Artists, writers and musicians have used easels for centuries! Even 12th century Monks are believed to have used easels to write and display their manuscripts.
The history of the easel is interesting and varied. They are a versatile solution for displaying all artwork that cannot be hung on walls, and are an essential piece of equipment artists use daily. Easels are typically made from wood, however, some are made from aluminum or steel.
We are all familiar with the painting and blackboard easels we used as children and the thrill of having our very own! There are many different types of easels on the market today, and we have one for every project and every kind of studio, even the kitchen-table kind of studio! We stock many easels for up and coming artists and the professionals alike, however, what other applications can an easel be used 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?
For that big event you're going to need a serious easel! Weddings, Exhibitions, Corporate conferences and functions, funerals, wakes, or big birthday bashes, the ‘A’ frame easel will cover it.
The seating plan at a wedding is one of the most important signs you will ever design, make it big and clear so there is no question who is sitting next to whom!
Position your ‘A’ Frame with seating plan in the most prominent position and even create two if you have more than one entrance to the venue, no confusion means no stress!
Take a look at our suggestions for our ‘A’ Frame easels and our mini table easels for name places and other displays on the wedding breakfast tables.
Easels perfect for wedding seating plans
Mini wedding easels perfect for wedding table names
These mini easels are perfect for displaying name cards, menus, photographs, wine lists, and miniature paintings. Excellent for displaying cards and merchandise for the crafter at those all important craft fairs and great for displaying signage. Have a look at our great selection below. Our mini easels could also be the solution for elevating your iPad, or phone when streaming your favourite shows.
Easels in the home
Table/display easels
These easels are excellent for using as a rest for reading an oversized book that is too heavy to hold! Or for that lovely large Cookbook that has been in the family for generations. Even for that oversized photo album that you would like to display and reflect on.
Box easels for jewellery storage & makeup
Box easels are great for the artist, but also perfect for jewellery & makeup storage or even for the face painter! 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.
Browse the box easels listed below for size and style ideas.
Artists Wooden Chests for jewellery and makeup storage
Not an easel but also good for an alternative storage function. Excellent for jewellery, make-up, artists equipment, beads, buttons, brushes etc…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 corporate events
Easels for corporate events, displays and presentations.
Easels make an excellent free standing support for corporate events. They are quick and easy to erect and portable. They also have an adjustable plinth for portrait or landscape displays.
The Daler Rowney Simply Portable Field Easel or the Royal & Langnickel Adjustable Aluminium Easel make great table easels or a stand alone easels for demonstrations or signage.
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. An easel is a great option. You will need one that is portable, lightweight and functional. Perhaps you own a restaurant and you want to promote your menu choices, an easel is a cost-effective option. Or maybe you have a new book signing, you can use an easel to display promotional material.
The ARTdiscount Vega is a lightweight display easel made from Pinewood, it will fold away for convenient storage and transportation and is great value for money. Similarly the Winsor & Newton Po is also an ‘A’ frame easel. It has an adjustable canvas ledge to enable various size posters or canvases. It is handcrafted from seasoned oiled beech timber and folds flat for easy storage and transportation.
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.
Take a look at our ARTdiscount Sherwood Studio Easel, with adjustable ratchet system to control canvas ledge height whilst working. It is made from sustainable oiled Beech/Elm and takes a maximum canvas size of 132cms.
Another robust ‘H’ frame easel is the ARTdiscount Arden Studio Easel. Made from Beech/Elm timbers, it will support a maximum canvas height of 215cms approximately.
Do you need to display two paintings at the same time? Well we have the perfect easel for you! Look at the Mabef Beech Wood Double Sided Studio Easel - M/19. This easel has 2 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. It is constructed of oiled, stain-resistant beech wood.
We hope we have shown that although the humble easel is primarily used within the art world, they can also be used for many other everyday purposes.
Happy easel shopping.
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