Easels have been a staple of the art world for centuries! Going all the way back to the 1st century CE, Pliny the Elder noted that the Egyptians would paint using a large panel placed on an easel. In the 12th century, monks are recorded as having used easels to write and display their manuscripts. Since then, easel paintings grew in popularity and would eventually overtake their more traditional cousin, the mural.
There are many different types of easel available on the market today, with great options available for all kinds of projects and studio setups. However, more recently, you may have noticed easels outside of the artist's studio. Whether you're browsing the menu in a restaurant, looking at table names at a wedding, or finding your way around an exhibition centre, easels have become a common way to display information in an attractive-yet-functional manner. So it begs the question: what other applications can I used an easel for beside painting?
Have a look at our suggestions below for inspiration and take a look at the links to all the easels on our website.
Easels for Weddings & Events
Are you looking for a wedding easel for that all important welcome sign? The seating plan at a wedding is one of the most important signs you'll ever design, so making sure it's large and clear is incredibly important. You want to make sure there's no question regarding who is sitting next to whom!
For that big event, you're going to need a serious easel! Weddings, exhibitions, corporate conferences and functions, wakes, or big birthday bashes, the A-Frame easel will cover it. This display should be one of the first things that your guests see when entering the event space, so make sure you place it in a prominent position. If your venue has more than one entrance, you may need two or more to make sure there's no confusion for your guests. Remember; no confusion means no stress.
An excellent A-Frame for these situations is the ARTdiscount Grizedale Display Easel. The Grizedale is constructed from sturdy oiled beechwood sourced from sustainably-managed forests, while still being lightweight enough to carry around event spaces if needed. It includes an adjustable canvas support to allow you to work on and display work in a wide range of sizes.
Mini Wedding Easels Perfect for Table Names
Mini Display Easels are perfect for showing off name cards, menus, photographs, wine lists, and miniature paintings. They're excellent for displaying cards and merchandise for the crafter at those all-important craft fairs, and they're also great for displaying signage.
Easels in the Home
Table/Display easels
The ARTdiscount Dean Table Easel is excellent for using as a rest when reading an oversized book that is too heavy to hold! Or, you could use it for that lovely large cookbook that has been in the family for generations. Oversized photo albums look great when displayed on these easels.
They're also a great option for holding phones, tablets, and iPads, especially when you're cooking in the kitchen and want to watch something at the same time!
Box Easels for Jewellery & Makeup Storage
Box easels are a great option for the space-conscious artist, with their storage sections being great for holding a wide range of smaller supplies. However, they're also perfect for jewellery storage and makeup artists! These box easels are a great asset to any face painter who would need to carry their paints and have a stand for a mirror.
These box easels can be a great space saver for your bedroom, where you have no access to a dressing table! The box easels store both your makeup and will support your mirror at the same time! You can simply paint or spray or embellish your box easel to coordinate with the rest of your room.
Wooden Chests for Jewellery & Makeup Storage
Though these aren't exactly easels, they're still a great option for storing things like jewellery, makeup supplies, artists equipment, beads, buttons, and more. Their wooden exterior also makes them great for customisation! Make it unique by painting, embellishing, spraying, or stencilling it. You could even try decoupage on these lovely wooden boxes!
Using Easels for Interior Design
Easels make an elegant statement in any room. Why not create an easel mirror stand for that oversized mirror that won't fit on any bedroom wall! How about creating your own large photomontage to display? Paint your easel with a coat of paint or spray paint it for speed.
You can use the same palette as your bedroom or mirror frame or go for the indulgent Gold, Silver or Rose Gold shades of the Art Deco period. Choose a reflective metallic surface, or a coloured spray. You could even try painting your easel with Psychedelic or neon colours for that disco rave look, or go for a marbled effect which would be very unique!
Whatever your style, we have the paint to cover it! Coloured and Metallic Sprays to create your bespoke easel!
Easels for Businesses
Easels for corporate events, displays and presentations.
Display Easels make an excellent free-standing support for corporate events. They're quick and easy to set up, and their portability makes them a solid choice for those on the move. Many also have adjustable canvas shelves, which will enable you to show off displays of various sizes.
Easels for pop-up shops, displays, promotional signage, restaurants and libraries.
If you are setting up a pop-up shop in a department store, shopping arcade, or even on the street, you may well need to display promotional material or signage. Perhaps you own a restaurant and you want to promote your menu choices, or maybe you have a new book signing, you can use an easel to display promotional material. An easel is a great option for you. You'll need one that is portable, lightweight and functional, like a display easel.
As we noted in an earlier section, the Grizedale Display Easel is an excellent option for these purposes. Its sturdy-yet-lightweight construction allows it to be taken with you to a range of events without a worry, and its adjustable canvas support allows you to display work in a wide range of sizes.
Easels for Unveiling Stands (Plaques and Large Paintings)
If you are looking for an easel for an unveiling of an important plaque or large painting,, heavier H-Frame easels might be more appropriate for the job. ‘H’ frame easels are heavier so will provide more stability for those heavier display boards and large canvases.
Do you need to display two paintings at the same time? Well, we have the perfect easel for you! The Mabef M/19 Studio Easel features a dual-sided design that allows artwork to be displayed securely on both sides of the easel. The two ratchet-adjusted canvas holders, which are independent of each other, meaning you can display two different sized canvases. It has wheels for portability and rubber stoppers to ensure it stays in place.
This easel is made in Italy with sturdy oiled beechwood sourced from FSC-certified forests. Its attractive oiled finish makes it great for displaying your work at art exhibitions.
It's Easel-y Done!
We hope this blog has shown to you just how adaptable the humble easel can be! Though it's still an incredibly useful tool for art, its also a great option for everyday purposes. Why not take a look over the easel collection on the ARTdiscount website? We have tons of great options in a wide range of shapes and sizes!
Happy easel shopping!
