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How to Choose an Easel: Types of Easels, Tips & Pointers

Date: 06-11-2023
News, Tips & Info

 

An easel is an investment that should last for many, many years, so it pays to select a well-made easel that is designed for the work you need it to do. A good easel should support your work in a stable manner, be big enough to take your usual largest size, and suit the type of media you want to work with. If you work in very fluid colour like watercolour, it is best to have an easel that is able to support your work horizontally. For rendering in media less likely to drip, for example oil and acrylic paints or drawing materials, an easel that holds the work in a vertical position is best.

Mabef

Mabef easels have been made in Italy since 1948, from the best raw materials – solid, dried beech wood from sustainable forestry; and quality brass and metal fittings. Their easels are finished with natural oils to conserve them and enhance the natural beauty of the wood. Mabef produce a huge range of easels that are ingeniously simple, easy to use and guaranteed to last your lifetime – that’s why we recommend Mabef to support your painting!

 

 

Cranky Artist

If you like to paint both sitting and standing, a crank handle easel lets you adjust the height easily with just a few quick turns.

 

 

Mabef M02 Double Mast Easel with Crank  

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel with its double masts is ideal for extra large works up to 2350mm high. The height is easily adjustable by a crank mechanism. The two masts and sturdy H-style base offer the extra stability needed for very large canvases. Two drawers are set into the side of the base plate for storage, castors allow for easy movement while levelling bolts hold the easel in position while in use.

 
Mabef M04 Large Studio Easel with Crank  

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel is capable of holding canvases up to 2350mm high. The height is easily adjustable by a crank mechanism. Two drawers are set into the side of the base plate for storage, castors allow for easy movement while levelling bolts hold the easel in postion while in use. 

 

H-Frame easels

H-Frame easels are the sturdiest support for medium and large sized canvas and panels. They have a square base and a central  column that is adjustable for height and inclination without compromising its stability.

H-Frame easels are: Mabef M02 M04 M06 M07 M18 (pictured) and M19.

  

Mabef M06 Big Studio Easel                                     

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel can take canvases up to 2400mm and has its height adjustable by a simple ratchet system. This easel has a large storage tray and castors allow for easy movement while levelling bolts hold the easel in position while in use.

 

Mabef M07 Medium Studio Easel                                         

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel can take canvases up to 2150mm and has its height adjustable by a simple ratchet system. This easel has a handy storage tray and adjustable working angle.

  

Mabef M09 Basic Studio Easel                                                   

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel can take canvases up to 1160mm and has its height adjustable by a simple ratchet system. This easel has a handy storage tray and adjustable working angle.

  

 

Mabef M19 Double Sided Studio Display                                                   

 Made in Italy from beautiful oiled, stain-resistant beech wood the Mabef M19 is both elegant and functional.
The unique double sided design is perfect for artists with more than one work on the go. The adjustable ratchet allows control over the height of the working area with a maximum of 135cm. Features a sturdy base supported by four casters for greater versatility.

  

 

 

Convertible Easels

Convertible Easels will tilt from a vertical to a horizontal position so you can work facing you painting and  as you would on a table. This is really useful for fluid painting techniques such as watercolour and acrylic pours. Being able to tilt at various angles is great for artists drawing with dry media too, like pastel.

 

Mabef M18 Convertible Studio Easel                                      

This sturdy Italian-made oiled-beechwood easel functions both vertically and horizontally,making it perfect for fluid painting techniques, such as acrylic pours and watercolour. It can contain works up to 2400mm and has its height adjustable by a simple ratchet system. The M18 has a large storage tray and castors allow for easy movement while levelling bolts hold the easel in position while in use.

 

M25 Convertible Lyre

Can be inclined vertically or horizontally to suit your needs. Constructed of oiled, stain-resistant beech wood. The M/25 easel will hold canvases up to 200cm high, with a maximum weight of 10kg. Simple assembly is required.

Mabef M33 Oil/Watercolour Easel                                    

This Italian-made oiled-beechwood easel can be used in a vertical position and folds to a table, making it perfect for fluid painting techniques, such as acrylic pours and watercolour techniques. Maximum work height 1380mm.

  

 

Lyre or A-Frame easels

Lyre or A-Frame easels are great for smaller and mid-size works. They fold flat  which makes them easy to stack in the corner of a room, and are a little lighter than H-Frame easels which suits those who need to move it around frequently.

 

Mabef M11 Inclinable Lyre Easel                                             

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel has an inclinable angle adjustment that allows the canvas to come forward up to fifteen degrees. This easel can take canvases up to 1350mm and has its height adjustable by a simple ratchet system.

