Choosing the proper easel is one of the most important decisions an artist can face. This essential piece of equipment provides more than just a place to hold canvases and other supports while you work; it can, depending on the easel, serve as a complete work station, as a place to display your artwork, and even as an attractive furniture addition to your living space.

There are several types of easels to choose from. For those who prefer to work indoors, with large canvases, sturdy floor-standing studio easels are best. Artists who work outside and desire portability will most like need a field or travel easel. And if space is a big issue, or the artist simply prefers working on a smaller scale, then table top easels provide an excellent choice. Other varieties include easels designed specifically for particular mediums like watercolor and pastel, and easels made for display.

Studio Easels—Large, heavy, and stable, studio easels provide a rock solid base for supports of all kinds. They are floor-standing and generally made of solid wood. The best studio easels are constructed with extreme care and will last for generations. The most common styles for studio easels are A-frame (or Lyre), H-frame (or Studio), and Single Mast.

A-frame easels are triangular in shape with a tripod leg arrangement (two legs in front and one in back). The single rear leg makes it easy to place the A-frame easel in corners and small areas. They are more compact but generally not as stable as H-frame easels. They usually cannot accommodate the very large canvases that H-frames can and are also not as adjustable. They're perfect for the artist who wants an easel that will last but who doesn't have the space for an H-frame. See A-Frame easels.

H-frame easels are rectangular in shape and rest on a large rectangular base. They provide an extremely stable platform for artists to work on. H-frames can usually accommodate extremely large canvases and are often highly adjustable in terms of height and tilt angle. Many even offer paint trays, becoming complete painting workstations. One disadvantage of the H-frame is that it requires a lot of space. It can also be difficult to move around because of its weight and shape. See H-Frame easels.

Single Masts are the most compact and affordable studio easels. They consist of a single post resting on a triangular or H-frame base. They are lighter than the other styles of studio easels and are fairly portable. Single Masts are also often highly adjustable. They make an ideal easel for students on a budget working in cramped spaces. Disadvantages of Single Masts are that they are not as stable as other studio easels and they cannot handle larger supports. See Single Mast easels.

Field and Travel Easels—Not all work takes place inside the artist's studio. In fact, quite a few artists prefer to work in the field. These artists need an easel that is light enough to carry, stable enough to withstand bumps and breezes, and adjustable for uneven terrain. There are two major styles for travel easels: tripods and box/French easels.

Tripod easels have a simple, three legged design that makes them ultra light and highly adjustable. They are generally made of aluminum or a light wood such as beech. Each of the three telescoping legs can be adjusted separately, making them ideal for working on rocky or uneven ground. Though unable to hold very large canvases, and not nearly as stable or durable as studio easels, tripod easels are the perfect choice for painting in open air. See Tripod easels.

Box, or French, easels take the basic tripod design and add a compartment or "box" for holding art materials. Box/French easels often come with a work shelf and palette as well. They are as close to a traveling art studio as you can get. See Box and French easels.

Table Top Easels—Small enough to be set on a table or desk, table top easels are great for artists with extremely small work spaces or who simply prefer to sit while they work. While excellent for working in small scale, table top easels are unable to hold large canvases. They are also not the best choice for working outside as they need a flat surface to rest on. See Table Top easels.

Watercolor and Pastel Easels—Certain mediums require their supports to be set at a particular angle while working. Watercolor supports, for instance, are generally held at a 35 degree angle rather than upright so that the wet color does not run. Pastels, on the other hand, generally need to be tilted forward at a slight angle so that dust does not fall on the support while the artist is working. If working in either of these mediums, the artist should make sure that the easel will adjust to the necessary tilt angle. See Watercolor and Pastel easels.

Display Easels—Often, all the artist needs is a lightweight easel to display finished artwork. Display easels are great for this purpose because they are designed to showcase the work without drawing too much attention to themselves. Display easels are not typically suited for drawing or painting purposes. See Display easels.

Choosing the right easel can be challenging. The most important thing is that the easel match your work space and needs and is comfortable to work with. MisterArt.com offers a wide variety of easels, from simple aluminum tripods that you can take anywhere to solid oak studio easels that will last a lifetime. So, whether you're a plein air watercolorist or a studio oil painter, you're sure to find the perfect easel for you.

What is art furniture?

Art supplies come in all shapes and sizes—some, like paint brushes, scissors, or modeling tools, are light and portable. They can easily be tossed into a tote bag or packed into a drawer. Other tools to help bring out your creative best, however, require a bit more room for use and storage—like the corner of your living room! These tools, designed to make creating your art as simple and painless as possible, are known as art furniture.

MisterArt.com offers everyday discounts on art furniture of all kinds. This guide should serve as an introduction to the uses of various pieces of furniture on our site and tell you a little about their differences so that you can make better-informed decisions while you shop.

This buyer's guide covers:

• Chairs and Stools,
• Lamps,
• Studio Organizers,
• Tables and Drawing Boards,
• Mirrors, and
• Furniture for Kids.

