sketchbooks are suitable. For medium-sized works up to 1 m in size, A-shaped easels (also called lyres) are optimal. For large works with dimensions from 1-2 m, we recommend choosing a lyre or easel easels. If you can’t decide, then it’s best to take a lira, this is a universal option.
A novice artist should not spend money on an expensive “fancy” easel. An ordinary lyre or an easel-cracker made of untreated pine also serves perfectly. For example, on a lyre you can easily fix a canvas up to 1-1.5 m in size. Tripods and portable easels, firecrackers are also suitable for beginners.
For a child, it is best to purchase an easel-cracker, the height of which corresponds to the height of a young artist, so that he can work standing and sitting. This model is available in almost all art schools. It takes up little space, is convenient for storage and drawing in different techniques. If the child prefers small formats, then a watercolor table or a desktop easel will also be suitable for the house.
If you like to draw in an album and do not plan to switch to a larger format, then pay attention to desktop models and sketchbooks. They are also suitable for works with a size of 50×70 cm.
Professional artists with already established tastes and working habits make a variety of requirements for easels, and usually in their workshop you can see several models: from hiking sketchbooks to large looms.
For fans of plein air and drawing on the street, there are special lightweight portable easels and tablets that are very convenient to carry. If you need to carry paints with you, it is better to get a sketchbook with a box for tools and materials.
In the case when an easel is needed for work at home or in the studio, any model corresponding to the area of the room that satisfies the creative needs of the artist will do.
Types of easels
Easel-firecracker
This is the simplest and most popular model designed for art schools and colleges. It got its name because of the characteristic sound with which it develops. The firecracker has a built-in plywood tablet, which is necessary for fixing the sheet. Due to the simple design when folded, the easel takes up very little space, it can be stored behind the door or under the bed. Many firecrackers have a special shelf for tools, in this case you can put a small stretcher on it. The uniform format for all models is A1.
Pros:
low price;
you can work sitting or standing;
suitable for different drawing techniques.
Cons:
there are no special fasteners, so the paper is attached with buttons or masking tape. For student work, this is an unprincipled moment, but it is unacceptable for professional ones;
it is not highly stable, sometimes the legs can move at the most inopportune moment.
The easel is available with legs of different heights, so you can easily choose the right size for a child, teenager or adult.
Lyre, or A-shaped easel
The device got its name because of the similarity of the shape with the ancient Greek instrument of the same name. It has a tripod design and two runners that allow you to fix the work of different formats. For paper, you need to buy a tablet, it is also fixed with sliders. The slope and height of the web position can be adjusted.
Pros:
sustainability;
suitable for home and studio;
triangular lyre can be placed in a corner, it will take up little space;
it is convenient to work with canvases on stretchers of different sizes and orientations.
Cons:
it is difficult to fold, because the lira is held on bolts;
inconvenient to transport.
Lyres are considered universal easels, so they are very popular with both beginners and experienced artists.
Mast easel
This model is a cross between a firecracker and a lyre. It allows you to change the height and angle of the canvas, and at the same time is quite compact. Due to its elegant appearance, mast easels are most often used not for work, but for showing paintings at exhibitions.
Pros:
light and elegant;
the ability to customize for different formats.
Cons:
poor stability;
inconvenient to fold and store;
they are not suitable for large-format works.
Mast easels are not as popular as a firecracker or a lyre, but they are significantly superior in terms of elegance of form.
Easel easel
These are large and very complex in their design easels, which are designed for writing heavy canvases of large format. Easel models have many fasteners and runners that allow the artist to customize them for himself.
Pros:
the ability to fix a heavy canvas at the desired height;
excellent stability;
reliable convenient design.
Cons:
suitable only for the studio;
do not add up, take up a lot of space;
high cost.
Easel easels are chosen mainly by professional artists and restorers.
Watercolor table
This easel model is a table with an inclined surface. It is very convenient to work behind it, there is also a place to store tools and paints. You can even say that this is a mini-studio. The tilt of the countertop is adjustable.
Pros:
everything is at hand;
compact and convenient workplace;
you can work sitting down;
suitable for different drawing techniques.
Minuses:
you can only work with small formats;
high cost.
Watercolor tables, although a stationary option, but they are suitable for small apartments.
Desktop easels
This is a great option for working at home, because the easel has no legs, so it practically does not take up space, it can be stored even in the closet. Used only for small formats.
Pros:
lightweight and compact;
low price;
you don’t need a shelf or a drawer for paints and brushes.
Minuses:
can ride on the countertop;
you can’t write big works.
Desktop easels are a real choice for children, since it can be placed on a surface of any height, taking into account the child’s height.
Tripod-tripod
The tripod tripod is designed to work anywhere: at home, in the studio, in the open air. Thanks to the movable rod, it is easy to fold, the position of the web is adjustable in height and angle of inclination. The weight of the metal tripod is about 2.5–3 kg.
Positive:
convenient to transport;
compact dimensions; the canvas is securely fixed;
suitable for different formats.
Cons:
there is no shelf for tools and paints.
Despite the lightweight design, tripods are very stable.
Portable easel
A portable easel is a suitable option if you plan to paint at home or in the open air only from time to time. It is easy to unfold and disassemble. When unfolded, it is an easel of the usual size.
Pros:
no problems with storage and transportation;
universal;
light weight.
Cons:
poor stability.
Desktop easels are a real choice for children, since it can be placed on a surface of any height, taking into account the child’s height. Some portable easels are equipped with a folding bench, which is very convenient when traveling to nature.
Sketchbooks, sketch boxes and tablets
This is a great option for working at home, because the easel has no legs, so it practically does not take up space, it can be stored even in the closet. Used only for small formats.
The sketchbook, unlike the sketch box, has removable and folding legs and, when unfolded, becomes a full-fledged easel, only with storage space.
Positive:
convenient to transport;
easy to fold;
there is a place to store paints and tools;
fits in a backpack.
Cons:
a filled sketchbook weighs quite a lot;
you can only work with small formats.
If desired, the sketchbook can be used at home. If you remove the legs, it will become an excellent desktop easel.
Is the easel material important?
Wooden easels, especially if they are varnished, not only look very beautiful, but also serve for a long time. Pay attention to the fact that there are no hooks, knots, cracks and other defects on the tree.
Metal easels are made of aluminum. This is a very practical option for working in the open air, because you do not need to worry about corrosion. The disadvantage of such easels is that they bend under heavy large canvases.
If you are just starting your creative journey or are looking for an easel for a child, do not rush to buy expensive models that are complex in design. Beginners, as a rule, do not have a lot of motivation. Make sure that the easel is easy to work with. Give preference to models that are easy to fold, easy to adjust the tilt and height of fixing the canvas.
We wish you creative success and inspiration!
