An art easel can be used for many different kinds of activities and purposes in your home, the least of which is simply using it as a tool for creating your artwork.
You may want to buy an artist’s easel as a different way to display a large framed photograph, or perhaps you’d like to display some of your handicrafts, such as samplers, but don’t have enough wall space to do so. An easel is a handy free-standing device that can allow you to exhibit objects when and where it’s most convenient.
An art easel is a upright support, usually on three legs that act as a tripod, and it usually has an adjustable narrow support beam on which you can rest pictures, paintings or any 2-dimensional item that you wish. Easels usually have another adjustable support beam that clamps down on the top of your picture to help hold it in place. The adjustable top and bottom support beams allow you to control how high or low your framed object will sit on the easel.
Some easels will also allow you to adjust the angle of the picture it’s holding. You can adjust the easel to make it tilt back or forward, or tip either side lower than it opposite. This could come in handy if you’re showing a framed picture covered in glass, and your lighting is creating glare on the surface of the glass. With a few adjustments to the picture’s angle you can get rid of any reflected lighted.
You may want a full-sized easel, which is a free-standing object that you set up on the floor, and it holds artwork at the proper level for comfortable viewing. Or, you might prefer a tabletop easel, a shorter version of the full-sized easel which you can set up on any flat surface for art or crafts displays. Choose either a full-sized or tabletop easel depending on your needs, such as the size of the easel you’ll require to support artwork of certain dimensions, or the amount of floor space you have in a given room,
Consider the weight of the piece that you want your art easel to support, and then determine whether the easel you’re considering is up to the job of supporting the weight. If you’re in doubt it’s best to ask the merchant how much weight an easel is rated to support before you make a purchase. You’ll want to make sure that the easel you buy offers good-solid support for your precious photos and artworks.
If you plan to place a full-sized easel on a bare floor you’ll want to ensure that the easel’s legs have rubber or plastic footings to protect your floor from scratches. You might also consider placing a small rug under the easel to give your floor a layer of protection.
Place your easel in an area where it is not likely to get bumped by passersby. While a good, secure easel is usually a reliable support for pictures, it can still be knocked over with relatively little force.
Enjoy your new easel, and choose a look that suits the space where you will use it.