Chairs and Stools

For some art projects, it's important to stand up and utilize a lot of mobility. Dynamic movement has been the driving force behind many of the world's greatest pieces of art. For other projects, however, steady concentration is key. When working out intricate details or using stencils and straight edges, it can often improve the quality of your work to sit down in an art chair or stool that will keep you comfortable for extended periods of time while still allowing you the freedom of movement you need to be creative.

Chairs have the advantage of backrests, which support your back as you work so that you don't have to hunch over your table or desk. Some chairs include wheels to make getting around your workspace quick and easy. Others feature armrests to make artists more comfortable while they create.

Stools, on the other hand, have no back or armrests. They're ideal for easel work or other techniques that require artists to remain fully upright. Some stools have wheels, similar to a desk chair, to make moving effortless while seated. Other stools collapse and fold up, making them ideally portable for use in the field.

Lamps

Because art is a visual discipline, light is an important aspect of any artist's workspace. With poor lighting, it becomes difficult for painters to mix colors to the precise shade they want or for illustrators to draw sharp lines or shade properly. When the right amount of light reflecting off of your work, however, pieces of art become clearer and more vibrant to the human eye.

Most art lamps are adjustable, allowing you to tilt and direct the lampshade towards the focus of the piece. By experimenting with different bulbs, you can change the color and intensity of the light you use. Whether you work at a desk, table, easel, or floor, MisterArt.com has the right lamp to suit your needs!

Easel lamps clamp on directly to the top of your easel, allowing you to paint, draw, or display your work clearly. Easel lamps typically can also be attached to any flat surface, making them portable and versatile.

Magnifying lamps are ideal for painting or illustrating small details, such as models, or for assisting needle workers and other artists who have poor eyesight. By combining bright light with a large magnifying glass, magnifying lamps allow you to do difficult, intricate work comfortably, without straining your eyes.

Photo lights are large lamps that are great for lighting model or subjects for photography or portraiture as well as splashing plenty of light on to large canvases or sculptures in the studio. These powerful floor lamps ensure that shadows will not interfere with even your larger artworks.

Studio Organizers

Art studios are busy places, packed with the tools and supplies that artists need to express their creativity. Because the emphasis in the studio is on creating and not cleaning, your workspace itself may start to resemble a maddening, cluttered work of art! Out of respect for artists everywhere, MisterArt.com offers everyday discounts on art furniture to keep your workspace or studio organized and efficient!

When it comes to getting your supplies organized, there are plenty of different furniture pieces to choose from. Some furniture is specialized, designed for a specific purpose. Print racks and pastel chests, for example, are intended to organize specific art supplies, namely prints and pastels. With a little research, you may discover that there is a specialized piece of art furniture designed to organize exactly what you'd like.

Other furniture might be good for many different uses. Taborets and cabinets come in many different shapes and sizes and can hold a wide variety of supplies, from paintbrushes to pencils to paper. Before making a decision on what studio organizer is best for you, it's a good idea to take careful stock of how much space you have available and what sort of art or supplies you'd like your organizer to hold.

Tables and Drawing Boards

One of the most common (and infuriating) sights in the cluttered art studio are tabletops and desks covered with art supplies. To really get into a creative groove, any artist needs a sturdy, clean work surface that is versatile enough to support many different kinds of projects.

The ideal drawing surface is smooth and adjustable. As with any piece of art furniture, it's a good idea to ask yourself a few questions before buying:

• How much space does this furniture take up?
• Is it adjustable for my height?
• What kind of projects will I most often be working on using this furniture?
• How will this furniture match the rest of the décor in my workspace?

Art tables typically have legs and a drawing surface that tilts. Most art tables require a chair or stool to use them comfortably. While most art tables are designed to remain in place, others can collapse for easy transport.

Drawing boards are portable drawing surfaces that give you a smooth work surface anywhere you need it. The best drawing boards are lightweight and durable so that they can be moved around without damage or difficulty.

Once you have a better idea of what you're looking for, you can find a variety of low-priced art tables and drawing boards at MisterArt.com!

Mirrors

Mirrors art a useful piece of furniture that can show off your art techniques—It's especially helpful if you're a teacher. By positioning the mirror at an angle above your flat drawing surface, the class or audience in front of you will be able to watch you work without standing over your shoulder!

MisterArt.com has mirrors of varying heights and sizes. It's important to consider how much space there is in your classroom or studio before choosing a mirror. Larger rooms with more students or spectators will naturally require larger mirrors. The uses for your mirror don't have to end with art demonstration, either—show your class some cooking techniques or put a mirror over your chess team's game board so that everyone can see the action!

Furniture for Kids

Any parent or grandparent who has had to clean up a messy playroom knows that it's important to have a place where kids can keep their art supplies tidy and work on their creativity in a kid-friendly environment. MisterArt.com offers discounted prices on art furniture for kids of all sizes and ages. Showing your kids that art is for everyone by providing them with their own art tables, easels, and chairs can leave a lasting appreciation for art that your children will never forget!