Mabef M12 Big Lyre Easel                                                         

This Italian-made oiled-beechwood easel can take canvases up to 1350mm high and height can be adjusted by a simple ratchet system. Can also be used for display.

Mabef M13 Classic Lyre Easel                                                       

This Italian-made oiled-beechwood easel can take canvases up to 1200mm high and height can be adjusted by a simple ratchet system. Can also be used for display.

  

Mabef M20 Display Easel                                                            

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood display easel holds works up to 1300mm high and is suited for most display purposes.

  

 

 

 

Box Easels

Box Easels are especially good for outdoor painters, combining both easel and painting box, which holds paints, a palette and brushes. Box easels are heavier to carry but minimise the number of extra bags you need to carry on your painting trip.

 

Mabef M22 Big Box Easel                                                

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel is ideal for “plein-air” (outdoor) painting in oils or watercolour. The box features a tin-lined drawer with adjustable compartments, a wooden palette, and leather handle.  The easel can be adjusted for working both vertically and horizontally, with the optimum angle for watercolour at 30 degrees,  with a maximum canvas height of 870mm.

Mabef M23 Small Box Easel                                                   

This smaller version Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel is also ideal for “plein-air” (outdoor) painting in oils or watercolour, and weighs only 4.5kg. The box features a tin-lined drawer with adjustable compartments, a folding wooden palette, and leather handle and straps.  The easel can be adjusted for working both vertically and horizontally, with a maximum canvas height of 850mm.

  

 

 

 

Folding Easels 

Field Easels are smaller and lighter than studio easels, designed for outdoor painting, with telescopic legs which can be extended to heights for both sitting and standing positions and fold into a neat bundle for easy carrying.

They also great for artists working indoors with limited space.

Mabef M26 Oil/Watercolour Folding Easel                          

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel with pivoting panel can be adjusted to any angle between vertical and horizontal, so great for oil or watercolour use. Can hold works up to 1020mm high.

  

Mabef M27 Folding Easel with Brackets                                                

This Italian-made oiled beechwood easel with pivoting canvas holder can be adjusted to any angle between vertical and horizontal, and features horizontal brackets for holding a sketch book or palette. Maximum work size 1150mm.

Mabef M29 Folding Easel                                                 

This Italian-made oiled beechwood easel with pivoting canvas holder can be adjusted to any angle between vertical and horizontal, and takes work up to 1150mm high.

  

Mabef M32 Giant Folding Easel                                    

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel with pivoting canvas holder can be adjusted to any angle between vertical and horizontal, so great for oil or watercolour use. By using two sliding blocks, works up to 2000mm can be held.

  

 

 

Table Easels

Table easels are perfect for artists that like to work relatively small scale, like to work sitting down, or have limited space.

 

Mabef M24 Table Box Easel                                                       

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel is for table-top use with oils or watercolour. The box features a tin-lined drawer with adjustable compartments, a wooden palette, and leather handle.  The easel can be adjusted for working both vertically and horizontally, with a maximum canvas height of 770mm.

 

Mabef M17 Super Table Easel                                               

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel can take canvases up to 600mm high and height can be adjusted by a simple ratchet system.

Mabef M14 Basic Table Easel                                                    

This Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel can take canvases up to 600mm high.

  

Mabef M15 Tripod Table Easel                                                

Folding tripod Italian-made oiled-beech wood easel for display purposes.

  

Mabef M16 Miniature Table Easel                                          

Miniature studio easel made in Italy from oiled-beech wood, for display purposes.

  

Mabef M21 Lyre Table Easel                                                      

Miniature lyre easel made in Italy from oiled-beech wood, for display purposes.

 

  

Mabef M31 OIL/Watercolour Table Easel

Features a canvas holder which can be adjusted to any angle between vertical and horizontal, and can even be adjusted to below the level of the tabletop.Constructed of oiled, stain-resistant beech wood. Will hold canvas up to 100cm high, with a maximum weight of 4kg.

  

Mabef M34 Display Table Easel

Ideal for painting, or as a lecturn for books. Canvas holder can be adjusted to any angle between vertical and horizontal table position. Canvas holder height is adjusted in five positions by two wing nuts. Constructed of oiled, stain-resistant beech wood. Will hold canvas or book up to 54cm high, with a maximum weight of 2kg.

  

 

 

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Comments

  • Date: 11-05-2018
    Gordon Harris

    Hi @Penny Wright, you can find the M18 here: https://www.gordonharris.co.nz/product/17855-mabef-m18-convertible-studio-easel We do have Easel sales from time to time too - so keep an eye out!

  • Date: 10-05-2018
    Penny Wright

    How much is a Mabef M18 Convertible Easel please?